“I’ve missed you, too.”
Mary, the youngest, tugged on the major’s jacket. “Are you going to take Tom away from us?”
Cavanaugh looked at the children, then down at Mary and smiled for the first time that day. “Not quite yet I think.”
“That’s good.” Mary nodded seriously. “We have become quite fond of him and should like to keep him for a while longer.”
“Papa, Papa.” Tom leaned back in his father’s arms. “I’ve got so much to tell you.”
Grace rose. “When you are ready, Major Cavanaugh, we will meet you in the morning room. Tom knows the way.”
She hustled everyone out the door and into the main hall. “That went well, don’t you think?”
“I do.” Thea slid her arm around Dom. “Why did you have all the children and their teachers come in?”
“I wanted them to see Tom’s reaction to his father. As Mary said, they have become quite fond of him, and it was necessary for them to see he would be happy with his father.”
“That makes sense.” Thea nodded thoughtfully. “Now we just have the wedding to get through.”
Dom put his arm around Thea, tugging her closer. The wedding, the wedding night, the honeymoon, and the rest of their lives.
* * *
Before dawn the next morning, Dotty woke in Dom’s arms. This would be the last time she had to sneak from his chamber back to her own. In only a few hours, this would be where she legally belonged. She moved carefully to slide out of his arms and not wake him, when one of them clamped down on her.
“Where are you going?” He fluttered kisses on her neck.
“I must go to my room.” She tilted it to give him better access, then sighed. “Unless I miss my guess, it is already after six o’clock and our wedding is at nine.”
“Who was the idiot,” he growled, “that set the time so early?”
“You were, my love. In one of your lord of the manor moments.”
He flopped back against the pillows. “Go then. Before I start something that will make you late.”
She turned to him. “Not long now.” Dom drew her down for a kiss. “No, no, no. I must leave.”
Flinging his hands up, he scowled. “Soon.”
“Yes, soon.”
Dotty made it back to her chamber just as her maid entered. “Good thing you’re back, miss. Her ladyship’s already up and asking for you. The tub will be here in a few moments.”
She sat at the dressing table for Polly to comb out her hair. “Why is she awake so early?”
“Don’t know. Excited about the ceremony, I guess.”
A knock came on the door and two footmen carried in a copper tub. “The water’s coming now,” one of them said.
Once her bath was ready, Dotty sank into the hot water, wanting nothing more than to stay there for a while. Once she had washed, breakfast was delivered on a tray and set up in the small adjoining parlor. “This is too much for me.”
“Your mother is joining you.”
As if she’d heard her name, Mama entered the chamber. “Good morning, my dear. I feel as if we have not had any time together at all. Though I am very glad you and Dominic are getting along so well, and I have greatly enjoyed the time I’ve spent with Eunice.”
Dotty poured tea, handed one cup to her mother, before fixing her own. She took a sip, savoring the smooth taste. One of the first things she’d done was to order her own blend. “She is everything I could want in a mother in-law.”
Mama took a bite of toast and chewed, while Dotty sliced a piece of beef. She was so hungry.
