“I—” Raverson spits.
But Albie’s already turning to surveil the crowd assembling around them. “Heartbreak can do terrible things to a man. Don’t judge Lord Raverson too harshly.”
With that, Albie takes Meredith’s arm and guides her through the crowd. Parker and Cunningham step up on either side of Bobby and James, and they quickly link arms with Beth and Gwen. They gently push through the assembled onlookers and make a quick escape, hustling across the boardwalk and up the street.
It’sover. All in a moment.
Bobby watches Meredith pass their list over to Parker, who quickly pockets it. “You’d make a fine politician, Lady Mason,” Parker says as they come to a stop a few doors down from their hotel.
“Oh, I know,” Meredith says with a proud shrug.
“I could have taken him,” Gwen mutters, and James lets out a startled laugh.
“I’m sure you could have,” Beth agrees. “Though that’s not really the impression we want to make.”
“Would have been great, though,” Bobby says, his eyes catching James’. They actually did it.
“Could you gents see he makes his way to the ferry?” Albie asks Parker and Cunningham. “I think he’s done with his visit.”
Parker nods, slinging his arm over Cunningham’s shoulders. “I look forward to our meetings once we’re back. Good show, all of you,” he says, glancing at James and Bobby.
“Thank you,” James says.
Parker smiles and flicks his thumb, sending something small and golden sailing their way. Bobby reacts by instinct, snatching it out of the air. He looks down, the initials on his signet ring glinting up from his palm.
“Thank you,”Bobby says, meeting Parker’s eyes.
“Secrets stay inside,” Parker says seriously.
Then with a jaunty wave, he lets Cunningham turn him around to head back to the marina to strong-arm Raverson onto the next ferry out.
The six of them stand there in a daze, Beth on Bobby’s arm, Gwen on James’.
“Breakfast?” Meredith suggests.
“Finally,” Beth says earnestly, and they all dissolve into laughter.
James’ hand brushes Bobby’s as they stumble toward the hotel, their arms linked with their respective fiancées. His quick fingers snag the signet out of Bobby’s palm.
“You promised me a ring,” he whispers.
Bobby laughs, his chest light. “I did, didn’t I?”
James’ cheeks turn pink as their eyes hold for a moment, before he turns back to Gwen. Bobby takes a deep, elated breath. They’re safe. Safe to be themselves, to love one another, and to walk through the world, armed not just with the support of their family, but with a community united.
All that’s left to be done is to actually get married and swan off into the sunset.
... After they face Uncle Dashiell.
Chapter Thirty-Two
James
“Let me burn that.”
James stares down at the crumpled letter in his fist. “I’m fine.”
“Still,” Reginald says, gently prying the letter from his hand. “Neither you nor your mother need concern yourself with him.”
