“No,” Stone barked. “I should have known that your roguish ways would come back to haunt me. I’ll not have my sister married to a man that beds everything that moves—“
“Stone,” Delia’s voice cut through his speech as she threw open the door. “Only I get to speak to him that way.”
Her hair was mussed and she was wrapped in his sheet, her eyes still sleepy. She looked more beautiful than anything he had ever seen and he reached his hand out to touch her face, though the muscles in his arm smarted painfully as he did.
“Put on your clothes and get back to your room this instant,” Stone growled, not even looking at her.
“I will not.” She stood straighter and her large breasts strained against the sheet. Roderick gritted his teeth. Even now, he wanted to throw her back into the bed and make love to her again.
“You’ll do as I say or…”
“Or what? You’ll neglect to tell me that you have betrothed me to my brother’s best friend and the very man who saved my life. How could you, Stone? How could you keep this from me?”
“You weren’t ready, Delia. I was afraid—”
“Afraid of what?” She poked Stone in the shoulder. It took all of Roderick’s energy not to grunt in satisfaction. Stone had hit him rather hard. He deserved a few good jabs.
“That you’d reject him because you would place the blame on him for Reginald’s death.”
She crossed her arms. “You’ve done altogether too much protecting. If you had simply told me the truth I might not have blamed myself.”
“Blame yourself? It was never your fault. It was mine. I should have kept both of you safe.”
“Oh Stone. You’re not to blame. Reginald should have backed away, he should have…”
And then the tears started. He watched the first one roll down her face and he knew that the truth was there. It wasn’t any of their faults. Reginald, in his desire to protect her, had ignored his own safety.
Roderick wrapped her in his arms. “He loved you and he wanted to save you. It isn’t your fault and it isn’t his. Sometimes these things just happen.”
She nodded against his chest. “It’s difficult to accept.”
“Stone.” Roderick turned to his soon to be brother-in-law. “Post the bans. We’ll marry as soon as we’re able.”
Stone gave a slight jerk of his head for consent. “You’ll not do this again until after the wedding.” Then he turned and was gone.
Roderick grinned at his back. He’d adhered to Stone’s request…mostly. He’d just discovered what it meant to be in love with his soon-to-be wife and to know that a happy future was his to have and to hold. He planned to hold her very tightly.
Epilogue
Delia lay in bed, curled into his side. He loved this time of day. It was just before dawn, and normally, she would get up and begin fixing breakfast. She had given up cooking any other time of day but that time was hers.
The entire Alban clan had been staying in their Norfolk home for two weeks now and she seemed exhausted from the visit. “Stay in bed, love. You need your rest.” Roderick’s hands massaged her swollen belly as he snuggled her closer.
“Perhaps, you’re right. I am so tired these days. Someone has been keeping me up at night.” She yawned and snuggled more deeply into him.
He chuckled. “Are you referring to me or the baby?”
“You, of course.” He felt her tiny shudder. “Though all the kicking isn’t helping,” she added as she rubbed her swollen stomach.
“It isn’t a crime to be in love with your wife is it?”
“No dear, not at all. Though wearing me out until I’m no use to anyone doesn’t seem sensible either.”
“That is the eleventh reason I love you, your good sense,” he murmured in her ear. He was teasing her of course. He’d keep her in bed all day if it meant he could keep her up all night, even just to hold her. The longer they were married, the more he realized how foolish he’d been. Of course Reginald had wanted this for them both. What was commitment without affection, after all?
“That silly list, I’ve forgotten now, what was on it?” She smiled because he’d told her nearly every day in the year they had been wed, all the reasons he had for marrying her.
“Hmmmm, let me see if I can remember.” He nuzzled her neck to hide his grin.