Then George approached, to Damien’s great surprise, without Caroline at his side, and he puffed out his little chest and offered his hand to Evander to introduce himself.
“It is a pleasure indeed to meet you, young man,” Evander replied with great sincerity as he shook George’s hand. “I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed being a part of our family.”
Evander’s words struck Damien in the chest like a bolt of lightning. That is what they were, he realized. They wereallfamily now that he and Caroline were married. It was not the first time he had thought it, but it was the first time hefeltit. He looked slowly around the room, taking in everyone’s cheerful faces. Everyone he loved was sitting around him, all healthy and happy.
He only looked away when he felt Caroline’s hand squeeze his own, and he hastily loosened his grip on her thigh, not even realizing that he had tightened it.
He murmured an apology as he brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
“No need,” she assured him. “You did not hurt me. But you look almost sad, my love. Is everything all right?”
Damien felt a lump of emotion form in his throat as he took another quick glance around the full table.
“I just never thought I would have this,” he rasped. “I suppose I became accustomed to being the outsider looking in on your family. I never suspected I would have one of my own.”
Caroline leaned toward him and kissed his lips so tenderly that he nearly gasped.
“Weareyour family,” she whispered against his lips, sending light bursting through his heart. “And you are ours.”
Chapter 29
“When will Uncle Evander be back?” George asked.
Caroline turned to him and gave the boy a sweet smile. Evander’s visit yesterday had been woefully short, but even so, it was clear that George’s fear of adults was now a thing of the past, and the boy had taken a liking to her cousin almost immediately. In fact, he was in awe of Evander’s stories, in which Evander claimed that he had been away sailing with the pirates.
Caroline knew the truth was far worse, but she truly appreciated the effort her cousin had made to bond with the boy.
“Hopefully soon, my love,” Caroline replied, reaching out to gently stroke back some of the dark curls from his forehead.
“I miss him,” George said, puckering his lips. “He had so many stories to tell me. And he even showed me what the pirates did to his hands! Will I be so big and tall if I eat all my food?”
“Of course you will, my boy,” Damien replied from his seat at the breakfast table.
Caroline turned to him, and even though she knew they were all sad over Evander’s departure, she still felt a lightness in her heart. The three of them and Jeremy were all together for breakfast, as they had been for dinner for the last week, and were having their meals as a family on a regular basis. Despite the heartache and fear, they had finally reached a place of normalcy, and she cherished it greatly.
“Perhaps you could fashion one of your wonderful dolls for him,” Caroline offered. “I am sure he would love it. We could send it to him to let him know we are thinking of him.”
George’s somber expression shifted at once into a grin, and he readily agreed. He was rambling excitedly about how he would make it look when Mr. Stones, the butler, appeared with the morning correspondence.
“Thank you, Mr. Stones,” Damien murmured, accepting his bundle.
“Thank you, old Stoney,” Jeremy said cheerfully, accepting his.
“And for you, Your Grace,” Mr. Stones stated, holding out a single letter for Caroline.
“For me?” she asked, shifting her curious gaze from the butler’s face to the letter in his hand.
“Yes, Your Grace,” he replied, still holding the envelope out to her.
“Curious,” she murmured, accepting the letter. The only person she wrote or received letters from was Elara, and now that she was back, there was no need for them. She looked at the front of the missive, thinking that it could be another update on the orphanage from Miss Willa, and her curiosity grew. There wasno return address, nor was there a postage mark. Whoever had delivered it had been a personal messenger.
She broke the seal and opened it, and the moment her eyes landed on the familiar cursive handwriting, she felt her body grow cold. She sucked in a breath, suddenly growing dizzy as her hands began to shake.
“Caroline?” She heard Damien’s voice in the distance, as if he were some great length away instead of just a few scant inches. She parted her lips, but did not speak.
We have your marriage contract and will be releasing it to the papers.
Caroline gasped and startled as she felt a hand on her shoulder, her heart thudding in her chest even as she realized it was Damien, notAgatha.
