Page 50 of Duke of Storme (Braving the Elements #4)

“ W here has he gone off to now?”

Diana murmured the question to the empty bedchamber while running her fingers over the still-warm sheets where Finn should have been.

One month of marriage – their true marriage – and she was still discovering his habits.

Like his tendency to rise before dawn when he had something important planned.

“Your Grace?”

Isla, her newly appointed lady’s maid, entered with an armful of morning sunlight and a knowing smile. “His Grace requests ye join him in the solarium when ye’re ready.”

Diana sat up, immediately intrigued. “The solarium? But that room has been closed off since–”

“Not anymore, Your Grace. He’s been workin’ on it for days. Had half the staff haulin’ furniture and flowers about like we were preparin’ for the King himself!”

On the bed lay a gown Diana had never seen before – deep purple silk the color of Highland heather, with delicate gold embroidery that caught the morning light like fairy dust.

“He chose this himself?” Diana asked, running her fingers over the exquisite fabric.

“Aye, had it sent from Edinburgh. Said it had to be perfect for today.” Isla’s eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement. “Though he wouldn’t tell us what today is, exactly.”

Diana allowed herself to be dressed, curiosity building with each careful arrangement of silk and each pin placed in her hair. The gown fit as though it had been made for her—which, she realized, it probably had been.

“Isla,” she said as the maid fastened a strand of pearls around her neck, “do you know if anyone else has arrived this morning?”

“Well, there’s Lord MacRae, of course. And...” Isla’s grin widened. “Yer sisters arrived at first light. Been whisperin’ with His Grace for the better part of an hour.”

“My sisters?” Diana’s heart leaped. “They are here?”

“Aye, and looking very pleased with themselves, if I may say so.”

Diana practically flew from her chamber, following the light-filled corridors toward the east wing of the castle. As she drew closer to the solarium, she could hear voices – familiar, beloved voices – drifting through the morning air.

The door to the solarium stood open, and Diana paused on the threshold, her breath catching at the sight before her.

The room had been completely transformed.

Where once there had been dust and neglect, now sunlight poured through gleaming windows onto polished floors.

Fresh flowers filled every corner – heather and beautiful blooming roses, bluebells and wild Highland foliage and wildflowers that made the air smell like freedom itself.

At the center of the room stood a long table, beautifully set with the finest china and crystal, laden with warm pastries, fresh fruit, and all manner of breakfast delicacies.

At the far end of the table, Lord Silas stood with his characteristic weathered dignity, while Lady Prudence adjusted the placement of the roses with the exacting precision Diana remembered from countless formal dinners.

The scene was perfect, intimate, and utterly unexpected.

“Diana!” Lydia’s voice rang out as she spotted her sister in the doorway. “There you are, dearest. Come in, come in!”

“What is all this then?” Diana asked, stepping into the room with wonder written across her face.

“Oh, I think you should ask your husband that,” Jane said with a meaningful smile, gesturing toward the head of the table.

And there he was. Finn stood beside the chair at the table’s head, dressed in his finest morning coat, his dark hair perfectly arranged, but his eyes holding that particular mixture of nerves and determination she’d come to know so well.

Beside him, Locke MacRae raised his coffee cup in a casual salute, his usual grin firmly in place.

Richard stood near the windows with his characteristic composed bearing, while Elias had claimed a position near the sideboard, both men clearly having been briefed on the morning’s significance.

Her father approached with a rare smile softening his gruff features while her mother moved forward with obvious satisfaction, her posture suggesting this gathering exceeded even her exacting standards for proper celebrations.

“Good morning, mo chridhe ,” Finn said softly, his voice carrying easily across the sun-drenched room.

“Good morning.” Diana felt warmth bloom in her chest at the endearment – my heart .

It had become an increasingly familiar thing for him to address her in Scots Gaelic, but the poetic sound still affected her the same every time.

“Finn, what is all this? Why is everyone…” She stopped, looking around the room at the assembled faces of the people she loved most. “Finn, love, what’s happening? ”

Finn stepped forward, taking her hands in his. “We never had our wedding breakfast,” he said, his Scottish accent more pronounced than usual – a sure sign of deep emotion. “I left ye that morning. I won’t make the same mistake again.”

Their wedding day – that cold, formal affair that had felt more like a business transaction than a celebration of love.

“Finn,” she whispered, tears already threatening.

“I know I can’t change what happened that day,” he continued, his thumbs brushing over her knuckles. “Can’t take back the way I made ye feel unwanted, unimportant. But I thought... I hoped... we could start again. Properly this time.”

“With all the people present who matter most,” Lydia added warmly. “Well, almost all...”

“And proper Highland fare,” Locke chimed in, gesturing toward a platter of what appeared to be freshly baked oatcakes. “None of that fancy London nonsense.”

“Though we did insist on decent coffee,” Richard added dryly. “Some civilized standards must be maintained, even in Scotland.”

“Speak for yourself,” Elias added with rare humour. “I find Highland hospitality quite refreshing.”

“Well,” Lord Silas said, “it’s about time someone treated our daughter as she deserves.”

Lady Prudence moved to stand beside her husband, her voice carrying a rare note of emotion. “This is precisely what a proper celebration should be, Your Grace. You have outdone yourself.”

Diana laughed, the sound a mixture of joy and tears. “You did all this... for me?”

“For us ,” Finn corrected gently, pulling out her chair with elaborate ceremony. “For the marriage we should have celebrated the first time.”

As Diana settled into her seat, she looked around the table at the faces surrounding her.

Jane sat to her right, elegant and sharp-eyed as always but with genuine warmth in her expression.

Richard had taken the seat beside his wife, his usual reserve softened by obvious affection for the family he’d married into.

Lydia had claimed the seat to her left, practically glowing with the particular happiness that came from seeing her little sister loved properly. Elias sat beside Lydia with his characteristic quiet intensity, though Diana caught the small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Her parents had settled near the head of the table, Lord Silas looking remarkably comfortable for a man who usually fled domestic gatherings, while Lady Prudence surveyed the arrangements and attendees with obvious approval.

Across from them, Locke sprawled in his chair with characteristic casual grace, while Mrs. Glenwright – dear Mrs. Glenwright – hovered nearby, beaming like a proud grandmother.

“I can barely believe you managed to get everyone here without me knowing,” Diana said, accepting a cup of tea from Finn’s own hands.

“It wasn’t easy,” Jane admitted with a laugh. “Richard and I had to leave London before dawn, and he thinks I’ve gone completely mad for rushing off to Scotland on such short notice for a second time, no less.”

“I merely suggested that proper planning might have prevented the pre-dawn departure,” Richard said mildly. “Though I admit, the cause was worthy of the inconvenience.”

“It is absolutely worth it,” Lydia said, reaching over to squeeze Diana’s hand. “You should see yer face right now.”

“What about Marian?” Diana asked. “Is she?—?”

“Too heavy with child for such a journey,” Lydia explained with fond exasperation.

“But she sends her love and about twelve different messages that I’m supposed to relay, though I suspect I’ll forget half of them.

Nicholas was quite adamant that we convey his congratulations and his threat of bodily harm should Finn ever make you the slightest bit unhappy again. ”

“A threat I take seriously,” Finn said with a slight smile. “The Marquess has a reputation for keepin’ his promises. The important thing,” Finn said, settling into his own chair, “is that everyone who helped make ye who ye are is here to celebrate who ye’ve become.”

Diana felt tears slip down her cheeks as the full meaning of the gesture hit her.

This wasn’t just a delayed wedding breakfast – it was a powerful declaration.

A public acknowledgment of what their marriage had become, surrounded by the people who’d watched her grow from a shy, uncertain girl into. .. well, into whoever she was now.

“I don’t know what to say,” she admitted.

“Say ye’ll forgive a fool who took far too long to realize what he had,” Finn said quietly, his gray-blue eyes intense on hers.

“Finn, ye don’t need to–”

“Aye, I do.” He stood suddenly, moving to kneel beside her chair as he had that day in the London inn. But this time there was no desperation in the gesture, only love and certainty. “Diana Hurriton, Duchess of Storme, will ye do me the honor of marryin’ me? Really and truly this time?”

The question hung in the air, beautiful and perfect. Around the table, their family watched in respectful silence, understanding the significance of this moment.

“We’re already married, you ridiculous man,” Diana said through her tears.