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Back The Marriage List Save as PDF
Chapters (45)
  1. FIRST WALTZ
  2. Also by
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Dedication
  6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  7. CHAPTER ONE
  8. CHAPTER TWO
  9. CHAPTER THREE
  10. CHAPTER FOUR
  11. CHAPTER FIVE
  12. CHAPTER SIX
  13. CHAPTER SEVEN
  14. CHAPTER EIGHT
  15. CHAPTER NINE
  16. CHAPTER TEN
  17. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  18. CHAPTER TWELVE
  19. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  20. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  21. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  22. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  23. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  24. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  25. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  30. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  31. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  32. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  33. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  34. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  35. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  39. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  41. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  42. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  43. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  44. EPILOGUE
  45. AUTHOR’S NOTES

What was that about? The question must have been on his face, for Eleanor said, “We all get together every other summer at either Worthington Place or Stanwood Place. On the off years, the families gather at Christmas.”

“That way”—Alice waved a biscuit around, reminding him of her nephew Hugh—“we can all see one another and our brothers-in-law still have time with their families.”

“I see.” John had been right when he’d decided they were a close family.

“It is required,” Elizabeth added.

“Elizabeth!” Eleanor’s sharp tone brought a frown to the little girl’s face.

“But it is,” the child insisted. “That is what Rothwell told his mama.”

Gideon nodded. “Dom said the same thing to his mama.”

Eleanor turned to him. “And how do you know that?”

“They were talking about it.” The lad shoved a whole biscuit into his mouth, ending the questioning.

John forced down the laughter rising in him. He’d never thought he wanted a large family, but to have been raised in this one must have been enjoyable. Then he remembered that the Carpenter members had lost their parents and Lady Worthington had fought to keep them together. And Worthington’s father had died leaving him the guardianship of his sisters. No wonder they wanted to remain close. “Mandatory family gatherings sound like a great deal of fun.”

“They are.” Eleanor’s eyes appeared misty; then she blinked and the look was gone. “Are you ready to review our respective lists?”

“Yes.” He put down his cup. “Lead the way.”

He had never expected tea to be yet another revelation about her, but it had been. Eleanor and her family were part of a set. Marry one, marry the rest of them. Even if he wanted to, which he did not, there would be no keeping her from them. He had an image of Worthington, Rothwell, Kenilworth, and Merton riding up to his house in armor, swords drawn, with their ladies demanding to see Eleanor. John wasn’t sure which would scare him more, the ladies or the gentlemen. Or Eleanor. She would have to be kept under lock and key in a tower. Pity the idiot who tried to do such a thing.

She placed her fingers on his arm. “Are you well?”

“Perfectly. I merely had a flight of fancy. As if I’d been reading a medieval novel.” Someday he’d tell her. After they wed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Eleanor could not believe how comfortable Montagu seemed to be even with the dogs, albeit she was pleased he was. She was glad Posy had licked him. It gave them all an opportunity to truly see how he was about the Danes. After she had realized just how important her family, including the dogs, was to her, she was more determined than ever to ensure any husband would fit in and want to be with her family too.