Page 103 of When the Rogue Returns

“You love everything,” Lisette said fondly and ruffled her hair. “We don’t have a baby now, but we will soon, and you are welcome to come help with it whenever you wish.”

“Papa, did you hear that? I can help with the baby!”

“Yes, lambkin, I heard,” Victor said. “Everyonein the town house heard.”

They all laughed. The trial of their lives was trying to teach Amalie not to be quite so boisterous.

“So, what do you say?” Dom asked Isa. “Would you be interested in helping us from time to time? At least until you decide what to do with your jewelry business?”

“Actually, that sounds intriguing,” Isa said. “We can try it for a bit, anyway.”

A footman came in to announce that dinner was served. As everyone moved toward the door, Victor murmured something to Lisette, who took Amalie’s hand and drew her off. Then Victor halted Isa with a hand and called out to the others, “We’ll be there in a moment.”

For his pains he got lots of sly looks from his friends, who had now become her friends, too. He stoically ignored them. As soon as the others were gone, he pulled out a little box.

“Since we were too poor to afford a ring for you all those years ago, I decided to remedy that situation.” He opened the box, and she was surprised to see a ring with several gems in a line.

She caught her breath. Lapis, iris, emerald,vermeille, emerald, kyanite, emerald.Lieveke.

Tears clogged her throat. “Oh, Victor, it’sbeautiful!”

“They’re real gems, too,” he said. “Mr. Gordon had a devil of a time finding a gem to use fork, but Lochlaw suggested the kyanite, and there you are.”

He slid the ring onto her finger, where it fit perfectly.

“I will forever be grateful to Lochlaw,” Victor went on as he kissed her hand, “and not just for the kyanite either, but because he brought you back to me.”

She covered his hand with hers. “Yes. Although sometimes, when I’m being whimsical, I fancy that our lonely hearts grew tired of waiting for us to find each other, and simply called out in the night until they got their answer. And that’s what really brought us together.”

“I like that,” he said as he drew her into his arms. Then he kissed her so sweetly that for a moment she was eighteen again, sneaking off to be with her bold young soldier.

When he drew back, all the love in the world shone in his eyes. “Because I know for certain that my heart will always hear yours.”