A Heart Revealed Part 22

"I shall have this recorded straightaway," he said. "The new t.i.tle shall be delivered to you within a month's time."

"Excellent," Thomas said, standing along with Amber. "Please share our thanks with Lord Marchent for the ease of this transaction and a.s.sure him that his daughter is doing well."

"And is quite happy," Amber added, keeping her smile in place though Mr. Peters did not return it.

She did not believe her father cared all that much for her happiness, but perhaps some part buried beneath his presentation and social position would like to know of her contentment all the same. She had not seen her parents since Darra's wedding ball, though Darra and Lord Sunther had attended Amber's wedding at the Northallerton church in May.

Today, her marriage settlement-Step Cottage and the lands connected to it-had been properly joined to Thomas's land, increasing their combined holdings by nearly forty percent and further ensuring their future. Currently, she and Thomas were living at Step Cottage until their house was built. That they lived so far from town without a daily servant was but one more thing to shock the county. What would they think when Thomas drew up his will dividing his land equally between their future sons and daughters?

They exited the office to the welcoming blue of the Yorks.h.i.+re summer sky. Thomas a.s.sisted Amber back into the carriage and then took his position behind the reins. "To the La.r.s.ens?" he asked.

"Yes," Amber said, checking the watch pinned to her bodice. She was glad for having allowed additional time between appointments so as not to be late for supper, which would be served promptly at five o'clock. "How do you think Suzanne will react to our happy news?"

"The happy news of the land transaction?" Thomas asked with his eyebrows lifted in mock sincerity.

"Of course," Amber said with equal playfulness. "She shall be ever so excited about the land transaction. Why would I think her excitement would be for any other purpose?"

Thomas's broad hand on her belly caused a lump in her throat as she reflected on how truly happy she was. She placed her own hand over his and her heart filled with grat.i.tude for a man such as this, who she knew would love their child regardless of what afflictions he or she might face, who would value a daughter as highly as a son, and who would do all he could to allow them to find their own happiness in life. A father with such a progressive mind and open heart were the greatest things she could ever give to her children.

Thomas leaned toward her and smiled widely. "Suzanne shall know, perhaps better than any but the two of us, just how wonderful this truly is. Ten to one the woman gives in to tears."

Amber smiled. "You do not know her as well as I do. She was the only one not crying at the wedding."

Thomas frowned. "Must you bring that up again? I told you I had something in my eye."

Amber placed her hand on the side of his face. "Oh, how I love you, Mr. Richards."

"Then come on, and kiss me, Kate."

She did as he'd requested and hoped that the kiss communicated all the things she felt. It might take a lifetime to a.s.sure this man of all he had given her, but she was determined to see that he never questioned his choice. She was sure that she would not.

Author's note.

The condition Amber suffers from is now called Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune disorder where the hair follicles essentially die and therefore no longer grow hair. There are varying degrees of Alopecia Areata, but the one represented here is Alopecia Universalis, which presents itself as a complete-universal-loss of body hair and accounts for approximately 10 percent of Alopecia diagnoses.

Though modern research has found treatments that have been helpful for some, for many patients the hair loss is irreversible and cyclical, continuing throughout their life. The condition is often hereditary but there is not yet a cure.

In the early nineteenth century, there was no name for this disorder, but I believe that the fear and insecurity was likely not much different than it is now. Ident.i.ty, appearance, and social expectation is something each of us face, and so I hope that the difficulties and eventual acceptance Amber faced is something we can each relate to in our own way.

You can find more information, and read the stories of real people living with this disease, on the website for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation: www.naaf.org.

Acknowledgments.

The very first book I ever dared write-way back when-was a Regency romance novel. I had read hundreds of them and had wanted to show off all I had learned about the time period. That book will likely never see the light of day-I might have known the time period but I did not know how to write-but revisiting the genre that first made me think I had a story of my own to tell was fabulous.

I owe big thanks to my writing group, Nancy Allen, Becki Clayson, Jody Durfee, Ronda Hinrichsen, and Jenifer Moore for encouraging me and helping me find my voice. Jen and Nancy, specifically, provided me with research materials and fact checking that helped immensely.

Once I finished the story, Jennifer Moore and my sisters, Jenifer Johnson and Crystal White, read the book and helped me know where to improve. I am indebted to those people in my life who trust me with their honest feedback in order to make me better.

Big thanks to everyone at Shadow Mountain for believing in this project and making it happen. Specifically, Heidi Taylor, Lisa Mangum, Suzanne Brady, Heather Ward, Malina Grigg, Karen Zelnick, Mich.e.l.le Moore, and Ilise Levine. I so appreciate my relations.h.i.+p with the team of people at Shadow Mountain, and I have loved working with them on something new.

Hugs and thanks to my family, especially my husband Lee, who is the basis for every romance I write. I am greatly blessed.

About the Author.

Josi S. Kilpack published her first novel in 2000. Her seventh novel, Sheep's Clothing, won the 2007 Whitney Award for Mystery/Suspense-several others have been finalists in subsequent years. She was also the Best of State winner for fiction in Utah 2012. She has written twenty-two novels, including the twelve-volume Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series.

Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah. For more information about Josi, you can visit her website at www.josiskilpack.com.

Other Books by Josi S. Kilpack.

Daisy.

Shannon's Hope.

The Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series:.

Lemon Tart, English Trifle, Devil's Food Cake, Key Lime Pie.

Blackberry Crumble, Pumpkin Roll, Banana Split.

Tres Leches Cupcakes, Baked Alaska, Rocky Road, Fortune Cookie.

Wedding Cake, Sadie's Little Black Recipe Book.

Other Proper Romance Novels.

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson.

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson.

Longing for Home by Sarah M. Eden.

Longing for Home, vol. 2: Hope Springs by Sarah M. Eden.