Bull shook his head. “Ye’ve already given so much?—”
“Yes, I have. My Teddy will receive the estates linked to the Earldom, of course. But there is more.” She smiled up at Bull. “My dear friend, I have given you that ring, and told you it was your inheritance, but that was not the full truth. Yourrealgift was Rosie.”
“Aye.” Bull tightened his hold on his love, his throat thick with unexpressed emotion. “She is.”
“But Rosie, child,” Eliza reached up and took her hand. “Yourinheritance…is Rosewood. One day soon, when I am reunited with my beloved family, this estate will become yours. It was always meant for you, as was that ring…” She glanced between them. “And Bull.”
“Rosewood?” Rose breathed, excitement in her eyes. “I—I am going to inherit this estate?”
Bull blinked. No, wait, that wasn’t right. For if Rose was the mistress of Rosewood, that would makehim?—
A place?
He would have a place. Beside his Rose.
Eliza grinned. “I have provided a generous pension for any of the staff you choose not to keep on, but Jones has been loyal to me for years, and I hope you will treat him?—”
“Yes!” Rose squealed, lunging forward to hug the older woman. “Thank you so much, Aunt Eliza! That is…my goodness, that is?—”
“Thank ye, Eliza,” Bull managed to rasp. “Thank ye.”
The old woman beamed as she hugged her great-grandniece. “All of my scheming has been successful, then. Your ring has claimed Rosie, and Rosie has claimed Rosewood. A home, warm and respectable, and an income from the estate to prevent the need for sartorial success, artistic authorship, and pernicious pickpocketing. Are you satisfied, Your Grace?” she teased Demon.
He made a show of studying the room around them, his arms folded across his chest. “Well…yer mother will like it. Her family legacy. And this place isnae too far from Endymion, so my daughter can visit daily.”
“Weekly, Da,” Rose countered with a laugh.
“We’ll expect ye for dinner on Sundays and all holidays.” Demon pointed a fierce scowl at Bull. “And ye’re no’ going to be alone before the wedding!”
Rose was laughing as she slid into Bull’s arms, and he grinned down at her as he flourished the ring. “So what do ye say, my love? Will ye marry me?”
“A million times yes,” she whispered, sliding the band onto her finger, where it fitted perfectly, where it belonged. “You are my forever.”
Nodding, Bull lowered his mouth to hers. “Myfavoriteforever.”
And when he kissed her for the first time as his wife-to-be, he knew he’d found his home.
CHAPTER 17
Rosie’s breath fogged the frigid air, but she was nice and cozy warm with Bull behind her, his arms wrapped around her and his jaw pressed to her temple. They’d been on a tour of the house and found their way to the back terrace which overlooked the rose garden.
Whomever had named Rosewood had done it for a reason.
In the springtime these gardens would bloom to life, but for now the snow lay heavy on the paths, reflecting the moon and stars above. It was peaceful, serene…and a little surreal. One day this would behers?
No…theirs.
Rosie smiled, even though the cold hurt her teeth.Theirs. It seemed as if her great-great-aunt had been planning this for a while, arranging and manipulating them right into each other’s paths.
And she couldn’t be more delighted.
“What are ye thinking of?” Bull rumbled in her ear.
“Forever,” Rosie replied promptly. “What areyouthinking of?”
He hummed, and she wondered if he was going to answer her. After a moment, however, he took a deep breath, as if fortifying himself.
“Bairns. I’m a bastard?—”
