BECAUSE MISS "BRIDGERTON"
chapter 25 [the end]
A few months later
The Crake House
.
“THE RESULT IS FINAL,” Billie adds the last column in style. “I win.”
George turned his head towards Billie from his position on their bed—the large and beautiful four-pole bed that Billie beautified in green a few weeks after they got married. The man was reading a book; billie could not see the title. George always reads before they go to sleep. She liked that from her husband. George has a routine. One more reason why they are the perfect couple.
“What else this time?” mumbling husband.
Billie knew her husband was just being nice, but she was so happy with the numbers in front of him that she decided she didn't care. “Panen barley,”. “Aubrey Hall beats Crake by.. wait a minute..” He bites his lips while making another calculation. “One comma one!”
“What a great result.”
Billie sneered, trying to show a lame face.
“Did you factor in Aubrey's larger land area?”
“Of course!” Billie rolled her eyeballs. “Really, George.”
Her husband's lips curved faintly. “May I remind you that you live in Crake?”
Billie felt herself smiling back.
“And now your name is Billie Rokesby?”
“I will always be Bridgerton in my heart. Well,” Billie added, disliked the frown on George's forehead, “Bridgerton and Rokesby.”
Husband sighing. Just slightly. “I don't think you're planning to switch your great skills and take care of Crake.”
It is not the first time Billie has felt the rush of gratitude that George did not mind when he told her he wanted to continue his work at Aubrey Hall. Her husband is an unusual man. He's understood. Sometimes Billie thinks George might be the only one who understands her.
“My father still needs me,” he replied. “At least until Edmund is ready to take over.”
George got up from the bed and walked over. “Your father's field manager will be happy to finally be able to work according to the salary paid to him.”
Billie looks up. “I'm better than him.”
Billie hit George's arm, then let out a sigh as her husband leaned over and kissed her neck. “I have to thank you,” he said.
Her husband's lips stopped moving, and Billie could feel the man's smile on her skin. “For what?”
“Everything, really. But mostly to be you.”
“Then thank you back, Lady Kennard.”
“I will try to reduce my work,” Billie said. George's right. Maybe he didn't need to do so much at Aubrey Hall. And with what they've done so far, she could get pregnant faster. He must learn to let go of his life in Aubrey, or at least relax his grip.
He retreated to see George's face. “You don't mind if I take on a more active role here at Crake? With plantation, not only with home?”
“Of course not! We'll feel lucky—” George stopped, his words truncated knock on the door. “Log in!”
The open door showed a maid who looked agitated. “There's a message, My Lord,” he said.
Billie blinked. “This evening?”
The servant held out a folded letter. “This letter is addressed to Lord Manston, but he—”
“In London,” George finish for him. “I'll take it.”
“She said this message is important,” said the waiter. “If not, I will not hand over your father's personal letter.”
“It's okay, Thomas,” said Billie gently. “If the letter is urgent, it is more important that it is taken care of immediately than it is sent to Lord Manston.”
George slipped a finger into the seal candle but did not break the seal. “What is this messenger waiting for an answer?”
“No, Sir. But I directed it downstairs for hot food.”
“That's great, Thomas. That's it.”
The waiter left, and Billie tried to refrain from going to her husband's side and reading over his shoulder. Whatever the letter contained, George would say it any minute.
Billie watched as her husband's eyes moved from left to right, reading the words there quickly. After about four lines George's lips opened and he looked up. Billie's heart stopped, and she knew what her husband was going to say even before the words came out of her lips.
“Edward is alive..”
