“They dinnae,” Demon growled, stepping forward, “especially no’ if they hurt my daughter.”
“Da!” Rose left the ring in Bull’s palm and burst into exasperated movement, rolling her eyes as she snagged herfather’s arm and pulled him toward the chaise. “Have some tea!”
“No’ until I ken ye’re safe.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, still glaring as he sank down, eyes full of worry. “Is yer nae-so-great aunt trying to blackmail ye?”
“Oh, Da, she only sent that letter to get me and the portrait here.” Rose gestured to the easels. “Surely you have noticed the unusual décor? Aunt Eliza has been acquiring all of the portraits she painted of her sister as a young woman.”
“Yepainted?” Bull’s brows rose, understanding a relief after so much worry. “I’ll confess I didnae guess that.”
Rose pointed. “You only have to study the portraits to see the love and affection the artist poured into each stroke.”
Lady Mistree nodded serenely. “My younger sister was brave, clever, and dramatic, just like your True Love, Bull.” She settled back in her bath chair with a soft sigh. “I am pleased I will get to be with Rosemary again soon…and I am pleased to have brought together one last couple.”
Not understanding, Bull glanced at Rose.
She smiled, even as she patted her father’s arm. “Aunt Eliza is somewhat of a matchmaker. In her campaign to acquire all of her sister’s portraits, she’s been working to nudge together all of our family. Thanks to her pretense at blackmailing Allie, Rupertfinallyproposed marriage to her. And Marcia?—”
“The inheritances,” Bull breathed in understanding. “Marcia’s necklace, Gabby’s lace, and Hunter’s…what did he have? A magic rock?”
“A spoon,” Lady Mistree said with a chuckle. “And you got a ring. It is not magic in itself, but the love behind it is.” She grinned knowingly at Rose. “That ring belonged to my mother, same as this estate did, but my sister wore it for years to remind her of her one true love. Her child. When I gave it to Bull, I am certain he thought it meager compared to the affection we hold for one another?—”
“Eliza!” Bull interrupted to protest, but the old woman shook her head and held up her palm.
“You are worth all the best things, my dear Bull. I told you that ring would fit your True Love, and…” She nodded to where Bull held the piece of gold between his thumb and forefingers. “It did. You might have placed it on Rosie’s finger as part of a ruse, but she has already admitted it became truth to her.”
Bull stared down at the ring, mind unable to take in all that was being said. “Did ye…did ye ken she was meant for me?” he whispered.
“Any fool could see it, my dear friend. That ring was always meant for my great-great niece…butyouhad to be the one to give it to her.”
Lady Mistree stretched out both her hands, one toward Bull and one toward Rose. As Bull stepped toward the bath chair, he saw Rose stand and take her aunt’s hand.
The old woman beamed at them both. “My sister Rosemary was a rare light in a dull world. As a girl, she was adventurous and thrilling and so full of life, just like you, Rosie. She gave her heart—and herself—away to a man who did not love her in return, and Society judged her harshly for that. It led her on a path to what eventually became a scandalous and mostly enjoyable life.” She smiledsoftly at her great-grandniece. “I look at you, my dear, and I see my sister come back to life. Her smile. Her appetite for life. But you will not end the way she did.” She shifted her smile to Bull, welcoming him. “Because the man you have given your heart to is a good man.”
In that moment, Bull didn’t think he had eyes for anyone but Rose. The ring was clutched in his hand, his fingers still now that they could grip that piece of gold—and the hope it represented—like a lifeline.
He wasn’t good enough for her. He never could be.
But she…his Rose, she didn’t want someonegood. She wanted him.
Was that true?
But from the corner of his gaze he saw Demon thrust himself to his feet, and he watched Lady Mistree switch her smile to him.
“Is that not right, young Demon? We do not want your daughter coming to the same sorrowful end that my sister did, do we?”
“Moldy wankbiscuits,” the other man growled, stomping up to stand at Rose’s side, making the fourth point in their group. “Nae man is good enough for my Rosie.”
Lady Mistree switched her grin to Bull and squeezed his hand as she whispered conspiratorially. “You must not take it personally. You will understand what he means when your Rose gives you a daughter of your own.”
Demon sucked in a breath, but Bull barely heard it. Nay, his breathing had stopped as he stared into Rose’s eyes, suddenly struck by the image of her holding a wee hellionwith her beauty and his grin.A daughter. One day, he might be a father?
In that moment, he vowed to be the best bloody father ever.
His grin was slow, excited, certain.
“How about it, Rose?”
He flicked the emerald ring into his palm, closed a fist around it, made it disappear just long enough for him to reach forward and present it to her, making it appear in his palm again. “Forever?”
