“He’s really not worth mentioning, Mandy.”
“Stop it. You just promised me no more secrets.”
He gave her a wry smile. “I didn’t want to tarnish the moment. I will say I’m glad I got to meet him at least once before he dies, if only to understand that it was an act of kindness, probably the only one he ever did, to stay out of my life. So I have my answers, which is all I ever wanted from him.”
“It was deliberate? For your own good?”
“Yes, but he’s not worth a single one of your thoughts.”
“I’m just sorry he wasn’t what you’d hoped for.”
He chucked her chin and tried to lighten the mood. “That’s because you’re too sympathetic! We’re going to have to work on that flaw.”
She understood what he was doing and went along with it, snorting. “It’s not a flaw. And I’ll be grateful to your father, thank you very much, for giving me you.”
“The irony is, I have reason to be grateful to him, too, for one unexpected gift—a grandfather who is still alive and is already a friend. I will be proud to introduce you to Owen Culley.”
“Owen?” She smiled. “My family has known him for years. Oh, and wait until you meet my grandmother! She can’t remember a thing anymore, she’ll even call you by every name but your own, but you’ll adore her.”
“Your family will soon be mine. I expect my feelings will mirror yours where they are concerned.” Then he pushed her up against the wall, a teasing light in his amber eyes. “Were you really going to be an old maid? Really?”
“Weren’t you going to be the male version?”
He laughed. “No, I was just determined to never let love into my life because I knew how much it could hurt. I had no idea how wonderful it could be instead—until I met you.”
Such a wealth of emotions filled her heart as she gazed into his eyes. It hadn’t happened overnight. It had taken much longer than anyone expected. But love had finally found her and it was so worth the wait.
Epilogue
THE ENTIRE LOCKE FAMILY had wanted a spring wedding. Devin had been willing, wanting to please his new in-laws. But Amanda had put her foot down. With her father’s edict ringing in her ears and Devin determined to respect Preston’s wishes, the most she would delay was a month, so her wedding reception would be one last party, as it were, to finish off the current Season. It was amazing how many other engagements were announced in that month, though most of them were from her flock of beaus, so they’d obviously had second choices lined up all along. Amanda thought that was funny. Even John Trask found an heiress.
Robert Brigston’s congratulations had been the most hearty the day she became Devin’s wife, surprising Amanda at how genuinely pleased Robert was for her. But Devin had been by her side when they received it, and seeing her brow knit in confusion after Robert walked away, he asked, “Something wrong?”
She whispered, “He wasn’t invited to the wedding. He crashed it just to say he was happy for us?”
Devin laughed. “Told you to trust me, that he wasn’t for you. In fact, he’s probably the most happy, next to us, that you’re marrying me instead of him.”
She raised a brow at him. “Do you realize how odd that sounds?”
“That’s all I’m going to say about it,” he teased.
“Say about what?” William asked as he and Blythe came up to offer their own good wishes.
“About her ex-beaus,” Devin said.
“Ah, those poor sods, and, no, I don’t feel as if I’m in that group anymore.” William chuckled. “You were right about the Honorable Margery Jenkin, Devin. I swear I’m in love already, least it feels like it. She’s wonderful!”
“Sounds like he’s in love to me!” Blythe added, grinning, then leaned closer to show Amanda her own engagement ring.
“Lord Oliver?” Amanda guessed.
“Yes!”
Amanda had already known that secret, though she didn’t let on that Oliver, considering her a friend, had told her at the house party that he was going to ask for Blythe’s hand. It had been their secret, but she was glad to know that Blythe had accepted his proposal. Love was definitely in the air, and it wasn’t even close to springtime yet!
It had been a private wedding at Norford, just family and friends, but still quite a crowd for the reception, with most of their neighbors invited for that. Amelia Dutton was there with her father and mother. Amanda had delighted the child when she’d asked her to be her flower girl. Owen Culley was present, sitting at a table with Devin’s aunt and uncle. Owen had cried the day Devin took Amanda to meet him and introduced him as his grandfather. She didn’t want her husband anxious about anything, ever again, and that could have been a difficult meeting if Devin and Owen hadn’t already been friends before they learned they were closely related, too.
The newlyweds were taking ship to the south of France for their honeymoon, for some warmer weather and fishing! They hadn’t yet decided where they were going to live afterward, although Amanda was surprised by more options than she’d counted on. Devin even owned a town house in London! Although he’d also mentioned the farm in Lancashire, he said if she picked the new farm instead, it would give him an excuse to finally remodel the house there. She rather liked that idea the best, since some of the remodeling decisions could be hers.
Approaching the hour to leave, Amanda slipped upstairs to change out of her wedding dress. Devin, watching her go, didn’t even want to be parted from her that long and started to follow her. But then Ophelia and Julie both converged on him. They didn’t come together, just happened to both arrive in the same moment, and they both had coin purses in their hands.
He rolled his eyes at them. “You weren’t really thinking of paying Cupid for arranging his own wedding, were you?”
They both blushed, though Julie snorted, “’Course not.”
Ophelia said, “Just a little wedding gift,” and slapped her purse against his chest the same way she’d done the day she hired him.
And just as he’d done that day, he shoved it back into her hands. “Just so we’re clear, you can lavish whatever you want on my wife, but you are not paying me for making her mine, when today is the happiest day of my life.”
He left them to follow his wife upstairs. Julie stared at Ophelia. “So you had a hand in this?”
Ophelia grinned. “Just a little nudge in the right direction is all. I’d noticed the night she first clapped eyes on him how many glowers she sent his way.”
“Humph. That should have warned you to keep her away from him.”
“When she hadn’t so much as raised a brow at her other beaus?”
Upstairs, Devin smiled as he realized he didn’t need to knock on Amanda’s door anymore and opened it. But she wasn’t alone. He stared at her maid and said, “You can go. I’ll help my wife out of her dress.”
As he closed the door on Alice and turned a heated look on Amanda, she grinned. “Is that so?” she teased.
He started to slowly cross the room to her. “I have a feeling I’m going to be doing this a lot—now that I can.”
She laughed when he tumbled them onto the bed, giving her a preview of what married life was going to be like with him. He hadn’t kept his hands off her before the wedding. They’d been caught in amorous embraces a number of times. He’d dragged her into empty rooms every chance he got. But he always stopped short of making love to her, honoring her father’s wishes. So it was quite a frustrating time, for them both. Until today.
She didn’t think they would be leaving the room anytime soon, he was kissing her so passionately. He did get her dress off, and she was right, they didn’t leave the bed.
She couldn’t stop smiling, but it was hard to smile and kiss at the same time.
He noticed. “Pleasant thoughts?”
“More’n that. Do you even know how happy I am today?”
He started to tease, “After three Seasons—”
She poked him to silence with a l
augh. “This has nothing to do with anything other than you. Love really does make all the difference, doesn’t it? I’m so glad I waited for you!”
He kissed her deeply, but he wasn’t done teasing. “So am I. Old maids are more my style.”
“Oh!”
He rolled her over before she could sputter anything else and, in one fluid movement, entered her, filled her, and put every other thought from her mind. Oh, God, he was every bit as virile as she’d thought the day she first saw him. She’d just had no idea at the time that would be just what she wanted!
She’d barely caught her breath, was still holding Devin tight to her, when they heard Rafe yell from the other side of the door, “You’re going to miss your ship!”
Devin grinned and snuggled his face between Amanda’s breasts a moment before he leaned up to yell back, “We’ll catch another ship!”
Rafe, as he walked away, mumbled something about starting honeymoons too soon. Amanda was blushing.
Devin raised a brow at her. “It bothers you that he knows what we’re doing in here?” he asked curiously.
“No, I almost told him what we did the night of his birthday ball, before you did! I think it would have shocked him, coming from me.”
“He’ll get used to the idea that you aren’t just his baby sister anymore. You’re mine now, to have and to hold—” He paused, his expression turning serious. “Make one more vow for me, Mandy. Promise me you’ll never leave me.”
She knew he was thinking about his mother. She was almost moved to tears—for him. Holding him tight, she whispered, “I promise! But I’ll have one from you now.”
“Anything.”
“Swear we’ll never sleep in separate bedrooms!”
He leaned back, incredulous. “Are you out of your mind? My bed is your bed and I’ll break down any doors that say otherwise.”
She had a feeling he would, too. After all, she did marry a wonderful brute. The thought made her laugh!
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Let Love Find You Page 31