She blushed, but remained silent.
“So I’m going to assume that you, my brothers and sisters, have found strength and joy in those you have chosen to love, as well. The end result is that we are now, truly, a family.” He raised his glass high.
“I give you the six pearls of Baron Ridlington. And the joy of knowing so many more pearls will fill the years ahead.”
“The Six Pearls.”
THE END
A footnote from Sahara Kelly
So we bid farewell to the Ridlingtons and their assorted families, secure in the knowledge they are now happy, loved…and actually, quite fertile. There are bound to be more children, for that is how families build traditions, fortunes and dynasties.
And of course, we know that Dal and Augusta are heading in a certain direction. There’s even a strong possibility that come Christmas, we might find out whether Sir Peregrine’s life will veer down a new path.
One never knows.
This is a bittersweet time for your author, having to bid farewell to a series written about people with whom I have developed a very strong attachment. But I believe most strongly that series books can overstay their welcome, and I won’t let this happen to any of the novels I write.
These six books were a labour of love, but the operative word there islabour. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that writing a series is easy—it’s not. In this case, I found myself blessed with wonderful characters, but six was enough. Any more than that, and I worried that the stories might become repetitive, derivative or just flat-out boring.
So it’s on to new projects, new heroes and heroines, new looks at the Regency and the people who made it what I consider one of the most engaging periods in history. I’ve touched on Waterloo, on the emergence of women writers, on smuggling, scandals and even ghosts, all while in the company of a Ridlington or two.
But so much more was happening in the first two decades of the 1800s. So now it’s time to leave the Ridlingtons, and allow this particular family to go on with their lives.
There are plenty more stories to be told, so watch for new Regency romances coming soon.
*~~*~~*
In case you may have missed any of the first four novels in this series, and would like to catch up/find out how this family’s adventures began, here are excerpts from Edmund’s story, Simon’s adventures with Tabitha, the start of Letitia’s literary career and a peek at Kitty in London.
Links to all these books, available at Amazon.com, can be found in the bibliography, as well as at the end of each excerpt. (If you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you may read these books—and most of Sahara Kelly’s other novels—for free.)
THE LANDLOCKED BARON
Book 1 in the Six Pearls of Baron Ridlington Series
“I do beg your pardon.”
Everyone’s head turned. The slender blonde stepped forward. “Oh please don’t. We should be thanking you for your care of our brother.” She put down her glass and came forward. “I’m Letitia Ridlington.”
“Miss Ridlington.” The woman curtseyed. “I’m happy to say that your brother is doing well. He has a headache, which is to be expected. But he sustained no other injury than a nasty knock on the head and the doctor expects him to make a full recovery.”
“You managed to reach Dr. Fisher, then?” Simon inquired.
“I did, sir. He had planned to attend the funeral, but said a local woman was in the throes of childbirth. The arrival delayed him, and he could only stay for a few moments, before hurrying back to the mother and babe.”
“One life ends and another begins.” Hecate sipped her champagne. “I’m Hecate. The last Ridlington. I don’t believe we’ve met?”
“Forgive me.” The woman paused. “I should introduce myself. I am Rosaline Henry, currently employed as companion to Lady Fincham.”
“We owe you an enormous debt of gratitude, Miss Henry,” said Kitty. “You handled all the confusion so well and with such an air of command. Everyone obeyed you without question and what could have been a terrible disaster was utterly averted. I was astounded.”
Rosaline felt the colour rise in her cheeks, but kept her voice level. “You are too kind.” She stepped a little further into the room. “To be accurate, I am Mrs. Henry. My husband passed away last year which circumstance forced me into the position I have now with Lady Fincham.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Hecate moved to her side and touched her arm in sympathy.
“Thank you. But we must move on with our lives.” It was a practical and appropriate response, but Rosaline was moved, all the same.
