“But—” There were no but’s. She kissed him, and kissed him again, her heart nearly bursting with joy. “Oh, Anthony, I’m so glad you did. And I’ll never, ever be such a fool again, I swear—”
He told her, in between kisses, “You can be a fool…whenever you like…as long as you don’t stop loving me.”
“I couldn’t, even if I wanted to. Will you?”
“Never, sweetheart. You may depend upon it.”
Chapter Forty-five
“Iunderstand congratulations are in order,” Nicholas remarked as he joined Anthony for a smoke in the garden. Sunday dinner at Edward’s had gathered the whole clan this time, minus James. “You don’t think you’re a bit old to be starting a family, Malory?”
“When are you going to visit Knighton’s Hall, Montieth?” Anthony countered dryly.
Nicholas chuckled, ignoring the gibe. “Regina’s been talking about nothing else since Roslynn told her. She wants another of her own now.”
“That’ll be a bit hard to do, won’t it, dear boy? According to James, you’re in the doghouse.”
“Oh, I never stay there long, old man,” Nicholas replied, his grin maddening. “Your niece might have the famous Malory temper, but she’s not heartless. Besides, she doesn’t like to sleep alone.”
Anthony glowered. He still couldn’t set it right in his mind that his little Reggie was a woman now—with a lusty rake for a husband. Seemed he ought to punch Montieth out for such a remark. ’Course, the whole family’d be down on his head if he did, Reggie in the lead.
“One of these days, Montieth, I’m going to like you. But don’t hold your breath.”
Nicholas’ laughter followed him back into the house, rubbing him raw. Regina met up with him in the hall, however, to dispel the mood.
“Have you seen Nicholas, Tony?”
“Wish I hadn’t, but he’s in the garden.”
“You didn’t have words again, did you?” she asked, frowning.
“What can I say, puss?” He shrugged, then added deliberately, “But you’ll notice I left. He goes for blood these days.”
“Famous! Oh, when will you twoeverget along?”
“We’re too much alike, my girl, and we know it. But do me a favor and drag him back in the house, will you? I’d like to stroll with the wife, and a little privacy wouldn’t be amiss.”
Anthony was grinning when he left Regina. Hopefully Montieth would be back in the doghouse tonight, and the poor sod wouldn’t even know what he’d done wrong. That thought brought a chuckle. One of these days Reggie was going to realize that he and Nicholas delighted in their verbal sparring. There’d be hell to pay then, but for now, Anthony counted himself the winner of this round.
He found Roslynn had been cornered by Edward, and he just caught her last words as he approached. “But I don’t want to double my money. Hell’s teeth, what would I do with more of it?”
“I should have warned you, sweetheart, that Eddie boy would be after you. He can’t stand to see money just sitting around.”
Edward defended himself. “Well, it’s preposterous, Tony. No one ever hastoomuch money, you know. There are the children to think of, and—”
“And I’m sure Roslynn will let you manage her estate, if she can ever get around to figuring out all it entails.”
“That’s not fair,” Roslynn protested. “I know exactly what I own—I just can’t be expected to remember it all.” Both men laughed, to her chagrin. “Verywell, I’ll have my solicitor call on you, Edward. Perhaps this is something I should become interested in.”
“Good God, now see what you’ve done, Eddie,” Anthony complained with mock horror. “I don’t want her mind filled with figures.”
“No, you just want it filled with you.” Edward snorted.
“True.” Anthony grinned unabashedly. “Now come along, my dear, and let me see if I can find something else for you to be interested in.”
Anthony walked her away from the house, until there was only moonlight to light the way. He stopped near the rose bushes, his arms wrapping around her from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder.
“Do you really want to get involved in the empire your grandfather left you?”
