An Earl’s Inviting Bet – Extended Epilogue

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Three Years Later

“I’m glad you’ve come down to London.” Ramsbury said as he watched the twins playing with their toys. “It’ll be good to see how you two are doing.”

Samantha laughed.

“You saw us over the summer, John.”

“Well, I miss my friends.”

“You’re not a very good liar. I know who you missed.”

Ramsbury blushed, giving Samantha a bashful smile.

“That too. But can you blame me? They’re just adorable.”

Samantha wouldn’t argue with that. Being a mother took up a lot of her time, and just watching two babies grow up into children was fascinating. She loved being with her two children. Soon to be three. She rubbed her very swollen belly, watching as Rosie got to her feet and toddled towards her with the big grin she loved to show to everyone. She bumped into the footstool Samantha had her feet up on, and immediately went down onto her bottom. Ramsbury was off the couch and lifting Rosie up onto her feet. Rosie giggled as he tickled her, her laughter echoing through the room.

Samantha looked across to her husband, who was sitting on the floor beside David with his toy soldiers. Neil gave her a wink, glancing at Ramsbury. They had both seen how Ramsbury had turned to putty as soon as he saw their children. He was the first one to hold them after Samantha, Neil and the midwife. Their parents would arrive later. And Ramsbury had become devoted to the twins, especially Rosie. She adored him. David was the quieter one, preferring to stay with his father, but he was always running to Ramsbury for a cuddle as soon as their godfather came through the door.

John Ramsbury would make a good father one day. His future wife, when she turned up, would be very lucky.

Ramsbury sat on the couch again, lifting Rosie onto his lap. He picked up her stuffed toy from the couch and gave it to her, looking up at Neil.

“I can’t believe you two actually agreed to come to London. After what happened three years ago, I thought you wouldn’t want to come back.”

“We were planning on spending Christmas on the Isle of Man,” Neil sighed. “But our mothers said it wouldn’t hurt to have the children spend at least one Christmas in London at their age. Besides, there are a few people we want to see who we haven’t seen in a while. They want to see the children.”

“Also, a change will do us some good,” Samantha added. “As long as they don’t expect me to be a dutiful host.”

“Not a chance,” Neil shook his head. “You’re not doing any hosting. Which is why John’s here.”

“I’m glad I’m useful for something,” Ramsbury said drily, but he gave Samantha a smile. “You just focus on the little one you’re carrying.”

“I plan to.” Samantha winced as she felt the baby kicking again. “I’m just glad I’m not due until after Christmas. Although from the way things are going, it’s going to end up with my Christmas Day in labour.”

“Are you sure there’s only one child in there?”

Samantha shuddered.

“Two sets of twins. I’m running away if that’s the case.”

Neil laughed.

“No, you won’t.”

“I’ll be sorely tempted.”

The labour had been horrible the last time. Samantha didn’t think she wanted to experience such pain again. But then that pain had disappeared when she saw her two tiny babies. They were beautiful, and she adored them. Perhaps her pain threshold would be a bit higher after experiencing it already.

At least Neil would be there. Just knowing he was close by made Samantha confident that she could do it. She was certainly going to be asking for a cuddle afterwards.

“I think Mother and Father are going to turn up any minute.” Neil glanced at the clock. “I will just go and check on how lunch is getting on.”

Getting to his feet, he kissed David’s head and headed towards the door. David called for him before getting up and trotting after him.

“Me come too?” he asked, holding out his hand.

“All right.” Neil took his hand. “Come on, you.”

They left the room. Rosie slipped off Ramsbury’s lap, chewing on the ear of her stuffed rabbit, and went to the toys scattered across the floor.

“Are your parents turning up today as well, Samantha?” Ramsbury asked.

“For tea. We’re going to be together for a bigger dinner in a couple of days.”

“How are they taking that?”

Samantha snorted.

“If they want us to remain civil, they’ll do as they’re told.”

Then again, it wasn’t the mothers Samantha and Neil worried about. Lady Denshaw and Lady Richmond were delighted that Samantha and Neil planned to marry, and they had warmed to their respective child’s spouses. Samantha did like Lady Richmond. Her father was a little more reluctant, still not happy at how Neil had tried to dupe Samantha, but he and Neil had shaken hands a while back and agreed to put it aside. Lord Denshaw saw how happy his daughter was and he didn’t want to break that up.

It was the Earl of Richmond who was the problem. He had taken longer to accept the fact this feud, which should never had happened in the first place, was over. Neil had said the outrage when he told his father he had found a wife was not good. But Neil had turned his back on the earl and gone silent, telling him he could grow old and lonely if he was going to behave like a child. It took six months before Richmond turned up on the Isle of Man to talk to Neil. Samantha wouldn’t say they had buried the hatchet, but they were far more civil to each other. Richmond did make the room a little uneasy, especially when he was addressing Denshaw, but Samantha and Neil ran interference. It wasn’t often the four parents were in the same room, anyway.

The children had softened him. Richmond had shown a kinder side as his grandchildren grew up. However, he hadn’t seen them since before they were walking, due to being so busy. He was going to get a surprise when he saw the twins walking towards him.

Samantha was looking forward to seeing the look on the old man’s face. If anyone could melt a person’s heart, it was her twins.

“By the way,” Ramsbury said slowly, “I received a letter from Mary-Anne today.”

“Oh.” Samantha shifted herself up a little. “Is she well?”

“As well as can be expected. My aunt says she’s drawing the eyes of most of the eligible young men in Penzance, but she’s desperate to come back.”

“I take it Mary-Anne’s still complaining about being made to move there.”

“Unfortunately.”

It sounded like Mary-Anne wasn’t going to learn. Ramsbury had been angry at her deception towards his friend and made her pack her bags to live with their aunt Margaret in Cornwall. It would mean missing the rest of the Season, and Mary-Anne didn’t take kindly to that. She had fought the whole time. Samantha was glad that she had left before the wedding, because she was sure Mary-Anne would have messed that up as well.

She was determined to become Viscountess Moulton, to the point she was willing to ruin someone else’s happiness. Ramsbury had said the hysterics when she realized Neil was now married had been horrible. Mary-Anne had been in a rage for days. Samantha didn’t think she had come across more childish antics. Throwing a fit for not getting your own way didn’t work. She had learned that as a little girl.

She could bring herself to forgive Mary-Anne, eventually. But only if she behaved herself. Considering she hadn’t come back to London in the last three years, she hadn’t started behaving.

There was a loud banging, which made Samantha jump. Ramsbury smiled and touched her shoulder.

“Don’t worry, it’s just the front door. Sounds like the Earl of Richmond is here.” He got to his feet. “I’ll go and greet them. You stay here and rest.”

“I wasn’t planning on moving.”

Ramsbury chuckled and left the room. Samantha leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She was hungry and exhausted. Being a pregnant mother was not easy. She wouldn’t have it any other way, though.

She just hoped the children fell asleep quickly tonight.

Hands touched her shoulders, and Samantha opened her eyes to see Neil leaning over her from behind the settee.

“Where’s David?”

“John’s with him. Mother and Father are just taking off their coats.” Neil grinned. “You should’ve seen their faces when David walked to them. I think Mother was about to cry.”

“That boy can make anyone soften.”

“Much like his mother.” Neil kissed her forehead. “I love you.”

“And I love you.” Samantha reached up and brushed her fingers across his cheek. “I’ll show you how much later.”

Neil’s eyes glinted.

“I’ll hold you to that.” He kissed her mouth. “Let’s get Rosie and see my parents. It’ll be a short lunch; whatever you want.”

“Not a chance.” Samantha sat up. “I’m starving. I want some food.”

Neil laughed.

“Just leave some for the rest of us.”

“Cheeky.” Samantha beckoned Rosie over. “Come on, darling, Grandfather and Grandmother are here.”

Rosie pushed herself to her feet and trotted to her mother, slipping her hand into Samantha’s, giving her a beaming smile and a giggle. Then Samantha slipped her free arm through her husband’s.

“Shall we, Lord Moulton?”

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Grab my new series, "Scandalous Regency Affairs", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!

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