Harlequin Historical November 2015, Box Set 2 of 2 (19 page)

“Winifred, I do know that your music career at the conservatory is important to you. But I can't lose you. Ever. I'm asking you to marry me. To stay here in Smoke River and be my wife.”

He held his breath while she smoothed her hand across his cheek. “Yes, my career at the conservatory is important to me. Very important. I have worked for it all my life. But...”

She brushed her thumb over his lower lip. “But it is not as important to me as you are.”

“What?” He wasn't sure he'd heard right. “What do you mean?”

“It's simple, Zane. I love you. I want to be here, with you. And Rosemarie. The cost would be too high to miss this during my lifetime.”

“Why the hell didn't you tell me?”

“I told you I sent a telegram to the conservatory director.”

“Yes, I remember. You didn't tell me what you said in that telegram, however.”

“I wired my resignation. I knew the minute I saw you lying in that hospital bed that I'd never be able to leave you again.”

“I asked you to marry me the last time you were here,” he reminded her.

“I remember. But I wasn't ready then. Then I didn't think I could give up my conservatory career. Now I know it is you I cannot give up.”

With a shaky sigh he gathered her close, and after a number of kisses they made love again. And again.

In the morning, a smiling Sam and Yan Li moved quietly about the house, careful not to disturb the couple sleeping behind Zane's bedroom door.

* * *

Zane stood quietly at Celeste's grave, Rosemarie's tiny hand clasped in his. Very deliberately he knelt and laid a bouquet of yellow roses on the soft earth.

Someone had planted flowers of some kind, daisies he guessed; they spilled over the site and twined up the gray headstone. Perhaps Winifred had thought to do this.

He plucked a single golden bloom and nestled it behind his daughter's ear. Then he lifted her into his arms and turned toward the small, peaceful town and the road that led home.

Epilogue

Smoke River Sentinel

December 24th, 1873

BELOVED PHYSICIAN MARRIES!

Dr. Nathaniel (Zane) Dougherty was joined in matrimony on Sunday with the former Winifred Von Dannen of St. Louis at a candlelight ceremony at the doctor's Smoke River residence.

The bride wore a simply cut gown of yellow
peau de soie
and carried a bouquet of honeysuckle and yellow damask roses. She was given away by Rooney Cloudman and preceded to the altar by her niece, Rosemarie Winifred Dougherty. Dr. Samuel Graham stood up with the groom, and Reverend Anthony Pollock conducted the service.

Dr. Dougherty is cofounder of the Samuel Graham Hospital and a respected physician and surgeon in private practice, serving both the Smoke River and Gillette Springs communities. The new Mrs. Dougherty was a respected concert pianist and professor of music at the Adamson Conservatory in St. Louis, Missouri.

Following the ceremony, a spectacular seven-layer wedding cake, created by Ming Cha, owner of Uncle Charlie's Bakery, was served along with lemonade and champagne punch.

The couple will reside in Smoke River, where Mrs. Dougherty intends to open a music school.

* * *

Smoke River Sentinel

January 30th, 1874

NEW MUSIC ACADEMY OPENS!

Winifred (Von Dannen) Dougherty announced the opening of her new music academy at a tea hosted by Sarah Rose Cloudman at Rose Cottage. Private lessons at the school will be offered in piano, violin and voice; in addition, classes will be offered in choral performance and in rhythm band for children. Mrs. Dougherty has expressed interest in locating a teacher of both violin and woodwind instruments.

In the fall, Winifred Dougherty will be performing concerts with both the Portland and San Francisco symphony orchestras and she will be presenting recitals with various chamber groups in those cities.

Classes at the new music academy will be held in the upstairs rooms over the new Smoke River Bank & Trust Building.

* * * * *

We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Historical.

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ISBN-13: 9781460387702

Smoke River Family

Copyright © 2015 by The Woolston Family Trust

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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Adventures of an English debutante

The perfect diplomat's daughter, Mary Manning spent her young life following her father around the world, behaving in the most agreeable way. So stealing a kiss from military hero Sebastian Barrett was most out of character, and a mistake she'll never make again!

A mission to Brazil seems the perfect way to escape his tempting emerald eyes. But when he, too, arrives upon the sultry sands of Rio, Mary realizes there's no running from the perfectly wicked way Sebastian makes her feel...

“Miss Manning, have
you
met the great hero of the day?” Lady Alnworth said.

He turned to smile at Mary, and it took all her long years of careful diplomatic training to keep her own polite smile in place. A chivalric knight of old, only in a red coat instead of gleaming armor. On him, that uniform seemed...different. Exotic. Alluring.

“How do you do, Miss Manning,” he said, bowing over her hand. His breath through her glove made her shiver. His hair was a golden brown, shimmering as if he spent much time in the sun. It gave him such a warmth she wanted to get close to. So very vital, burning with raw, energetic
life
.

Yes
, she thought. No wonder all the young ladies of London were in love with him. If she wasn't careful, she would soon be one of them!

Author Note

I don't know what this past winter was like where you are, but here it was cold, gray and long! (And I am not a winter person—ever...) So I definitely loved escaping to the warm beaches of Brazil, even if it was only in my imagination.

I also loved watching the romance of Mary and Sebastian unfold against the palm trees and real-life political intrigue of 1808 Rio. They started to feel like real friends, two people whose adventures I loved following every day. I was never sure where they would go, but I knew they definitely belonged together—two strong, kindhearted, brave people who were too honorable and stubborn for their own good! Maybe I was just feeling extraromantic after my own wedding last summer! I hope you enjoy their adventures, too...

For more behind-the-book history and deleted scenes from
The Demure Miss Manning
, be sure to visit me at
ammandamccabe.com
.

Amanda
McCabe

The Demure
Miss Manning

Amanda McCabe
wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen—a vast epic, starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class. She's never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including a RITA® Award, an RT Reviewers' Choice Best Book Award, a Booksellers Best Award, a National Readers' Choice Award and a Holt Medallion. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband, one dog and one cat.

Books by Amanda McCabe

Harlequin Historical
and Harlequin Historical
Undone!
ebooks

Bancrofts of Barton Park

The Runaway Countess
Running from Scandal
Running into Temptation
(Undone!)

The Chase Muses

To Catch a Rogue
To Deceive a Duke
To Kiss a Count
To Bed a Libertine
(Undone!)

Linked by Character

The Winter Queen
Tarnished Rose of the Court

Stand-Alone Novels

Betrayed by His Kiss
The Demure Miss Manning

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by Amanda McCabe

Girl in the Beaded Mask
Unlacing the Lady in Waiting
One Wicked Christmas
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