Ethan kissed Cora’s cheek, glad he didn’t have to hide his feelings anymore. “Will you show them?”
She giggled and raised her hand. “My engagement ring.” She showed her amber sapphire to everyone with a proud look.
Lady Kingsley smiled at Ethan and raised her glass to them. “Well done, my lady.”
“We’ll have a wedding reception as soon as possible.” Ethan kissed Cora again, lingering more than it was polite, but he pretended not to hear the lady’s gasp.
“A wedding.” Harry fished out a firecracker and a match from his pockets. “Let’s celebrate.”
His father stopped him. “No firecrackers here.”
Harry stooped his shoulders. “Only one?”
“No, the noise will upset our friends,” Finn said in a low tone.
Mrs. Parker pushed a trolley where a tall cake rested on the top. Cherry flowers and whipped cream adorned the last layer. “A celebration isn’t a celebration without a cake. Cook had to be quick, but I can assure you the result is delicious.”
Ethan clapped his hands and cheered with everyone. He fed dollops of cream to Cora, smearing the tip of her nose in the process. She laughed so hard she sagged against him. Until she stopped laughing and turned serious, staring at a point behind him.
“What is it?” He cupped her face.
She paled. “He’s here.”
Roxbury entered the hall, clicking the heels of his tall boots against the wooden floor. Silence dropped. Only the sound of Roxbury’s footfalls echoed in the high ceiling. David rushed towards Ethan, breathing hard.
Roxbury stopped in the middle of the room, hands over the pommel of his walking stick. “I’m sorry to interrupt this merry party.”
A couple of blue-uniformed constables stood behind him. They shifted their weights nervously.
Ethan wrapped one arm around David and the other around Cora. “What do you want?”
Roxbury pointed a finger at David. “The rat is still my son. The marriage might have been annulled, but David is my son. He’ll come with me now.”
“You have no right to take him,” Ethan said. “Cora is David’s sole guardian.”
“No.” David gripped Ethan’s arm with both hands.
“Over my dead body,” Cora said, straightening.
Roxbury tilted his head. “That can be arranged.”
Ethan held David closer. “David doesn’t want to come with you. He stays here with his mother. He had no obligation to live with you, and if you disagree, we’ll see you in court.”
“I don’t give a damn about what David wants. He’s my heir, for now. He must return home with me.” Roxbury jabbed a finger in the direction of the police. “The law is on my side.”
“Lord Roxbury.” Judge Quigley came forward. “I must speak. You don’t have any authority over the child. The marriage has been annulled. Our motion about Lady Cora being the sole guardian was approved. Before you lay any claims on the child, you must legally recognise him as your heir, but after that, the mother will have the last word either way.”
“Which will be no,” Cora said.
“I knew you would say that.” Roxbury scratched his chin. “But we have a problem because unless David comes with me, the police will kick out your crazy soldiers. I’m still one of the owners of this piece of land, despite the fact Lady Kingsley showed her support to Stark, and you know, my solicitor found something irregular about Lord Stark’s late father’s documents.”
Ethan froze, trying to remain calm.
“What irregularity?” Judge Quigley asked.
Hell.
“Apparently, this building isn’t supposed to be used as a medical facility but only for residential purposes,” Roxbury said in a fake apologetic tone.
