Two weeks later . . .

The bloody circles around her wrists no longer bled. The blue circle around her neck was fading. James Ashburnham was in Newgate Prison charged with murder. But still her husband had not returned to his bank. He refused to leave her side.

Not that she minded. She never tired of being with him, never tired of being cherished by this man she loved more than life.

This was the first day he had allowed her out of their house since the day James Ashburnham had nearly killed her. Adam's ministrations on her behalf were growing tedious. As much as she basked in his love and as much as she admired their beautiful house, she needed to get away, and so did he.

They sat close in the carriage, each of them touching and feeling and kissing the other. She would never tire of these actions.

As the coach rattled over the busy streets of the Capital, she reflected on that horrid day James Ashburnham tried to kill her. She was quite sure she was almost dead when she heard Adam declare his love for her. From the edge of oblivion, she clawed back. Because of Adam. Because of his love for her.

"I have a confession," she said.

He pulled her closer. "And what might that be?"

She drew a deep breath. "Since the day I married you, I've been in love with you."

He smiled. "That's hardly a confession. A confession's a revelation about something wicked." Drawing her even closer, he growled, "Unless you're admitting you've always had wicked thoughts about me."

She playfully swatted at him. "I didn't know about wickedness until you introduced me to it."

He kissed her hungrily and splayed his hand over her breast. "In this way?"

Her breath was coming fast. "You're very wicked."

"I have a confession, too."

She raised her brows.

"Nick told me I had never married because I'd not met The One." He paused. Swallowed. "You are The One."

Her eyes moist, the former Miss Emma Hastings was speechless.

He drew her into his arms. "Where is it you're taking us today, love?"

"I'm not telling you until we get there."

"Why the secrecy?"

"It's not really secret. It's just that I was afraid you wouldn't want to come. You'd find it too somber after all we've been through."

Their carriage came to a stop. She peered from the coach window and realized they'd arrived at their destination.

The coachman let down the step and opened the door. Adam looked around. "You've brought me to a bloody cemetery?"

She nodded playfully as he assisted her from the coach. "It's where Uncle Simon is buried."

He bowed his head and adopted a solemn countenance.

"You mustn't be mournful," she said. "I'm very sorry for his death and very sorry that I never met him, but I owe so much to him."

It was then that the coachman handed her the flowers she had pre-selected to place on her uncle's grave. She and Adam walked along the old cemetery until they found the granite marker. She grew solemn as she read her uncle's name and the dates of his birth and death. Leaning over the grave, she placed the wreath against the headstone.

"I know it's silly," she said, "but I wanted to tell Uncle Simon that I've decided to use the money he left to me to establish an orphanage in London. I was a fortunate orphan to have had Aunt Harriett and Uncle Simon. Most others, especially here in London, aren't as lucky. Because of Uncle Simon, orphans for decades to come will have a home and opportunities to succeed in life."

Adam nodded his agreement.

"And, Uncle Simon," she said, looking at his headstone, "I want you to know that because of your death, I've had the great good fortune to unite myself with the most wonderful man in the world. It would never have happened had you not died." She recalled the rainy night of her arrival in London, the night she met her husband. What could have been disastrous for her turned into an unrivaled advantage.

Adam moved directly behind her and pulled her against him, encircling her in his arms. "Permit me to address your uncle."

Happiness flashing in her eyes, she nodded.

"I will cherish your niece until the stars cease to shine, until the end of time."

She turned around to face him, tears glistening in her eyes. "I think Uncle Simon would approve."

He drew her into his arms for a tender kiss.

 

 

Dear Reader,

 

Thank you for reading Miss Hastings’ Excellent London Adventure. If you would like to keep up with my new releases and other writing news, you can subscribe to my occasional newsletter .

 

Brazen Brides Series

 

If you enjoyed Miss Hastings’ Excellent Adventure (Book 4 in the series), you might like to check out the other installments in the Brazen Brides series:

 

Counterfeit Countess (Book 1)

His Golden Ring (Book 2)

Oh What A (Wedding) Night (Book 3)

Marriage of Inconvenience (Book 5)

 

Counterfeit Countess

 

“Readers who like their Regencies spiced with danger and desire will love Bolen's humorous and sexy romance”—Booklist

 

How can Edward, the Earl of Warwick, get rid of the beautiful woman who comes barreling into his house with no less than fourteen trunks, a younger sister, a maid, and a very large cat? The imposter claims to be Lady Warwick.

 

Under orders from his superior at the Foreign Office, Edward can't get rid of her because her late husband held the clue to the identity of England's greatest traitor, a clue they must get. But how can Edward be with Maggie, the lovely counterfeit countess, day in and day out—and still keep his pledge to wed another? .

 

His Golden Ring

 

Holt Medallion 2006, Best Historical Romance

 

“Who can resist a marriage of convenience between a couple who have nothing in common—but passion!”—Eloisa James, New York Times Bestselling author

 

The past year has been most unkind to Lady Fiona Hollingsworth.  First, the man she has been promised to for half her life (Edward, Earl Warwick, hero of Counterfeit Countess) broke her heart by marrying another.  Then her beloved father died, leaving his financial affairs in shambles.  And now her eldest brother has been abducted by Spanish outlaws who demand an exorbitant ransom to ensure his safe return.  Desperate to save her brother, Fiona remembers a chance meeting with the handsome Nicholas Birmingham, the richest stockbroker in all of England, a man shunned by her brother.  She casts her pride aside and goes to Nicholas, but all she has to offer as collateral is . . . herself.  .

 

Oh What A (Wedding) Night

 

As Lady Sophia Beresford (recently Lady Finkel) passes through the gates of her new bridegroom’s country estate and he begins to whisper in her ear of the delights that await her in his bed, Lady Sophia realizes she has made a most dreadful mistake. There’s only one thing to do. She must bolt.

 

The bride-on-the-run is rescued by the exceedingly handsome William Birmingham who thinks she’s a woman named Isadore, and though he’s the richest man in England, she mistakes him for a common (but well-to-do) criminal. Since she’d rather be dead than wed to Finkel, Sophia pretends to be Isadore and take her chances with the provocative Mr. Birmingham. But how could she have known that her ruse would bring the gallant Mr. Birmingham into such peril from the wicked man she married? And how could she have known her enigmatic rescuer would ignite passions she’d never known she possessed?  .

 

Marriage of Inconvenience

 

You can read about Maggie's bookish sister, Rebecca Peabody, in Marriage of Inconvenience.

 

“Long-time fans and new readers alike will be delighted with her [Rebecca Peabody's] story.—In Print, Kay Hudson

 

A loveless marriage between bluestocking Rebecca Peabody (sister of Counterfeit Countess) and a powerful peer turns out to be anything but. . .    .

 

Win a $50 Gift Certificate

 

I hope you enjoyed Miss Hastings’ Excellent Adventure. If you did, would you please consider posting a review by the book's listing at Goodreads and/or Amazon. If you do, please email me at and I will enter your name in my quarterly drawings for a $50 Amazon gift certificate. Each time you review one of my books, let me know, and you will get another entry.

Thank you from Cheryl Bolen