Billionaire Flawed 1(181)

John nodded at the Bishop who nodded right back at him. There was a big heart in him all along. John saw his father in the corner or the room looking at him with the typical Amish reserve. But then he smiled and walked over.

“Son, I am so proud of you.” He hugged John. “You know that is all a father ever hopes for, that he can be proud of his son. Your mother would be proud too.”

“Father, I’m sorry for…”

“There is not time for that now. Right now is time to rejoice,” said his father.

Mary and Deborah looked elated at the news. Especially Deborah. “So looks like we are going to have even more time to get to know each other,” said Mary.

“Ya, and that isn’t such a bad thing,” replied John. He had not wanted to get his wishes up for Mary, for fear of disappointment. But now he allowed himself to dream. He saw Samuel walking out of the room, seemingly the only person that was upset.

“Come on, let’s go home,” said Deborah.







That night, John was to bed court with Mary for the first time. It was something that he had never done before. “Hi,” he said when he got on his side of the bed. He didn’t know what else to say. “I kind of like that I can talk to you all night,” he continued.

“So do I,” whispered Mary. “How does it feel not to be sleeping on the couch? Do you feel more like family?”

John laughed. “I think I have a way that would make me feel even more like family though. Will you be my wife, Mary?”

Mary squealed. “Of course I will. You are my best friend, and what better than to be married to your best friend.” She wanted to jump out of bed and scream and tell the whole world. But what she wanted even more was to lay in bed and enjoy getting to know the man that she would spend the rest of her life with.





THE END





Regency Romance Collection





The Bet of the Season – A Regency Romance

Lord and Lady Ashington and their daughter Emily, the announcer shouted.

Emily stood with her parents at the top of the marble staircase and looked down into the ballroom. She noticed how everyone seemed to be looking at her.

I hadn't expected there to be so many people, she whispered to her mother.

As you know, your father and I always host the first ball of the season. We like to invite as many people as we possibly can. We find it gets the season off to a rousing start. This is the first ball you have been to here since your coming out. It's going to be a splendid occasion.

It all looks very spectacular, Emily whispered, just before her father led them down the stairs to their eager guests.

When they had reached the bottom of the stairs, Emily's mother turned to her, there are several eligible young men here this evening my dear. Please don't wander off with your cousins before I have had a chance to introduce you to some of them. Emily looked around, curious to see who her mother could possibly mean.

She was very familiar with her surroundings. Although this was the first ball she had been allowed to attend at Priory Manor, she had spent many a childhood hour in the ballroom with her sister and cousins, hosting pretend balls. Emily remembered how exasperated her mother had been when she had borrowed her pearls to dress up in. They are priceless, and you are swinging them around like you found them in a back alley, she'd told her.

The ballroom was the largest in the County of Yorkshire. Priory Hall had been the seat of the Ashingtons since the days of King John. It was one of the finest stately homes in the land. Emily was amazed at how colorful the event was. At her debutante ball the previous summer, all the young ladies had worn white. That was behind her now, and she was able to go to balls where the ladies wore splendid colors. She had chosen to wear a striking gold muslin dress with gilt edges and silk flowers woven into it.

Cousin Emily, Beatrice exclaimed, enthusiastically. You look stunning. I adore your gown. Such beautiful silken flowers. And your tiara of pearls is simply exquisite. You are the most amazingly beautiful woman here this evening. She looked at her cousin, who she adored, and tried to see what was different about her this evening. Emily was tall and slender, and Beatrice thought her dress showed off her tiny waist to perfection. She noticed Emily's Mediterranean blue eyes sparkling under the light of the giant chandelier, her blonde hair falling beautifully to her shoulders in perfectly manicured locks. Then Beatrice realized. It was her makeup that was different. In particular her lips. Emily had voluptuous lips, as perfect as was humanly possible and this evening she had used lip rouge. She looked stunning.

Nonsense cousin, if anyone is the Belle of the Ball, it is you.”

Well then, let these two beautiful women go and find themselves, two handsome princes. There are so many unattached men to choose from, we'd better hasten or we will run out of time.”