Emmeline’s breath caught. “Will you?”
“Yes,” he said, nodding quickly, his whole face alive now. “I shall be very careful. And I shall teach it ships. Not the difficult ones at first, only the easy ones. And when it is bigger, we can build a whole fleet.”
Juliet pressed a hand to her mouth, her eyes shining.
Frederick blinked too quickly and looked away.
Rowan’s hand tightened over Emmeline’s, and when she looked at him, his expression had softened into something so openly moved that her heart nearly broke from happiness.
“A whole fleet,” Emmeline repeated, laughing through her tears.
Aaron nodded again, solemn with joy. “The best one.”
Juliet came to the bed then and took Emmeline’s hand carefully. “I am so happy for you.”
“Thank you,” Emmeline said, squeezing her fingers. Then her gaze shifted to Frederick, whose smile had turned softer than she had ever seen it. “And now, someone must explain why Lord Calham looks as though he has swallowed sunlight.”
Frederick placed a hand to his chest. “I resent the accuracy of that.”
Rowan glanced at Juliet. “Tell her.”
Juliet blushed so deeply that there was no need.
Emmeline’s mouth fell open. “No.”
Frederick’s grin returned, bright and helpless. “Yes.”
“You and Juliet?”
Juliet nodded, laughing now, shy and radiant. “We are engaged.”
Emmeline stared at her, then at Frederick, then at Rowan. “And you allowed this?”
Rowan’s brow lifted. “I gave them my blessing.”
“You gave your blessing,” she repeated, unable to keep the wonder from her voice.
Frederick leaned closer to Juliet with wicked solemnity. “I believe that means he likes me.”
“I am reconsidering,” Rowan said.
Aaron looked delighted. “Does that mean Lord Calham will be my uncle?”
Frederick straightened. “It means I shall be your favorite uncle.”
“You are my only uncle!”
“All the easier, then.”
Biscuit barked once, as though objecting to being excluded from the family arrangements, and the whole room laughed.
Emmeline looked around at them. Aaron tucked against her side. Juliet and Frederick standing close enough that their sleeves brushed. Rowan beside her, his hand still over hers, his warmth steady and real.
The house had been full of silence for so long. Now it was full of voices.
Her eyes met Rowan’s.
He leaned closer and pressed a kiss to her temple, gentle enough to be a promise.
