From the moment she’d seen David, he’d stolen her heart. Now she had her memory, her family and David’s love. It was a fairy tale come true.
“What about your company in Atlanta?”
“I’ve turned the day-to-day operations over to Justin. He’s more than capable of running the company. Once you’ve had time to get reacquainted with your family, I’d like to come back here, make it our home.”
Victoria’s heart flipped. “Live here?” she breathed out, her pulse racing. “At Cottonwood?”
“I’ve learned a lot since I came back home. I’ve accepted that my father couldn’t change who he was.”
“I think it broke his heart when your mother died. He never recovered. But he loved you, David. Like you, he didn’t want to trust his heart to anyone, not even his child.”
“I know. I’m sorry that we didn’t totally iron out our differences before he died, but I believe we made a peace, of sorts.”
“You did,” she replied, pleased by his insight. But that didn’t pacify her uneasiness about his being happy here. Finding acceptance of your past and living in your ancestral home were two different things. The last thing she’d ever want is for him to regret such a choice. “And you’re sure you wouldn’t mind living here?”
“I fell in love with you here, Tori. I want to live here with you for the rest of my life.” David took her hand and knelt down on the floor on one knee. “I love you. Will you marry me?”
Delighted, she stared incredulously at him. “Oh, yes, yes!” She hugged him. Leaning away she looked into his eyes, as a wondrous thought hit her. “Only—”
He eyed her with speculation. “Only what?”
She grinned. “This is an awfully big house. How would you feel about filling it with children?”
With a laugh, he kissed her hungrily. “I think we should get started on it right away. How do you feel about short engagements?”
Epilogue
Dressed in a stunning white strapless gown, Victoria made her way through the crowd of people gathered in the grand ballroom of one of the finest hotels in Savannah. The celebration of her Uncle Abraham’s election to the Senate was in full swing. Continuous chatter from the crowd blended with the sounds of big band music.
After her parents had arrived at the plantation, she’d spent some time alone with them, assuring them that she was fine. Being with them had been wonderful. Once everything had calmed down, she and David informed them of their plans to be married. They’d already told Imogene and Raf. Imogene had confessed that she’d suspected there was something romantic between them.
It had gone well, she thought, as she pushed open the door of the ladies’ room. Her parents had responded with enthusiasm, easily accepting their adult daughter’s decision. After spending time with David, they seemed to be crazy about him, which thrilled her all the more. Over the past few days, he had been welcomed into the fold of the Danforth family.
So that she could visit with her entire family, Victoria had returned to Savannah for a few days. David had come with her, and they had spent hours visiting with her siblings, aunts, uncles and many cousins. All of them had been supportive and loving, and Victoria felt like the luckiest woman on earth.
But it only took a few days of being away from the plantation before she began missing her home. She and David had eventually returned to enjoy the peace and quite of the country.
Or so they thought.
She thought back over the past week. The media frenzy had been totally exhausting, and their telephone hadn’t stopped ringing. Her name and picture had been plastered on practically every newspaper in the country, as well as shown on all the major television networks. Reporters had been camping out at the entrance to their property for days.
Victoria had held a press conference just yesterday to talk to the reporters about her ordeal. Still, that did not satisfy their thirst for information. Their telephone had continued to ring.
David had insisted on hiring someone to represent them who could field requests for interviews. It was then that they’d decided on a course of action that would, indeed, surprise her family when they broke the news to them tonight.
Making her way out of a stall, Victoria began washing her hands. She was just about finished when she heard someone else come into the ladies’ room. Looking up, she saw Nicola Granville, her uncle’s campaign manager.
“Hello, Nicola,” she said, smiling at the beautiful red-haired woman she’d met earlier in the evening.
“Victoria!” Startled, she stopped in her tracks. “How are you?”
“I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”
“We haven’t had a chance to talk. I want you to know that I’m glad you’re back with your family.”
Victoria gave Nicola a warm smile. “Thanks. I hope my reappearance hasn’t caused adverse publicity for my uncle.”
“Hardly,” Nicola replied. “He’s been joking that it had gotten him the sympathy vote.” She chuckled. “Seriously, Abraham is thrilled that you’re back home, safe and sound. All of your family is. They can’t stop talking about it.” Suddenly, she stopped speaking and put her hand to her forehead.
“Are you all right?” Victoria asked, noticing the woman’s pale complexion.
Nicola replied, “Yes, I’m fine.”
But clearly she wasn’t. Victoria walked toward her as she dried her hands with a paper towel. Before she could say anything more, Nicola cupped her hand over her mouth, then darted around her. She pushed through the door of a stall and abruptly lost the contents of her stomach in the toilet.
Victoria rushed to help her. “Oh, honey,” she cried. “You are certainly not all right.” She darted to the paper towel dispenser, grabbed a few towels, then ran them under cool water. Returning to Nicola’s side, she held the compress against her forehead until she felt a little better.
“Thank you,” Nicola said sincerely. She walked to the sink, rinsed out her mouth and washed her hands.
“Maybe you should sit down for a few moments,” Victoria suggested. She spotted some tissues on the vanity. Snatching some, she gave them to Nicola.
Nicola, looking as weak as an injured bird, shook her head. “I feel better now.”
“Really?” Victoria asked. She found that hard to believe. The woman’s skin looked clammy, and her skin tone had regained none of its color.
The other woman shrugged. “I’m sure I am. I must have some kind of twenty-four-hour bug or something.”
Victoria frowned. “Really? Well, I hope that’s all it is. I heard the flu is going around.” She tossed a paper towel into the trash can. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No, I’m fine. But thank you.”
“Well, if you think you’re okay, I guess I’ll go.”
“I’ll be all right,” Nicola insisted. “Thanks again for helping me.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you later,” Victoria answered. She left the bathroom and went in search of David.
“Looking for me?” David asked, slipping his arm around her as she walked back into the ballroom. He nuzzled her neck, and she moved into his embrace.
“Always,” she murmured, her eyes shining as she gazed at him.
“Are you all right?” he asked. She continued to amaze him. Intelligent and graceful, she’d handled everything that had been thrown at her with innate charm. She’d had the reporters eating out of her hand.
“I’m wonderful.” Pressing her mouth to his, she moaned softly when he drew away. “Are you ready?”
“I have to admit that I’m having second thoughts.” Although David had never shied away from confrontation, he wasn’t sure he was ready to face Victoria’s family.
“Oh, you can’t back out now, darling,” she said, then started leading the way to the table where her parents and the rest of her family were seated. “It’s too late.”
“You’re right,” he agreed as he followed her across the room. “But they’re going to be shocked.”<
br />
Victoria smiled back at him. “Not as shocked as they were when Genie called them and told them she’d found me.”
They arrived at the table where Miranda and Harold were seated along with Imogene, Raf, Jake and his wife, Larissa. Toby and Heather had left earlier in the day to return to Wyoming. Instead of sitting down, Victoria and David continued to stand beside the table. “Mom, Dad, everyone,” Victoria stated to get their attention.
Everyone stopped speaking and looked at her. Victoria smiled at David, then shifted her gaze to her family. “David and I have an announcement.”
Jake winked at his sister. “If you’re going to tell us that you’re going to another concert, the answer is no.”
“Very cute.” Everyone burst out laughing. Victoria gave her brother a mock look of frustration. She’d endured a lot of teasing since she’d returned, but she knew her brothers loved her, and it made her feel even more endeared to them. “No,” she said patiently, a smile playing on her lips, “that’s not what I’m going to say.”
Taking a deep breath, she licked her lips. “There’s no easy way to say this so I’m just going to tell you straight out. David and I eloped today. We’re married!” Beaming, she held out her hand and showed them her rings, a gold band with diamonds that matched the round brilliant diamond he’d given her the day after he’d asked her to marry him.
“Married?” Harold exclaimed.
Miranda got to her feet. “What?” In moments, everyone was standing and talking at once.
“We know you’re surprised, and probably even disappointed,” David said. “But we decided against having a wedding, and we didn’t want to wait to pledge our commitment to each other.”
“This past week has been crazy,” Victoria explained breathlessly. “The media hasn’t left us alone. We figured it would be months before the publicity would settle down and we could get married without nationwide attention focused on us.”
David spoke directly to Miranda and Harold. “I want you all to know that I love your daughter. She’s the most important thing in my life.”
Though tears dotted her cheeks, Miranda smiled. “I can’t say that I’m not sorry we missed the wedding, but we understand. With Abraham’s election to the Senate, and finding my daughter, the reporters haven’t left us alone, either.” She came around the table and embraced Victoria. “Congratulations, Tori. I’m so happy for you. You’ve chosen well.”
Harold hugged his daughter next, then shook his new son-in-law’s hand. “Welcome to our family,” he said, and his eyes weren’t dry. “Take care of her.”
David nodded. “You have my word.”
Soon everyone was hugging the new bride and groom, wishing them the best. When the band began playing a waltz, David grasped Victoria’s hand. “Dance with me?”
She smiled, her eyes shining. “Love to.”
He led her to the dance floor, then pulled her against him. She slid her arms around his neck and looked up at him. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“Your parents are wonderful. I’m not sure I would have reacted the same way if I’d been in their shoes.”
“They love me,” she said simply.
“I love you, Tori. With all my heart.”
Victoria’s arms tightened around him. “I love you, too.” She pressed closer to him, then urged his mouth to hers. David’s tongue made a foray into her mouth, touching hers, making Victoria moan with desire. “I’ve got a great idea,” she whispered against his mouth.
He licked his lips, tasting her. “I’m listening,” he answered, wishing they weren’t in the middle of a crowded dance floor. He wanted to be alone with his wife.
“I don’t think anyone would really miss us if we left.” Her eyes softened with desire, and she moved against him suggestively. “Let’s slip out of here. I want to go home. I can think of a better way for us to spend the rest of this evening.”
“I like the way you think,” David answered. After a lingering kiss, he led her off the dance floor.
Slipping by their table, she discreetly grabbed her purse. Without anyone noticing, Victoria and David escaped into the night. A full moon illuminated their way as they drove toward home.
Victoria sat close to her husband, her arm around his. Content, she rested her head on his shoulder. Only a few weeks ago, she’d been all alone in the world. Now she knew her true identity, and the emptiness that had been inside her had been filled with her family’s love and caring.
And David’s love.
Her heart swelled. She’d loved him from the moment she’d seen him, and she was going to love him for the rest of her life. She smiled dreamily at him, and he leaned over and kissed her. Victoria deepened the kiss, drawing his tongue into her mouth.
Groaning, David broke off their kiss. “Behave. I’m about ready to pull this car over.”
“That sounds engaging,” Victoria replied.
“Don’t tempt me. I want to take you home where I can make love to you in bed. I’d hate to tell our son that he was conceived in the back of a car.”
Victoria grinned. “Our son?”
David chuckled. “Or daughter.” He squeezed her hand. “I never dreamed that I’d be lucky enough to be married to you, let alone become a father to our children.”
“I’m the lucky one,” she whispered.
And she was. Enchanted, Victoria snuggled against him, anxious to begin the rest of their lives together.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5745-4
TERMS OF SURRENDER
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Terms 0f Surrender (Dynasties: The Danforths Book 11) Page 15
