Page 49 of A Proposal to Wed (The Beautiful Barringtons #9)
L ucy stopped at the sight of her husband sitting on the bench she’d had placed in the gardens. She’d ordered it all the way from London. The arms and back of the bench were engraved with birds. Wonderful craftsmanship.
Harry was clasped in an embrace with a woman.
A thrill ran through her. Finally, her persistence had paid off. “We are to be congratulated, Mrs. Bartle.” Lucy turned to the housekeeper at her side. “When did she arrive?”
“An hour ago.” Mrs. Bartle shook her skirts free of Buttons’s claws. “Little pest. Cease or there will be no bits of chicken for you. She produced your note and handed it to one of the servants, who found me promptly.”
“Wonderful.” Lucy patted the small mound of her stomach where Harry’s child rested. “Not the destruction of your dress, Mrs. Bartle. But this development.” She gazed fondly at her husband. “They look very much alike.”
“They do indeed.”
The same sherry-colored hair. Identical noses. Lucy’s keen gaze ran over the woman’s hand, where it lay against Harry’s shoulder.
Right down to the missing pinky finger.
Lucy had guessed, long ago, that Harry might have had something to do with the demise of his father, but he’d never told her the entire story until after he’d healed from Colm’s attack.
He’d accepted his role in saving his family, but it had cost Harry the love of his mother.
A relationship with his siblings. He’d gone off to Pendergast, hoping that in time his mother would forgive him.
But she never had.
Helen Estwood was long dead, but Harry’s sisters and brother were not. Unfortunately, Mary, the younger sister, had married and moved away. Scotland, Mrs. Bartle thought. Richard, Harry’s brother, had gone to America. He’d be more difficult to locate.
“Alice was easy to find,” Mrs. Bartle said from beside her. “She’s never married. Little wonder given…matters.”
“He was closest to her,” Lucy said. “We’ll find the others, given enough time.”
Alice had staunchly stood by Harry’s side after the death of James Estwood.
Run the household while Harry had gone off to Pendergast to support the family.
She’d eventually gone to work for Lord Wilde.
Most importantly, Alice had made sure her mother never said a word about how James Estwood had died.
“I’ve had one of the guest rooms made up for her. And I’m making a roast with rosemary potatoes.”
Harry’s favorite. “Thank you, Mrs. Bartle.” Lucy stepped carefully down the steps leading into the garden and approached the bench. Alice was sobbing.
The decision to find Harry’s siblings had been one Lucy hadn’t thought overmuch about until he’d confessed the details of that long ago winter night.
He’d cut himself off from them after his father’s death, though he supported them all for years.
Deciding it would be best for everyone concerned that there be distance, because of what he’d done.
Harry had put all his grief and the loss of his family aside, focusing all his energy on becoming successful. Wealthy. A man of great ambition.
Lucy disagreed with his decision. He’d saved them.
James Estwood might have eventually killed them all in a drunken rage.
Finding Alice was the least Lucy could do for Harry, after all he’d given her.
She was no longer timid, lisping Miss Waterstone.
Not permitted to eat dessert or finish a bloody meal.
Not obedient in the least. Father had found out that much when he’d had the audacity to send her a letter and begged for funds, cautioning Lucy not to say a word to Harry.
He hadn’t bothered to even ask after her welfare. Or inquire after his own wife.
Lucy did not reply.
Sally insisted the blows to her head had rendered her incapable of recalling exactly what happened or if she’d done anything wrong. The authorities agreed and placed her in a sanitarium for her own good. She wrote Lucy often, pleading to be released.
Lucy ignored her letters as well.
And Colm? He’d been sent to a penal colony for his crimes. Somewhere far away.
Harry looked up at her approach, his eyes watery. Gently he pulled out of his sister’s arms. “I’d like to introduce you to my wife.” He reached out his hand. “Alice, this is my Lucy.”
Her heart hummed softly as she laced her fingers with his.
I’ve always been his.
Alice wiped at her eyes and stood, hands shaking. “Thank you for the invitation. I—it is most welcome.”
Lucy released her husband and shocked Alice by hugging her tight. “The pleasure, I assure you is all mine.”
Thank you for reading A Proposal to Wed.
Lucy Waterstone and Harry Estwood are two of my favorite characters from the Barrington world and deserved a happy ending.
When I wrote The Design of Dukes (Barringtons #2) I realized Lucy and Harry were meant for each other, it just took a little bit of time to get there.
This isn’t the end though…I have more Barrington adjacent stories coming your way.
If you loved A Proposal to Wed, I’d love a review!