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“It’s a perfect day for a picnic,” Arabella remarked, her gaze sweeping across the rolling green hills that bordered the tranquil lake. The sun shone brightly, casting a golden hue over the waters. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, carrying with it the scent of fresh grass and wildflowers.
“Indeed, it is,” Robert agreed, standing beside her as he adjusted the brim of his hat. He glanced down at Arabella, his eyes filled with warmth. “You’ve always had a talent for planning the most idyllic outings.”
She smiled up at him, gently rocking their young daughter, Lily, who was tucked into her arms. Lily, just over a year old now, had her mother’s black curls and her father’s deep blue eyes. She was a quiet, curious child, content to observe the world from the safety of her mother’s embrace.
“You give me too much credit,” Arabella replied, though there was a playful glimmer in her eyes. “It’s easy to plan something lovely when you have a place like this.” She gestured toward the lake, where the shimmering waters reflected the cloudless sky. “Besides, it was Henry who insisted we come here. He couldn’t wait to go fishing.”
Robert chuckled, his gaze drifting to the edge of the lake, where Henry was already casting his fishing line. The boy sat cross-legged on the grassy bank, Dash, his loyal spaniel, lying faithfully beside him. Every so often, Henry would glance back toward Robert, as if seeking approval or simply wanting to share in the moment.
“He’s grown so much in the past year,” Robert mused, his voice soft with affection. “It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come. He looks to me as if I’ve always been here.”
Arabella followed his gaze, her heart swelling with emotion. “That’s because you have,” she whispered. “You’re the father he needed, Robert, and he’s never doubted that.”
Robert’s hand found hers, and he gave it a gentle squeeze. “I suppose there was a time when I doubted it,” he confessed. “I wondered if I could ever truly be the father he deserved, especially after everything with Christopher. But now…” He trailed off, watching Henry laugh as Dash barked at the ripples in the water. “Now, I can’t imagine life without him.”
Arabella’s heart warmed at the sight of her husband and son, the bond between them as strong as if it had always been. Henry had indeed come to embrace Robert fully, calling him “Papa” with the same ease and affection as any child born to him.
“Neither can I,” Arabella said softly, resting her head against Robert’s shoulder for a moment. “We’ve been so blessed.”
Robert’s gaze softened as he looked down at her. “We have. And speaking of blessings, we should expect our guests soon. I’m sure Emma and Nathaniel will be along any minute.”
Arabella straightened and smiled. “Emma is determined to keep moving, even with that heavy belly of hers. She’ll be here, no doubt leading the charge.”
Just as Arabella spoke, the sound of a carriage approaching drew their attention. Down the path, they could see the familiar outline of Emma and Nathaniel’s carriage, with Emma waving from the window, a broad smile on her face despite the nearing birth of her first child. Arabella couldn’t help but smile, knowing her cousin’s joyful energy would fill the day with laughter.
Robert placed a gentle hand on Arabella’s back. “Shall we greet our guests, my love?”
Arabella nodded, her heart light as they made their way toward the path. Today was a day of peace, of family, and of the love that had blossomed even after all the trials they had faced.
As Emma and Nathaniel’s carriage came to a halt, Arabella and Robert hurried to greet them. Emma, glowing despite her heavy pregnancy, was the first to step out, beaming as she held onto Nathaniel’s arm.
“Arabella!” Emma called, her voice brimming with excitement. “I was worried we’d be late, but Nathaniel insisted we take it slow. As if I’m some fragile flower!”
Nathaniel chuckled, a warm, steady presence beside his wife. “You are carrying our first child, my love. A little caution is justified.”
Arabella laughed softly, stepping forward to embrace Emma, careful of her rounded belly. “I’m just glad you made it,” Arabella said. “You look wonderful, Emma.”
“Oh, flattery will get you everywhere,” Emma teased, resting a hand on her swollen abdomen. “But thank you. I feel like I’m about to burst, to be honest.”
Nathaniel smiled fondly at his wife. “Only a few more weeks now. We can’t wait to meet the little one.”
Arabella nodded, her heart swelling with happiness for her cousin. “Neither can we. It will be such a joy to have another baby around.”
Just then, another carriage rolled up, and Sir Joseph and Lady Thraxton, stepped out to join the group. Arabella’s uncle and aunt looked as cheerful as ever and smiled warmly at Arabella and Robert as they approached.
“Quite the gathering,” Sir Joseph said with a hearty chuckle as he clapped Robert on the back. “And what a fine day you’ve arranged, Arabella.”
Arabella laughed, shaking her head. “I can’t take credit for the weather, Uncle. But I’m glad you all could join us.”
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Hello there, my dear readers! I hope you were entertained by this loving tale of second chances and enjoyed the Extended Epilogue as well! I will be eagerly awaiting your comments here. Thank you, as always! ♥️
Some mistake in the extended epilogue.
1. arabella hair in storiy was black not golden
2. Emma is thev only daugther of sir Joseph, in the paragraph of their arrival there is another daugther.
Hi Catherina, thank you so much for pointing out these inconsistencies! I have fixed them, and hopefully the Extended Epilogue is a much more wonderful read now! Let me know what you think. 🥰
Your book was full of excitement and suspense. At times it seemed certain that Chrisopher would be successful in his attempts to get Henry away from Arabella but I was glad his attempts met with failure. The EE was the perfect ending with updates for everone. I’m looking forward to your next book.
Thank you so much, Margaret! Your support and feedback mean the world to me! ✨
Wow what a story that can be read by people of all ages. Others would have expressed their displeasure of the duke marrying a widow with a grown up Son of eight years.But here the dowager felt at home in welcoming the widow and her son. Enjoyed every minute of continuous reading and would not be surprised if I put on weight due to eating while reading your two books one after another viz.four stories.Love you for the stories.
Thank you so much for your heartfelt comment Prafulla! I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the story and found it relatable for readers of all ages. It’s wonderful that you appreciated the supportive dynamic between the dowager and the widow I’m honored that you found the stories engaging enough to read them back-to-back—though I hope you’re indulging in some tasty snacks along the way! Happy reading! 🌷
I really enjoyed this story. I like clean beautiful stories of love with excitement and adventure along with intrigue.
Thank you so much Marci, for your kind words of support and encouragement! I’m truly glad you enjoyed that one!
Wonderful heartfelt storytelling that was riveting from beginning to the end.
Hi Gail, thank you for your kind feedback, I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed it! Your support means a lot to me, and it’s always wonderful to connect with readers who resonate with the story!
What a delightful story. So many twists and turns made one wonder if Robert and Arabella would ever get married. Henry and Freddie were real boys and had so many adventures with Dash chasing after them. I highly recommend.
Thank you for your lovely feedback, Toni! I’m so glad you enjoyed the story and found the twists and turns engaging. It’s great to hear that Robert, Arabella, Henry, and Freddie resonated with you, and I’m thrilled that Dash added to their adventures. Your recommendation means a lot to me!
Lovely story. You have romance as well as suspense. In the end the villains are punished and the good people find happiness. Sweet epilogue. It would have been nice for his brother to be included in the happy ending.
Hi Madhu, thank you for your thoughtful comment! I’m so glad you enjoyed the blend of romance and suspense in this story’s extended epilogue. I understand your wish for his brother to be part of the happy ending—it’s always nice to see all characters find their joy and I will take note of your feedback for future stories! 💕
I really enjoyed this story line. All the plot twists and turns made it hard to put down. Only one problem you used the word jail instead of gaol a couple of times. Easy to get passed though.
Keep on writing!!!
Hi Carol, thanks so much for pointing that one out; it is definitely worth correcting! I really appreciate your unwavering support! ❤️
Beautiful story & a truly happy ending. Looking forward to the next book.
Thank you so much, Winnie! I’m so glad you loved the story and the ending, it means a lot! My next book is on its way, and I can’t wait to share it with you!
Another of your books I couldn’t put down. Intrigue, danger, mystery & above all …. love. I can’t wait to read the next one!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Roberta! I’m thrilled to hear you found the book so enjoyable! I can’t wait for you to dive into the next one—it’s coming soon! 😊📚