by Brenda Joyce
He looked up at her. “A good second marriage? In California? With an American?”
“Look at how happy she is,” Alexandra said, taking his hand. “I know you want the dowager duchess to be happy, beloved and cared for.”
Stephen looked at Julia, slowly standing up. “Are you really happy? I did have Jefferson investigated. Unfortunately, as he is an American, it will take months for my runners to learn if he has a shady past. But the one thing I know is that he does not have means, Mother, not as you do.”
“And I don’t care that his means are modest! He doesn’t have a secret past. He is a good man, Stephen, and I would like you and Alexandra to join us for dinner tonight, so you can get to know him. After one evening you will realize how solid and dependable he is.”
He stared grimly at her.
Alexandra looked back and forth between them. The dowager duchess was glowing. She had every right to this second chance at life and love and happiness. She hadn’t met Jefferson, but she’d seen him that one time at the Harrington ball, and anyone could tell that he was a strong, sincere man. He had seemed as solid as an ancient oak tree.
And now that she knew a little about the kind of life Julia had led, about how she had sacrificed everything for her son, Alexandra understood her so much better.
She looked at Stephen. She knew how protective he was of those he cared about. But he was changing. He smiled often now. He laughed. He often took her hand and squeezed it. And he’d mentioned his childhood twice to her now, speaking first of Tom, and then of Sir Rex. She hadn’t realized how cruel his “father” had been. He had suffered so much as a boy that she was amazed he’d become the good man that he was. And now, understanding him as she did, everything made so much sense. In return, she had shared the agony of her mother’s passing and her decision to break up with Owen.
The past felt as if it was finally that, the past. It finally felt buried, as it should be.
And Stephen had stopped looking over his shoulder and into dark corners.
Now he wanted to start thinking about marriages for her sisters. He said it would be his first priority after they were wed.
But of course it would be. Stephen was that kind of man—a family man. His protection wouldn’t extend just to her; it had automatically been extended to her sisters, and even to her father. He hadn’t said so, but she was fairly certain he’d paid off all her father’s debts.
There were no more secrets. There was no more pain. Clarewood’s long, lonely halls were suddenly warm, suddenly bright, as if the walls had been painted the color of the sun. And there were so many daily callers now. Alexi was a frequent guest, as was his wife, Elysse. Ariella and Emilian, Jack O’Neil, Sir Rex and Lady Blanche came almost as often. The once infamous Captain Devlin O’Neil, Elysse’s father, had even come for supper with his American wife, and it had been a fascinating evening. In fact, every de Warenne and O’Neill who lived within a county or two had begun calling on a regular basis. Nor did anyone come alone. Children—and grandchildren—of all ages were always in tow.
They hadn’t made their wedding plans public, but Alexi, Elysse and Ariella knew—and Alexandra felt certain that therefore every de Warenne and O’Neill knew, as well, which was the reason for their sudden popularity. While congratulations weren’t offered, there were plenty of winks and handshakes and kisses.
Clearly the fact of Stephen’s paternity was common knowledge in this large, warm family.
Her sisters came weekly now, too, bubbling with smiles and eagerly discussing plans for her future. Obviously Olivia and Corey knew about the wedding, and they were overjoyed for her. They wanted to come more often, but they were busy with Edgemont Way’s reconstruction now. After all these years, the house was being rehabilitated, inside and out. It was being refurbished, too. The stables were being razed and then rebuilt. And their new wardrobes had arrived. Her sisters were so fashionable and elegant now!
They were going to be thrilled that there would be a real wedding, not an elopement. Alexandra smiled—she couldn’t wait to tell them.
But then she sobered, just a bit. She didn’t know what it meant, but she had caught the notorious Jack O’Neil staring at Olivia while she wasn’t aware of it. She hadn’t known whether to be happy or dismayed by such intense scrutiny on his part. Although he was Captain O’Neill’s son, he had only modest means and intended to return to America, where he was making his fortune. Additionally, he was a reputed rake. Alexandra had told herself that she was mistaken and he was not interested in her gentle sister, but in fact she was not entirely sure.
Alexandra smiled at Julia now and said, “We would love to dine with you and Mr. Jefferson tonight.” She looped her arm through Stephen’s. “I am sure we will become as fond of him as you are.”
Stephen sighed. “Very well. As much as it pains me, I can see you have made up your mind. Not only will we dine together tonight, I will give him the benefit of the doubt.”
Julia beamed, hugging him, and Alexandra smiled. She had not been in any serious doubt that Stephen would bend to Julia’s wishes. He had changed too much. He would allow the dowager duchess to live her own life.
Just then Guillermo appeared on the threshold once more. “Your Grace? Miss Bolton? The Earl of Adare has called. The countess is with him, as are several small children.”
“Show them in, then see if Cook can accommodate everyone,” Stephen said instantly. He gave Alexandra a look. “Do you mind? You have not met Tyrell yet, and his wife Lizzie is a wonderful woman.”
“Of course I do not mind,” she said. She hadn’t met a relation yet who she hadn’t liked.
A moment later six boys and girls ran into the dining room, followed by the darkly handsome Tyrell de Warenne and his plump wife, Lizzie. As introductions were made, Stephen pulled Alexandra close and let the cat out of the bag, announcing their wedding plans. The earl kissed her cheek and welcomed her into the family, while Lizzie hugged her, asking her if she needed anything. As she began chatting with the earl’s wife, the children began playing with one another, their screeching and laughter filling the dining room. No one chastised them, because no one cared.
Across the room, she caught Stephen’s eye. As one of his little cousins ran past him, bumping into him, he smiled at her, his eyes shining. She smiled back, her heart so swollen with love she felt as if she might drift to the ceiling. Alexandra realized that her prayers had been answered. There was going to be a happily-ever-after ending after all.
And as she looked around the room, she knew why Clarewood’s rooms and halls were warmer and brighter now. It was because they now rang with laughter and were filled with love.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4965-7
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Copyright © 2010 by Brenda Joyce Dreams Unlimited, Inc.
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