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“No,” Minnie answered with a scowl.

“Yes,” Bernadette offered as she hugged Lord Alden’s arm and leaned into him.

“Minnie,” Lawrence breathed, the sparkle in his eyes ridiculously amorous. “I shall have to refer to you as my very own Minnie from henceforth.”

“No, you will not,” Minnie said, her scowl darkening.

“You are the sweetest and fairest of Minnies I have ever known,” Lawrence continued, sweeping Minnie into his arms.

“Don’t you dare,” she said, attempting to still appear outraged, when really, her heart was melting with love for the man who was now hers.

“The sun doth rise and set at the whim of my Minnie,” Lawrence pushed on in full, teasing force.

“It is a vile name that is nothing at all like myself.”

“You are just as precious and demure as your name, my lovely Minnie.”

“Would you like it if I began addressing you as Larry?”

“What sweet wonders will my Minnie reveal to me next?” Lawrence beamed.

“Larry, Larry, you are so hairy,” Minnie tossed back at him.

Neither of them could keep up the teasing. They and everyone else in their cheeky family burst into laughter at last, even Lord Dunstan. It was laughter that was beautiful and welcome. It meant that Minnie had, at last, found herself surrounded by precisely the sort of love she had always craved.