Her new sister-in-law hugged her tightly. “Congratulations, Isobel. I couldn’t have picked a better wife for my brother. You’ll push him to become the man he was always meant to be, and he’ll do the same for you.”
“I hope so.” She pulled out of Jane’s embrace. “Everything is quite overwhelming, makes me want to run far away from it all.”
Happiness sparkled in the other woman’s eyes. “But you won’t because he’s the calm in the storms of life you’ve always sought.”
“Yes.” Was that what she was to Cousin Finn? Heat infused her cheeks. “I suppose this family is a lot to handle.”
“Indeed.” Finn rolled his Bath chair close and then tugged her down so he could buss both her cheeks. “Any person who is strong enough to stand up to a Storme and face them down has earned a place in our ranks.” He laughed despite the shadows that lurked in his eyes. “Besides, Marsden is an honorary Storme anyway. This was bound to happen, especially after the way the two of you looked at each other during that Christmastide house party.”
“Well, he did intrigue me from the start.” Though when she’d set out to know Royce, it wasn’t for a lifetime. Thank goodness fate sometimes knew what was best.
She smiled. Even though her family annoyed her at times, she couldn’t ask for better people to have around her. “Will you stay in Derbyshire long?”
Jane shook her head. “Not more than a few days. Finn’s mother and I will depart for Ipswich soon to help Elizabeth and Brand with their new baby. It will be a nice place to reflect on Papa’s life and to relax from the rather hectic months we’ve all had.”
“I’ll miss you.” Finn grabbed his wife’s hand, and with a tug, he brought her into his lap, kissing her cheek despite the fact that Isobel stood there. Then he glanced at her. “Don’t look at me like that, Cousin. Give it a few days and you’ll do all this sickly-sweet romantic stuff with your husband.”
Isobel snorted, but the heat in her cheeks intensified even though she and Royce had thoroughly and multiple times explored each other carnally during the course of their affair. “Perhaps while Jane is away you and I can talk about book writing. I have a few ideas.”
“Of course.” Finn winked. “Two writers in the family? London will have to take notice.”
Eventually, the merry making had the men passing around snifters of brandy. Isobel sat on one of the sofas with Andrew’s baby daughter snuggled in her arms. Though worries and foreboding knotted her stomach as she wondered what sort of mother she would be with her own infant, she uttered a shuddering sigh. There was something nice about the smell of a baby that tugged at her heartstrings. When she glanced up and met Royce’s gaze and he looked at her with such heat and pride, need shivered down her spine. Some of her anxiety faded. Whatever happened, she would have his support and encouragement.
Perhaps that’s all anyone could ask for.
Later, after the wedding breakfast had been consumed and everyone had returned to the drawing room for cards and conversation, Royce pulled her off to one side of the room. “I can scarcely believe I have a wife.”
“Neither can I believe I have a husband after years of promising myself I wouldn’t.”
“That makes me all the more fortunate.” Emotions darkened his eyes. He lifted one of her hands to his lips and kissed the back. In a low voice he said, “Promise me you won’t become a proper ton lady, even if you are a countess now.”
“Oh, Royce.” Flutters went through her belly. “I don’t want to disappoint you. But I can only be who I am, and you’re an earl and—”
He squeezed her fingers. “Promise me, Isobel.” His eyes held such intensity it stole her breath. “I’m an earl, this is true. However, I won’t give up my work at the clinic due to this change in status, so please don’t change who you are either, for I fell in love with the wild, unpredictable woman, and I’d like to keep her.”
Isobel’s heart trembled. “I promise, as long as you bear in mind there might be the potential for scandal wherever I go because of it.”
“We shall weather it together, no matter from which direction it might come.” He took both of her trembling hands. “I love you. Every daring, maddening, outspoken, wicked, doubting part that makes you that woman. It’s who I need with me in life so that I can have the courage to do what I must as well.” When he grinned, she forgot how to breathe properly. Oh, he was so handsome in his formal clothes and with that love shining in his eyes. “I don’t want to raise our children in fear of not being their true selves.”
Another round of tears sprang into her eyes. “Oh, Royce.” Would there ever come a time when she didn’t marvel at the man who was now her husband? “Yes, I promise to remain true to myself.”
“Good.” He tugged her a tiny bit closer despite them not being alone. “I’ve found that when one has been touched by a Storme, one doesn’t easily wish to let go of that power.”
The remaining pieces of her heart flew into his keeping. Impulsive as ever, Isobel threw herself into his eager arms and shamelessly kissed her husband, so he’d know exactly how she felt about him. He apparently didn’t mind, for he returned her embrace with enough heat that she wanted to drag him abovestairs or out to the maze on the property, whichever was closer, and do extremely wicked things to him.
When she finally came up for air, all of the Storme connection was staring, but not in shock or censure. They wore expressions of indulgence, happiness, and celebration. Finn gave a wolf whistle, which was followed with laughter and toasts. With heat in her cheeks, Isobel waved to them and then buried her face into Royce’s shoulder as embarrassment swept over her.
Her new husband nudged her away so that he could peer into her eyes. “When you have a place where you know joy and peace and safety, you fight for it instead of running from it, yes?”
“Absolutely. That’s what my family is to me… that’s what you are becoming,” she answered in a choked whisper. “Yes, the world is fraught with frightening things and uncertainty, but I have them and you.”
“Thank goodness for that.” Royce pulled her close and wrapped his arms about her, apparently content to merely hold her.
With a sigh, Isobel rested her cheek on his shoulder and let her eyes shutter closed. Life was a constant series of changes; one couldn’t escape that fact. The key to a successful navigation of that life was to treasure the good when it came, proceed through the bad with determination, and always remember that the storm would pass and leave calm behind, especially when there was someone to walk beside.
The End