A Match Made in Bed (Spinster Heiresses #2)(81)

The stable lads took the pony cart from her. She was most anxious to find Soren, but she noticed a strange horse in the stables. “Do we have a visitor?”

“Yes, we do,” the head lad said. “A lone rider. My lord knew him well.”

Soren might have been familiar with the guest, but he had not been expecting him. He would have said something to Cassandra.

She marched up the path to the house. She took the back entrance so that she could speak to Mrs. Branwell and Cook before presenting herself to her husband and their guest.

Logan was in the kitchen eating a bun fresh from the oven. She stopped, watching him, her heart full of love.

He caught her eye, and popped the last of the bun greedily in his mouth, unabashedly grinning with satisfaction—and in that moment, she silently thanked Mary’s spirit that lived in her son. Logan was a gift in Cassandra’s life and, in honor of his mother’s memory, she would do all in her power to nurture his proud independence. She wanted to believe that is what her own mother had wanted for her. Gentle, loving guidance. She was thankful for what Mr. Morwath had been able to offer her.

Mrs. Branwell was happy to see her. “Lord Dewsberry wishes you to meet him in the library.”

“And what of our guest?”

“I have taken him to his room. Lord Dewsberry said he will be here for several days.”

“Who is he?”

“A Mr. Ewing.”

The name meant nothing to Cassandra. She headed for the library, untying the ribbons of her bonnet as she went.

Soren was at his desk, counting a stack of gold coins.

At the sight of her, he rose and raced to greet her. He lifted her by the waist and swept her around the room with such energy, her bonnet fell to the floor. He stopped at his desk. “Look at them. Do you know how much is there?”

Cassandra had to catch her breath. She pulled off her driving gloves and picked up one of the coins. It was thin but heavy. “Where did you find these?”

“Mr. Ewing delivered them.”

“Our mysterious guest?”

“A man in my employ. My business partners in Upper Canada sent these. They are my share of the earnings of our investments. The shipping company is still alive and well. In fact, Mr. Ewing believes we will survive the war. The trading post and store continue to grow. I knew I had the right location for them. My partners sold some of the land we had purchased. Cassandra, how many books would you like to buy? A dozen? Ten dozen?”

Her response was to the throw her arms around his neck, and the two of them hugged each other tightly with relief. Their fortunes had just changed.

“I was hoping for some luck,” he said, “but I never expected this. We are going to hire a steward and we’ll build a building for your school and buy sheep and cattle—this is what we’ve needed, Cass. According to the letter my partners sent with Ewing, we should only grow.”

She looked at him. “So, you really didn’t need to marry an heiress.”

“No, I needed to marry you.”

And in that moment, she knew the money had never mattered. Not to Soren and not to her.

Nor would the vicar’s confession have any impact on her life. Who she had been was of no importance. It was who she chose to become that gave her life meaning.

And that choice was this man’s wife.

They had each other and a future bursting with possibilities. And life was exactly as she could wish it.





Author’s Note




Dear Readers, I believe the only hallmark of a good life is how well I love and how well I am loved in return. Love is all that matters. Money will come and go . . . and if I am not careful, so will love. It is a precious thing and must be recognized and valued.

But then you know that.

You are like me. You believe love isn’t an illusion.

I don’t know why love is not easy. We all want it. Many of us have searched most of our lives for it. Some have found and nurtured it while others have tossed it away. And there are too many of us who have discovered that what we thought was love turned out to be the exact opposite. We’ve nursed our broken hearts, but hopefully not broken spirits.

Cassandra and Soren have found their magic. Their love strengthens them.

Or perhaps the two of them are so stubborn, they won’t give up. They will go on through thick and thin, and there is a grace to that as well.

Yes, Cassandra will have many children. In fact, she is already pregnant. She just doesn’t know it yet. But I can share that secret with you.

And what of Willa? She’s to be a duchess . . . but will she find love? You know that answer, and I think you’ll “love” her story.

All my best,

Cathy Maxwell October 20, 2017