He crossed over, sitting beside her on the settee. He took her hands in his.
“You were trying to help,” he said. “I am fortunate indeed to have an older sister who cares enough to do so.”
“I do care, Ben.” She gave him a squeeze. “I always have, and I do not know why it took me this long to tell you.”
“We Wodehouses are not the most expressive lot.”
They smiled at each other, the healing power of forgiveness needing no other words.
After the moment passed, Bea said, “May I offer a word of advice?”
“I would welcome it,” he said sincerely.
“Since Livy was a little girl, she has always seen the best in you. She still does.” Bea gave him a sisterly look. “A woman like that does not come along often.”
“I know.” He was damned grateful for the gift he’d been given. “I have an appointment with Strathaven shortly. Although I wouldn’t blame him for turning down my suit; Livy deserves a better man.”
“Nonsense.” To his surprise, Bea reached over and straightened his lapels. The way she had when they were children. Her expression open and warm, she said, “You are a good man, little brother. Now go win the hand of the woman you love.”
“Livy, dearest, if you don’t stop pacing, you’ll wear a trench in the rug,” Mama chided.
“What could be taking them so long?” Livy asked. “They’ve been in the study for half an hour.”
“They are probably coming to terms.”
“Or blows,” Livy muttered.
Mama patted the cushion beside her. “Come sit by me, dear.”
When Livy acquiesced, her mother looked her in the eyes.
“Where there is love, there is a way. That was one of your grandpapa’s favorite sayings,” Mama said softly. “Trust me, dear girl. Everything will be well.”
A moment later, Papa strode into the drawing room. Ben was behind him, lingering in the doorway. Papa looked first at Livy, then at Mama.
“You were right, Emma.” He sounded slightly stunned.
“Really, darling, one would think you would be used to it by now,” Mama said.
Livy went up to her father. “Papa…do Hadleigh and I have your blessing?”
“Is this truly what you want, poppet?” Papa’s face had never looked more serious. In a low voice, he said, “While Hadleigh is a fine chap, he is older than you—”
“I want to marry him,” Livy said with absolute conviction.
Her father exhaled slowly. “While I may have doubts, the one thing I have never questioned is that you are a girl who knows her own mind. And you have clearly decided on Hadleigh. You have my blessing, Livy. For what it is worth.”
“Oh, thank you, Papa! That means everything to me!”
She threw herself into her father’s arms, and he held her tightly.
“Be happy, poppet,” he murmured. “That is all I want for you.”
“I will be,” she promised. “As happy as you and Mama are.”
Releasing her, he cleared his throat.
“I believe I’m ready for tea.” He held his arm out to Mama. “Didn’t you say something special was on the menu, pet?”
“I made your favorite Scotch pie. I had a feeling you would need it.” Mama leaned up to kiss his jaw. “Well done, darling. You handled that magnificently.”
“Because of you.” Papa tucked her hand in the crook of his arm, saying in an undertone, “Thank God you prepared me. I might have had a fit of apoplexy otherwise.”
“We’ll be in the orangery,” Mama said cheerfully to Hadleigh as they passed by. “You and Livy may join us when you are ready.”
Her parents exited the room, their heads bent together.
Ben strode over to her, looking bemused.
“How did everything go?” Livy asked.
“It went better than I anticipated. Not only did your papa not call me out, but he also offered me some advice.”
“And that was?”
“A happy wife makes for a happy life.”
“That is exceedingly good counsel,” Livy said brightly.
“In that case…”
Ben went down on one knee. His eyes the warm blue of a summer night, he took out a box and opened the lid. Livy’s vision blurred at the sight of the ring: it was shaped like a delicate golden spider, its body a huge, faceted diamond.
It was a ring that only Ben would give her. A symbol of their love, which had changed over time, yet remained steadfast in its essence. A love between two souls meant to be together.
“My darling, determined Livy, who never gave up on me…will you be my wife?”
“Yes,” she said through her clogged throat. “Yes, please.”
He rose, slipping the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit.
“I love you.” The words left them both simultaneously.
They laughed. Then they kissed, touched by the wonder of two solitudes joined as one.
40
Ben carried his bride over the threshold, kicking the door shut behind him.
“You’re mine,” he said with infinite satisfaction.
Livy smiled at him. “At long last.”
He couldn’t agree more. Although their six-week engagement was one of the shorter ones on record, it nevertheless felt like an eternity since he’d had Livy all to himself. The Strathavens had loosened the rules, allowing him a few private moments with his fiancée; this had resulted in several steamy interludes, including one at an arachnid exhibition. As sweet as those times had been, Ben had yearned for more than furtive snippets of time with his beloved.
Now he had his wish. Livy was his duchess. His.
Wonder expanded his chest…and his cock.
He set Livy down by his bed, marveling at her beauty. When she’d walked down the aisle of majestic St. Paul’s toward him, his breath had stuttered. She’d been a queen in her frothy white gown embellished with lace, her hair a shining coronet studded with pearls. She’d kept her jewelry simple: the crown he’d given her nestled in the hollow of her throat, the delicate spider ring upon her finger. She gazed up at him now as she had then, with adoration in her verdant eyes, reinforcing that he was the luckiest bastard alive.
And also the randiest.
Throughout the wedding luncheon hosted by her parents,
