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The crowd had quieted, sensing the weight of what was being said.
"I owe a public apology to the Anderton family," Mother had continued, her gaze finding Rose in the crowd and holding it steadily. "I allowed fear and prejudice to drive behavior that was beneath any reasonable standard of decency."
The silence that followed was profound. I'd found myself holding my breath, proud of her courage but uncertain how such honesty would be received.
"But more than that," Mother had said, her voice gaining strength, "I nearly cost my son the greatest happiness he'd ever known, and my daughter the friend who had already become the sister she'd always deserved. I nearly cost myself the privilege of knowing Lili Anderton—now Lili Grosvenor—a woman whose grace, intelligence, and generous heart have transformed not just Edward's life, but all of our lives."
She'd paused, her eyes now finding mine across the gathered crowd.
"Ms. Anderton," she'd said, turning back to Lili's Mother, "you raised an extraordinary daughter. I can only hope that I've learned enough from my mistakes to deserve the privilege of calling her my daughter-in-law."
Rose had stepped forward then, crossing the space between them with characteristic directness. "Honey, I reckon we've all stepped in it from time to time. The measure of a person isn't whether they make mistakes—it's whether they have the gumption to make things right."
They'd embraced then, two women from entirely different worlds finding common ground in their love for their children.
The applause that followed had been warm and genuine, but what had moved me most was the expression on Lili's face—radiant with joy and perhaps a bit of relief that the last barriers between our families had finally been laid to rest.
"Well, that was either the most elegant public apology in recent British history, or the most sophisticated diplomatic maneuver I've witnessed outside the Foreign Office," James had murmured beside me.
"Indeed." My arm tightened around Lili's waist protectively. "Mother has always had a talent for dramatic timing."
But the drama had been genuine, and the healing it represented was profound. For the first time since this entire extraordinary journey had begun, there were no secrets, no hidden agendas, no carefully maintained façades. Just two families, choosing to build something beautiful together.
The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over Grosvenor Manor. The estate, with its ivy-clad walls and towering spires, stood as a silent witness to centuries of history.
But tonight, it was our sanctuary. Our newly redecorated master suite, with its plush velvet drapes and the faint scent of lavender, felt like a world unto itself.
The air was thick with anticipation, the kind that comes only after years of longing and finally arriving at the precipice of something extraordinary.
I stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, my reflection faint in the glass. My tuxedo, still crisp from the wedding, felt both foreign and familiar. I’d worn it to marry Lili, to declare my love in front of our families and friends.
But now, as the evening deepened, it felt like a shell I was ready to shed.
“You’re staring at yourself ,”her voice interrupted my thoughts, soft and teasing. I turned to see her standing in the doorway, her hair, usually pulled back in a sleek chignon, had loosened, tendrils framing her face. She looked ethereal, untouchable, and yet, she was mine.
“I was admiring the view,”I replied, stepping away from the window. My heart quickened as I closed the distance between us.“But you’re far more captivating.”
She rolled her eyes playfully, but her lips curved into a smile.“Flattery won’t get you everywhere, husband.”
“Husband,”I repeated, savoring the word on my tongue.
It felt strange, new, and yet, it fit.“It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”
“It does,”she agreed, her gaze softening as she looked up at me.“But you’re still insufferable.”
I laughed, reaching out to take her hand. Her skin was cool against mine, a contrast to the heat building inside me.“I’ve been called worse.”
We stood there for a moment, our hands clasped, the weight of the day settling around us. The wedding had been a whirlwind—the vows, the toasts, the first dance. But now, in the quiet of our suite, it felt like we were finally alone. Truly alone.
The room seemed to shrink around us, the air charged with unspoken desire. I could feel her heartbeat against my hand, steady and strong, matching the rhythm of my own. Slowly, I raised her hand to my lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. Her breath hitched, and I saw the moment her control slipped, just a fraction.
“Lili,”I whispered, my thumb brushing the delicate skin of her wrist.“Are you ready?”
She didn’t answer with words. Instead, she stepped closer, her free hand reaching up to touch my face. Her fingers were trembling, just slightly, and I felt a surge of tenderness mixed with something wilder, more primal.
“I’ve been ready for a long time,”she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
I didn’t wait any longer. I cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs tracing the curve of her cheeks, and leaned in.