Seeds of Love: Prequel to Lily in Bloom (11 page)

“Mrs. Randal, may I introduce Mrs. Carter.” He beamed, looking down at her and winking.

The housekeeper paused for just a moment and then gave them a smile. Relief washed through Regina. “Pleased to meet you, would you be liking some dinner?”

“Bring something up to our room later. Leave it outside the door.” Then James swept her up the large staircase.

Before Regina had even looked at her surroundings, James laid her down in a soft bed. His lips found hers.

“What will the staff think?” she gasped as his lips came down on her clothed breast. He began tearing away at her clothing.

“They’ll think we are newlyweds who need some privacy. Now, it is time to officially make you Mrs. Carter.”

Regina lost herself in his arms that night. Without the fear or pain, it was magical. They climaxed together and Regina floated down in his arms. She had never been happier.

Snuggled close to him, she drifted off into the best sleep of her life. A knock at the door roused her.

“Go away,” James called.

“But sir, someone is here to see you.”

“Tell them to go away.”

“But sir, he says he wants his daughter back.”

Regina sat bolt upright. She hadn’t pictured her father chasing her. She looked at James, his mouth was set in a grim line.

“I’ll be right down.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“No, stay here. It is my duty to fix this—”

“Posh, I ran away. I stowed in your ship. This is my doing. I’ll not be left out anymore.”

James gave her a smile. “That’s my girl. I’ll help you dress.”

Within ten minutes, they were heading back down the stairs. This time Regina had time to look around. The house was beautiful but it lacked the finish she could give it to truly make it special.

Her father lounged in a chair in the front sitting room. He looked surprisingly casual.

“Papa?”

“What I want to know, Regina, is did you run away or did he steal you?”

“It was my choice. He didn’t have anything to do with it.”

“That I find hard to believe. Did he turn his ship around and deliver you right back to my door? I don’t think so.”

“You’re correct there, sir—”

“Tom, call me Tom.” Her father’s voice was smooth and calm.

“Tom, I have married your daughter.”

“Excellent. You will get a small portion of my business since I know you don’t want to take it over. You will have exclusive rights to build our ships of course. Regina also has an inheritance from her mother that includes a piece of land on the Boston Harbor.”

Regina looked at James. This was not what she had expected. “Papa?”

“Regina, you are my daughter. I couldn’t just give you what you wanted. You had to learn to take it. You will appreciate it so much more for having made the choice yourself. Now James, do you accept the terms?”

“I do not need a dowry. I will take care of Regina myself.”

“I know, son. Put it away for your children then.”

James gave a nod and the two men shook hands. “Now, if I may encroach upon your hospitality, I am famished.”

Regina shook her head. In all her imaginings, she would have never expected this but he was right. Being married to James was all the more sweet for having made the choice and fought for the man she loved.

SEEDS OF LOVE

EPILOGUE

Regina lay in
bed, panting. When would James come? Another contraction tightened her body, leaving her breathless. She had done this before, of course. James Jr. and little Tom were now with their nanny waiting for the birth of their newest sibling.

Regina and James had been married for eight blissful years. Regina thanked the stars every day that she had met James.

She was no longer the woman who had first fallen on the docks. These days she laughed louder and told people when she disagreed with them. James’ love had allowed her to open up in ways she never imagined she would. And right now, she was irritated with her husband. He would know it.

He had promised to be here for the birth of their child. He was making a quick trip to Boston and then he promised to come right back. But a storm had blown in and he hadn’t returned.

Another contraction ripped through Regina and she cried out. She was worried and angry all in the same moment.

The door burst open and James looked at her lying in the bed. “I’m not too late,” he panted.

“You’re late and you frightened me half—aahhhh!” Another contraction left her breathless.

“I am so sorry, my love. Please forgive me.” He knelt beside the bed, holding her hand. He kissed it over and over.

“It won’t be long now, you should go.” The doctor nodded towards the door.

“I’ll stay.” James pushed the hair back from Regina’s brow. She gave him a small smile as the urge to push took over.

James held her tight as a baby girl entered the world.

The doctor wrapped her in blankets and handed her to her mother. James snuggled them both to his chest. “A girl. By all the saints, it’s a girl. What should we call her?”

“Lillian,” Regina said simply.

“I like that. My Lily.”

“Was the storm terrible?”

“It wasn’t good, Regina.”

“We’ve made our life on the ocean, and if tomorrow were my last day, I would feel complete having you in my life and in my heart. I love you, James. But we have to take measures to ensure our children’s future.”

“We have an inheritance set aside for each of them.” He held her closer, squeezing her shoulders.

“We can’t just give it to them, though. They have to fight for it, love for it. I didn’t know it but that was a gift my father was giving to me. We should give it to them. Don’t you think?”

He nodded. “I agree. Either way, we will make sure to teach James, Tom, and Lily what it means to fight for love.”

“I love you, James Carter.” She turned her face up to his and he peppered her with kisses.

“And I you, my darling Regina.”

EXCERPT: LILIES IN BLOOM BOOK 2

LILY IN BLOOM

April 1854

“This color would
look lovely on you, darling.  It is the perfect shade of blue for your eyes.”  The dressmaker gushed over a bolt of lovely fabric as she held it up under Lillian Carter’s chin.

Lily smiled weakly and looked over at her brother, James.  She knew that they couldn’t afford custom dresses and that is why she hadn’t wanted to come to the dress shop at all but her brother had insisted.  He wanted her to have new clothes for the upcoming spring season in Boston.

“That’s perfect, we’ll take it.”  James said with a stubborn set to his jaw.

“You look like you just swallowed sour milk,”  Lily said to her brother with a laugh.  James scowled more deeply and gave his sister a hard look.  Undeterred, she stopped laughing but continued to smile.  “We don’t need to buy dresses James.  I am sure I can make do with what I have.  I can always rework them to be more in fashion.”

“Absolutely not.  With Tom’s wedding happening this season you’ll need clothes for all the events we’ll be attending.  It will be the perfect opportunity for you to be introduced to perspective suitors.” James’ face remained set.

Lily’s smile slipped from her face but she said nothing and James did not notice because his wife had emerged from the dressing room.  Elise stood before them in a beautiful pink evening dress.  She pirouetted and then stepped in front of the mirror.

“What do you think?”  Elise asked with a smile.  Her dark hair and eyes were set off beautifully by the fabric, which came off the shoulder and hugged her supple curves.

“You look beautiful.”  Lily said, with a smile, to her sister-in-law.

James moved closer to inspect his wife and the two shared a look that made Lily turn away with a slight blush on her face.  Her brother and Elise had fallen madly in love six years ago and had been married for the past five.  They seemed just as passionate about each other now as they had then.  Lily hoped for the opportunity to find that for herself someday but her time was running out.

“Miss Carter, why don’t you step into the dressing room, I have some dresses made up in that blue silk.”  The dressmaker discreetly led Lily out of sight of the couple.

As Lily emerged from the dressing room a few minutes later, in a fitted gown with a low neckline currently in fashion, she was glad that James had taken her to buy new dresses.  Her current wardrobe had been purchased four years ago when she was fifteen and was far too girlish for a woman almost twenty.

“Lily, it is positively gorgeous!  My god, when did you become so stunning!”  Elise gushed as she saw the figure Lily posed in the mirror.

Lily looked at her reflection and was taken aback by what she saw.  The women in the shop had piled her honey colored hair on top of her head and let a few tendrils fall around her face.  The natural curls complimented her high cheek bones and full lips.  The color of the dress accentuated the shade of her eyes and made their exotic slant even more noticeable.  The dress hugged her curves and made her waist appear non-existent compared to her hips and bosom.  She felt like she was seeing herself for the first time.

James positively scowled and turned to his wife.  “I have changed my mind.  We’re not buying these for Lily, men will be crawling over themselves…”