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“So she’s well?” Rosalie clarified.

“I believe so.”

“That’s wonderful news!” She considered Dimitri’s original suggestion. “If she comes through Thebarton again, we could make the offer. But I’m not sure Avery is someone who wants to settle down.”

“I just hope we have some grandchildren soon,” her mother said with a cheeky twinkle in her eye. “Enough to fill the manor.”

“Mother!” Rosalie protested, rolling her eyes. “We’re not even married yet! I want a few years before thinking about children.”

“Just make sure you have a great many when the time comes,” her mother said. “Given your history, you’ll have to do the same as the royal family—make sure there’s never one child left behind by having a large family.”

“As long as there are no triplets,” Rosalie said with a shudder. “One baby at a time will be plenty for me. And no botanical names!”

“Oh, but they’re so beautiful,” her mother said with a sigh. “Surely there wouldn’t be any harm with something like Iris? Or Daisy?” She looked at Rosalie hopefully.

“Absolutely not,” Rosalie said firmly.

Dimitri laughed, putting an arm around her and pulling her close. “I’m surprised your parents don’t call you Rose.”

“We tried,” her mother said with a sigh. “But even as a toddler, Rosalie wouldn’t respond to it.”

“Being Rosalie was bad enough,” Rosalie muttered.

“I think it’s a beautiful name.” Dimitri pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I’ve thought you were even more beautiful than a rose since the first time I saw you.”

Rosalie’s indignation melted. “I suppose it isn’t such a terrible name,” she murmured. “Not now anyway.” Her eyes narrowed. “But no botanical names for our children!”

“Whatever you say, my Rose,” Dimitri said, making her sputter and swat at him before she got a look at his face and collapsed into laughter.

When she regained her breath, he pulled her close again. The expression in his eyes had shifted, and she was at risk of turning breathless for an entirely different reason, swept away by the love and admiration she saw in his gaze.

“Two weeks until we’re husband and wife,” he murmured quietly. “I like the sound of that.”

She rested her head against him and nodded agreement. It was a beautiful thought. She would marry Dimitri, and they would live in the manor—not as lord and lady but as the heart of a whole new community. And one day they would have children to join them—children who might live in a castle but who would never attract the Legacy’s attention because they would have ordinary, boring names and a great many siblings.

She sighed happily. It sounded delightful.