Page 185 of Dukes for Dessert

“No.”

“Yes,” Theodosia spoke over Aidan. “Yes, I will marry you.” Even if it means she was cast out of her family, even if she earned their displeasure and scorn. “I love you,” she said softly.

Her father let out a curse. “I don’t like you, Devlin.” The earl had made no secret of the truth all these years—he hated Damian, even as he didn’t know him. All because he’d been trained to detest the Renshaws for having attained that weapon that once belonged to them. Yet there was an easing of the tension in his bulky frame.

“Surely you are not considering allowing her to wed him?” Aidan cried out.

“Leave us,” their father ordered. Mother and sons lingered a moment with mutinous sets to their mouths and then together strode angrily from the room. They closed the door hard in their wake.

Through it, Damian continued to work his hand over Theodosia’s and then carefully, he held the sword out toward her father. Damian may as well have handed over the kingdom for his care. With almost reverent hands, her father took it silently and then he gave a nod.

Her lips twitched. Of course, a man who’d revered that gladius since his own early days should un-hesitantly turn his daughter over to the care of a man who’d given over that precious item. Damian fished around the front pocket of his jacket. “I love you.” He withdrew a small bouquet of rumpled thistles.

Her heart warmed and she touched her fingers to her lips. This same man who’d first sneered at the legend behind the Theodosia now paid honor to the tales with each word, each offering. “The moment you entered my office, you failed to steal your legendary sword.” He paused. “Instead you stole my heart. Marry me.”

Emotion squeezed at her heart and another tear slid down her cheek. He was the other half of her soul she’d not known had been missing. Theodosia managed a jerky nod.

“My love for thee.” That gruff whisper that had first terrified her in his office less than a week ago now warmed her.

She leaned up on tiptoe and with their lips but a hairsbreadth apart, whispered, “For eternity it will bind us.”

Epilogue

Summer 1810, The Manor of Elstree, Hertfordshire, England

Standing in the White Parlor, bathed in the sun’s rays, Theodosia peeled back the curtains and stared outside her family’s Hertfordshire properties, desperately searching.

Joy, nervousness, and fear warred in her breast. “Where is he?” she whispered to herself. What if Damian had been proven wrong? What if—?

Her husband settled his hands on her shoulders and gave a slight squeeze. “He will be here, Theo,” he promised, his breath fanned against her ear. She leaned into his caress, the commanding strength he exuded drove back the fear that had been with her since the day they’d learned her brother Lucas, was, in fact, living.

Fear that the sources her husband had hired to search for Lucas’ whereabouts had proven incorrect. Fear, that they’d found an altogether different man languishing in Spain.

“He will be here,” Damian pledged, pressing a lingering kiss against her temple.

In the six months that she had been wed to Damian, she’d oft feared that nothing would bring all her family together with her husband.

While the Earl and Countess of Lavery had come to see Damian as part of them, Richard and Aidan had looked upon Theodosia’s husband, first, with a cool disdain, and then that tangible animosity had receded…to an icy politeness.

In the crystal windowpane, with the collection of guests present, the day proved how wrong those fears had been. Her parents sat perched, side by side on the sofa, their hands clasped tight. Hovering behind Theodosia, their tall frames erect and unbending, Aidan and Richard stood shoulder to shoulder.

Her throat worked. Yes, she’d despaired of her husband ever knowing peace with her brothers.

The floorboards groaned and she turned. Damian’s arms fell to his sides, just as Richard came over.

“Thank you,” Richard said hoarsely, for the tenth time since Theodosia and Damian had stepped inside the room. He clasped his brother-in-law’s hand and gave a firm shake.

Her husband returned that gesture. “Please, there is no need—”

“There is every need,” Richard interrupted hoarsely. “You found my brother and, for that, I can never repay you.”

“I do not expect, nor want any payment,” Damian said, in his gravelly tones. “You are family.”

A sheen of tears blurred her vision as Richard grabbed Damian in a quick hug, slapping him on the back. Mayhap there would forever exist resentment within some of the Raynes and Renshaws…but there was a new peace and love. With each day that passed, the bond joining their families grew. As though embarrassed by his show of emotion, Richard immediately released his brother-in-law.

The rumble of carriage wheels filtered up to the parlor window and, with a gasp, Theodosia pressed her forehead to the window. “He is here,” she breathed. With her husband at her side, Theodosia bolted from the room. Her family’s cries and footsteps echoed behind them as they raced down the corridors.

Heart pounding loudly in her ears, she rushed into the soaring foyer just as the butler drew the door open. The smooth soles of her slippers skidded along the marble floor and she shot her arms out to steady herself. Damian immediately caught her around the waist, keeping her upright.