“And we love you,” they replied.
Old Mrs. Radcliff was smiling. It was so wide that briefly all her wrinkles disappeared. She nodded, and he nodded back. He made his way back to his brothers and Max’s words filtered back through his head.
It has always been our wish.
“When did you decide that Samantha was my Raven? Surely not just before I went to Wales,” he asked his brothers.
“What?” Dev shot Cam a look.
“You heard the question.”
“Ah, well as to that.”
“For pity’s sake, Dev. Just tell him,” Cam said.
“Well, we your family thought it the best match for you both many years ago.”
“How many years?”
“Ummm—”
“Dev and James decided you would marry when they became friends and after Eden married him,” Cam said.
Warwick stared at him.
“Do we need to say this here and now?” Dev said.
“It’s like tearing off a scab, Dev. Get it all out at once.”
Warwick started laughing. So hard that he soon had tears streaming down his cheeks.
“Well, at least he’s taking it well,” Cam said.
“Get yourself under control, brother, a carriage has just arrived,” Dev said. “And we only ever had your best interests at heart.”
Warwick wiped his eyes and sucked in a large breath, which he slowly exhaled.
“How did I not know?”
“Love is blind, I believe,” Dev drawled.
A gaggle of small children entered first.
“I can’t believe she wanted all of them.” Cam sighed.
First in the procession was Simon, holding Merry’s hand. Next came Mathew, with Kat. Luke walked with Daisy, and the others followed. All of them, right down to the babies carried by Somer and Dorrie. Boys wore black breeches and cream shirts, girls in little cream dresses with black sashes.
“It actually hurts my heart to look at them all,” Cam whispered. “They’re so bloody cute.”
“Hold that thought,” Dev said as someone pushed Merry in the back, and she stumbled forward.
“Merry!” Dev thundered as she raised her small posy to whack whoever had shoved her. “Lower your posy!”
She did, glaring at him.
They started walking, and then there she was. The woman who he’d always loved but not to the depths he now did. She carried his heart and soul. His to love and protect.
“She’s beautiful. How did it take me so long to realize that?”
