“I am afraid,” she whispered.
“My fearless defender of animals and children? My amazing warrioress who rushes into the fray without hesitation? What could possibly strike fear into your valiant heart? Tell me so I may slay whatever demons still trouble you.”
She lowered her gaze, making him realize she was quite serious.
“Grace—my heart is yours forevermore. No matter what. Tell me what you fear.”
“You do not care that some might say you married a tomboy or a hoyden? You won’t change your mind about marrying such an unconventional lady?”
“My only care is for you, my love.”
She patted his chest. “You truly have a special license?”
“I do.”
She fiddled with his cravat, the way she always did when feeling particularly anxious. “Then perhaps we might marry this coming Saturday. Would that do?”
“Well.” He struggled not to smile and pull her into his arms—instead, he remained quite serious. “I suppose Saturday would do, if that is what you have your heart set on.”
“If not Saturday, then what day would you prefer?”
“Yesterday would not be soon enough, my lady.”
Her pensiveness melted away, replaced with a wry smile. “I do not manage teasing well, either, unless I am the teaser.”
“So I have come to realize. Is there anything else I should know?”
She pushed up from the ground and laughed. “Loads more, I would imagine, but I suppose there should be some surprises to keep you from growing bored with me.”
“I doubt very much that boredom with you will ever be a problem, my lady.” He rose and primly offered his arm. “Come. Let us tell your family so your sisters can plan the battle.”
“Plan the battle?”
“If I have learned anything since meeting your family, it is that your sisters plan all major events much like generals wage war. In fact, the Crown would do well to commission Serendipity to train the commanders for each branch of the service.”
Grace laughed as she lithely slipped through the fence, even though she was wearing her walking dress rather than her adventuring buckskins. “I am sure Seri would be most proud to hear that.”
“Seri would be most proud to hear what?” Serendipity asked from where she and Blessing were fishing a wildflower out of little Rorie’s mouth and prying another one out of her fist.
“There is a wedding breakfast to plan for this Saturday,” Grace said with a pointed nod at Felicity, who immediately jumped up and clapped with joy.
“ThisSaturday?” Serendipity repeated, looking aghast. “Oh dear heavens, this is Wednesday. There is your dress to be sorted. Our dresses to be sorted. The food.” She came up short and looked at Wolfe. “I assume you have a special license and the ceremony will be here?”
He almost retreated a step but caught himself in time. “Yes to the special license, and I have no preference as to where we have the ceremony, as long as we have it.”
“Well done, you,” Fortuity said from the blanket spread across the ground where she sat beside her sleeping son.
Chance strode forward and clapped him on the back. “Welcome to the family, Wolfebourne, and may God have mercy on your soul.”
“Don’t worry, Gracie,” Merry said with a narrow-eyed glare at her brother. “Joy and I can manage the frogs and eels for Chance’s bed.”
“Are we not all getting a little too old for that prank?” Chance asked.
“We will stop that prank when you cease behaving like a horse’s arse,” Blessing said.
“Exactly,” Joy agreed.
Blessing’s husband, Thorne, and Fortuity’s husband, Matthew, stepped forward with wide grins.
