“Perhaps Mick will donate the lumber.”
He winked at her. “We’ll see that he does.”
“And if he doesn’t, there is bound to be lots of scraps from the building of our house that will suffice.”
They’d found some land near Watford. Thornley’s payment to them earlier would see it become theirs.
Leaning in, Finn pressed his lips to hers. Suddenly there was a burst of laughter and cheers. She turned away, her face growing warm with embarrassment.
“Knock it off, you lot,” Finn called out. “A man should be able to kiss his wife when he wants.”
The sound of silver tapping glass had them all quieting, and she looked over to see Thornley standing at the head of the table. “As I’m of the highest rank here, I believe it falls to me to make the toast.” He lifted his coupe of champagne, and everyone followed suit. “I once saw marriage as a duty. A ghastly way to view it. I have learned of late that it is a privilege, and that love can make it the closest thing to heaven we might know upon this earth.” He looked at his wife and smiled before turning his attention back to those gathered at his table. “Lavinia and Finn, I wish you a long life to enjoy what you have found in each other, troubles that are easily dealt with, and a love that grows ever deeper every day. To your happiness.”
“Hear! Hear!”
She brought the coupe to her lips—
“Oh, one last thing.”
Stopping, she looked at Thorne, and he lifted his glass a bit higher. “Thank you, my dear Lavinia, for leaving me standing quite alone at the altar.”
She laughed. “It was my pleasure, Thorne.”
When the breakfast was over and people retired to the parlor to visit for a bit more, Lavinia made her way down to the kitchens where she found Robin sharing some biscuits and milk with Mouser. She’d wanted the lad here, to feel part of the festivities, even if he was too young to participate in them fully.
She wished it was warmer, so they could go out in the gardens, but winter had arrived, and the winds were blowing fierce and cold. Pulling out a chair, she sat. “I want to thank you for being willing to watch Mouser for me today.”
“Ye married now?” Robin asked.
“I am. You may call me Mrs. Trewlove instead of Miss Kent.”
“Ye happy about it?”
“Very much so. Finn and I, probably shortly after Christmas, are going to be moving to the country. We’re going to have stables and barns. As mice like stables and barns, we’re going to need a lot of cats. As you’re so very good at taking care of cats, I wondered if you might like to come live with us and see after ours.”
He scrunched up his face. “You mean leave Gillie’s?”
She’d spoken with both Finn and Gillie about her desire to have Robin live with them, to be the first of the many children they’d welcome into their home. “Yes. You could also help Finn with the horses.”
“Will ye have dogs?”
“I suspect so. We’re going to have a lot of land, so I imagine we’ll have a good many animals. Chickens, ducks, and geese. You could be master of the animals. You’d have your own bedchamber and dine with us.”
Biting his lower lip, he shook his head. “Can’t. My mum won’t know where to find me.”
“But you see, Robin, that’s the thing about mothers. If they are able, they always know where to find their children. And if they’re not, say if they’ve gone to heaven already, then they can look down on them and they always know where they are. And if your mum goes to Gillie’s, well, Gillie can tell her where to find you. And until she does, well, I would be your mother.”
“But ye’re not a fairy.”
“Here’s the thing. I still have magic. It’s called love. And it can make such a wonderful difference in a life. I love you so very much. We think you’d be happy with us, but you don’t have to decide right now. You can think about it. You can wait until you see it, decide then if it’s a place where you’d like to live.”
He nodded. “I’ll think on it.”
“Splendid.” She smiled at him. “Now, come upstairs. We’re going to have some cake.”
Aiden had never been one for sweets, so Finn wasn’t surprised to find him standing on the terrace after cake was passed out to everyone.
“Bloody cold out here,” he said as he went to stand beside his brother.
