"We can live wherever you wish."
"I mean stay and run the sheep farm."
"You need a sheep man. I'm your man." He smiled that heartbreaking smile.
"What about Peregrine Shipping?"
"Nicole and Derek have it running smoothly. And if they want to focus on Whitestone, hell, we'll let Ian run it when we find him."
She stared at him in amazement. Her sly grandfather had predicted this over a year ago and had counted on it when she'd returned. "You're ready for a life with me and a village of mostly octogenarians and more sheep than we can count--cheeky sheep at that--and a legion of redheaded Huckabees running about?"
"As long as you're there with me."
"Really?" she asked breathlessly.
"Anything," he said into her hair.
But she pushed him back, then stuck out her hand. "Partners?"
He took it.
Then she pulled him down, and rose on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. "After we get this marriage settled, we need to seal our partnership. Again and again..."
Thirty-five
Grant's whole family was indeed at the town home, and Camellia and the baron dashed in just before the minister arrived. Cammy drew Tori aside while Grant was slapped on the back and congratulated by his family and the baron.
Cammy asked, "Are you certain you want to do this?"
"Look at me," Tori said with a laugh. "I'm in love--I can't stop smiling!"
Cammy visibly relaxed. "Then I have to tell you, you're really going to enjoy married life." Cammy held up her hand to display an intricately wrought wedding band encircled with diamonds.
Tori's jaw dropped. "You're married?" Cammy bit her lip, clearly worried how she'd react, but Tori gave her a hug. "Oh, how wonderful! You'll be our neighbor!"
"I thought you might be upset that we did it so suddenly." She lowered her voice. "But the truth is, he wouldn't take me to bed again until I married him, that wretch. When I saw he wasn't jesting, I thought the sooner the better."
"I'm so happy for you!"
Lady Stanhope coughed delicately to get their attention. "Then let's make Cammy happy for you as well, shall we? The minister is waiting."
Grant took her gently by the hand and led her in front of the minister.
When asked for the ring, Grant patted his coat pockets. Everyone in the room seemed to get anxious. Derek groaned in the back and made some comment to Nicole about the beauty of eloping.
Finally, Grant pulled out a small box, covered with velvet. He took out the ring, ready to place it on her finger. Tori looked down; she couldn't help it. Any bride would want to know what she'd be wearing for the rest of her--
A small sob escaped her before she could yank her hand to her mouth.
I need that hand back, Grant thought with alarm. Or at least that ring finger. In a shaky voice, he said, "Victoria, I can get you another one."
"But y-you found my mother's ring."
His eyes widened and his gaze flew down. He cursed under his breath. "That was supposed to be for later."
A tear spilled down her cheek, and he could swear he felt her relief as his own. He brushed it away with his thumb.
"I can't believe you found it." She finally took her eyes off the ring and gazed up at him with such love, such raw emotion in her eyes, he was staggered by it.
He took a deep breath, aware that he'd begun speaking, unaware of what he was saying as he looked down into her eyes. "It was more difficult than the other things, but I knew how much it meant to you."
"The other things?" she asked absently.
Now he grinned. "Yes, I was running about the country trying to reacquire the Court's wrought iron, a score of very ancient paintings, one brass knocker, the horse I gave you"--he frowned down at her--"which I know was accidentally sold, and a collection of antique jewelry."
"My grandmother's jewelry?"
The way she was smiling up at him, as if he were a hero, made him pull at his collar. "In for a penny...," he mumbled.
Derek cleared his throat. "Grant, give her the other damn ring." The minister eyed him sternly, and Nicole transferred a sleeping Geoff to her other arm so she could pop Derek in the stomach.
Grant patted more pockets and retrieved another small jewel box. He opened it for her, delighted with her reaction. Her mother's ring had made her cry with joy--the emerald made her gasp.
After their ceremony, everyone wished them well but cleared out soon after, the family wanting to give the newlyweds their privacy--or, in the case of Cammy and the baron, the other newlyweds wanting their own privacy.
Once Grant had shut the door on the last of them, he turned to his wife. His wife. He liked the sound of that. She was back to her confident self, beaming at him as if they'd just pulled off a coup. She'd let her hair fall from its conservative style and kicked off her shoes, running about in her stockings, and chattering happily. He was baffled that this remarkable woman had chosen him to marry, and humbled that she looked ecstatic about that fact.
Emotion threatened to swamp him. He intercepted her and clasped her to his chest, putting a hand behind her head and holding her tight. When he bent down to kiss her, she took his hand and pulled him across the parlor. Stepping up on an ottoman so that she was eye level with him, she looped her arms around his neck and kissed and nuzzled his face.
"I love you, Victoria."
"Convince me," she murmured against his lips.
That night and into the next day, Grant and Victoria "sealed their partnership" so many times and in so many ways, Grant knew it could never be broken.
Thirty-six
Three months later...
The new sheep barn had been completed just weeks before the shearing crew was to arrive. Spring had exploded on the downs, and Tori and Grant hardly had time to take a breath before the wool was flying.
The shearing had ended just this day, and the village celebrated as it did each year at this time. This season, along with the ale, there were family members who'd heard of the Sutherland marriage and new co-ownership of the Court and had finally returned to their homes.
Tori and Grant joined everyone for the festivities, but after such a long day, they'd decided to return home.
Home. Such a lovely word. And the Court was becoming a lovely place, especially since Grant insisted on pouring money into it. If she smiled at something that was now repaired or beautified or installed, he redoubled his efforts. When she'd wished he wouldn't spend so much, he'd quipped, "We saved a bundle since we don't have to build a manor house for Camellia."
No, indeed. Camellia was living with the baron a few rises over on their own estate. The two were in no hurry to fill it with little ones, but instead enjoyed riding each day over the countryside.
Nearing the Court, Tori and Grant reached the final hilltop and paused to take in the vista before them. He held her in front of him as they gazed out over the valley. Lights twinkled in the distance, and they could still hear the revelry and music floating through the downlands. Contentment washed over her. After lambing, they were going to go to the seashore, where Grant had bought her a cottage right on the beach, near where his family had stayed when he was young. She couldn't wait to see it, and was beyond curious as to why everyone chuckled when she said the word cottage or wondered if it would be cute.
She sighed. Ian's disappearance was the only shadow on their happiness.
Reading her mind, Grant said, "This adventure has probably been good for him."
She snuggled closer against his chest. In fact, they had recently received word that not only had Ian escaped his captors, he'd started a mutiny and taken their ship, bound for somewhere unknown. There were rumors of a scarred, black-haired, and black-hearted devil pirating the South Seas, but Tori adamantly refused to believe that the dates of his marauding and Ian's escape were more than coincidental.
"Ian always lands on his feet, and since the runners have solid leads, we'll find him soon."
"I know," she
sighed. "You found me."
Grant nuzzled her neck and smiled against her skin when she shivered in delight. "So don't fret, love." He gently laid his palm over her just rounding belly. "Worrying isn't good for the baby."