Brand was the first to speak. “You are lovely today, Caroline.” Genuine appreciation shone in his eye. He took her hand. “John is my closest friend and I consider him like a brother. He’ll treat you well.”
“He is a good man.” Though she nodded, doubts chased about her mind, twisting the truth, and laughing at her insecurities.
Finn rolled closer. He was quite striking in his formal clothes decorated with cat hair, and with his hair sticking up at all angles, he had the air of a ne’er-do-well rogue. “Cousin Caroline, might I ask you a personal question?”
She nodded.
“Do you fully understand what marriage entails?”
Annoyance speared through her chest. “Never care you before of me. Why now?”
The men exchanged glances. Finn cleared his throat. “Brand was only a little boy when you were sent away. But the rest of us should have protested your parents’ decision.” He took her other hand and tugged her closer so that she was bending down toward him. “Please forgive us for our silence. We didn’t know what had happened, and now, I—we—wish to make up for that oversight.”
Was it possible all the members of the Storme family hadn’t been of one accord during those dark days? Caroline slipped her hand from his. “Where were you all the years I was trapped in that asylum, Finn? I used could have an ally and friend.” Oh, mercy, the words weren’t overly jumbled for once.
He blew out a breath. A red flush crept over his collar. “The military took up much of my time when I became of age. After the war, my own mind wasn’t as it should be, and I fell victim to my own demons.” He shrugged. “It’s not meaningful but it is an excuse.”
“I was alone!” She struggled to keep her voice level, but all the old feelings sat heavy on her chest and rushed up into her throat. “There was no one for me. Just my thoughts.” And her anger and confusion. The only thing that tempered all of that had been her drawing and painting.
Brand put an arm around her shoulders. “Much like Finn, the Navy took my time, but I have no excuse after that, for I’d made it a point to play the rake without remorse.” A hint of embarrassment tinged his face. “I’ll admit, I’d forgotten about you over the years.” When she shook with anger, he rushed to explain. “But in my defense, my family never spoke of you, and up until Christmastide last year, I hadn’t seen my cousins or other family.”
She squirmed away from him too. “Don’t pretend you carbuncle!”
They both stared at her in confusion.
The heat of mortification slapped at her cheeks. “I mean care. You were gone, living life, while I was locked away.” No one could deny that, and nothing would ever make that better.
“Touché.” Brand frowned. “But if you’ll let me, I can be here for you now.” He gestured at Finn. “We both can. Which is why we’re concerned about your sudden nuptials. Do you understand what this will entail, Caroline?”
“It will be whatever I want it to be. John promised.” For the time being, she didn’t wish to forgive her cousins. That anger and hopelessness she’d felt all those years by herself wouldn’t merely dissolve with a dozen pretty words. “I believe him. I do not believe you.” They needed to show that they were truly sorry.
Then he was there, her soon-to-be husband. He paused at the door of the drawing room as he surveyed the room, and when his gaze landed on her, Caroline’s breath stalled. He was magnificent in his dark formal clothing—tailcoat included. The waistcoat of bottle green satin embroidered with golden leaves drew her attention to his flat abdomen, but it was the awe and pride contained in his golden-brown gaze that sent a tremor of excitement down her spine.
“John.” The whispered word had barely cleared her tight throat when he approached her. “You’re here.”
“Of course I am.” His grin set some of her doubts at ease. He nodded at Brand and Finn. “If you boys will allow me to steal your cousin?”
Finn nodded. He briefly touched her hand. “We’re here if you should need us.” Then he wheeled himself toward Isobel and the doctor.
Brand clapped a hand to John’s shoulder. “Take care of her, my friend. I shall arrive in Derbyshire a week after you.”
“I’ll do my level best.” Once Brand stepped away, he looked at her and took one of her hands. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” The truth of that lay reflected in his eyes.
“Thank you.” She brushed a bit a piece of lint on his sleeve. “You are… wonderful too.” Oh, and he smelled good too. Those scents of salt, sea, and sunshine threatened to intoxicate her. “Still you wish marry me?” Why now did her tongue and brain choose to stop working?
“When I make a promise—especially to a lady—I always keep it.” He put his lips to the shell of her ear. “The only thing you require is a bouquet of flowers. How remiss of me not to have brought you some.”
Her pulse quickened, for his teasing sent flutters through her belly. “You can pick some for me in the country.”
“Good idea.” Then he tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. “Shall we begin?”
“Yes.” Tingles of anticipation played her spine. She walked beside him as he led her to the clergyman, who quickly introduced himself to the pair of them.
“Is everyone here?” He scanned the room from over the tops of his half-moon spectacles.
“I believe so.” John’s deep voice sent gooseflesh sailing over her skin. “Everyone who matters is already in attendance.”
A wave of sadness crested over her, for her parents were both gone. What would they have thought on this day of her marriage?