Dangerous to Love
Page 34
When the dowager countess smiled at the boy, however, what little there was of Ivan's bitterness melted away. She loved his son, almost as much as he did. For that matter, the old woman seemed to love Lucy too. And she would undoubtedly love the new child growing beneath his wife's heart.
He lifted his glass in response to his beloved son's toast and drank with the rest of his guests. Happy birthday to the best great-grandmother in the world. For as terrible a grandmother as she'd been, even he had to admit that she'd proven to be a doting great-grandparent.
Around him the room resounded with happy chatter. Servants moved about, refilling glasses. Derek and Stanley begged to be allowed a second glass of wine, and with a shrug their father agreed.
But Ivan's eyes were drawn to his wife's brilliant gaze. Twelve feet of polished mahogany, glittering crystal, and shining silver separated them, but he read the message in her eyes. She had seen his raised glass. She'd seen him quaff the remainder of his wine. And somehow she knew that he'd made peace with his past.
Then she smiled and the warmth of it flooded him, as always, with love—her love, and as a result, the love of this big, noisy family. Yes, the past was past. Lucy had seen to that. He would never be able to thank her enough. "Come, give me a kiss, lad," Antonia called to Rafe, and the boy jumped to do his bidding.
Ivan watched him go. He saw how the feeble old woman embraced his son. Then she looked up at him and for a moment their eyes held.
It lasted only a moment, for Rafe said something to her and her gaze shifted back to the child. But it was long enough for Ivan to know that she regretted the past. She'd told him as much, but that look said so much more. A title was convenient. Wealth was most definitely an asset. But family was everything.
A lump lodged in his throat and he sought Lucy once more with his eyes. She was smiling at Rafe in his great-grandmother's arms. But as if she felt the touch of his gaze, she looked back at Ivan.
I love you, she said in that silent way she had of com municating with only her eyes and a smile. I love you.
And yes, family is everything.