“I guess miracles do happen,” Alister said.
Mara tugged on Lyra’s hand excitedly, her eagerness barely contained. “I fear your husband is going to have to part ways with you for a time.Wehave some catching up to do.”
* * *
Roarke shut the door to his study with a shake of his head. “There’s nothing worse than a gaggle of women who have been reunited. One would think Mara and Lyra had been apart for years rather than months, and mother…” He pursed his lips thoughtfully. “I have no words to express how much she’s changed.”
After Roarke poured them both a brandy, he sat at his desk across from Alister. “Lyra told me she and Mara were inseparable in their younger days.”
“That’s true.”
Alister took a hearty sip of his drink. “She also said you and Mara had quite a story to tell.”
His brother-in-law laughed. “That’s putting it rather mildly. But that’s a discussion for another time.” He laced his fingers together on the desktop. “I wanted to speak with you privately about the marriage settlements and any capital Lyra might bring to your union.”
Alister patiently waited for Roarke to continue.
“Since Richard’s body was recovered from the hotel, I’ve had time to speak to his solicitor. Lyra’s widow jointure has been restored.” He paused. “I should like her to keep that as her personal expenditure, if that is agreeable to you.”
“I don’t have a problem with that. Lyra means more to me than any coin.”
“That’s rather ironic for you to say, Your Grace,” Roarke said slowly. “Since you owe a considerable gaming debt of nearly fifteen thousand pounds and are perilously close to debtor’s prison.”
Alister tried not to wince. And failed. “That sounds about right.”
Roarke’s eyes narrowed. “Before I go on, let me ask you this, if you thought my sister was penniless and that marrying her wouldn’t help your financial status, why did you agree to do it?”
“And they thinkI’mnot all bright,” Alister muttered before he said evenly, “I thought surely you might have figured that out for yourself, Lord Eversleigh.”
“Indeed.” Roarke lifted a brow. “In that case, let me congratulate you, for all of your debts have been paid.”
Alister felt his eyes widen. “Do you meanyou—”
Roarke smiled. “I wish I could take the credit, but I’m afraid that luxury goes to Sir Bowly. He paid a call on me about a week ago wanting to know where you were. He wanted to speak with you to ask for your sister’s hand. Since you weren’t available, we had a brief chat of our own. He told me that paying those debts was your sister’s condition upon marrying him. She claimed they all belonged to her.”
Alister honestly didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t believe that Euphemia finally took such a heavy burden from his shoulders.
“Along with the tidy sum I shall bestow upon you and Lyra as my wedding gift,” Roarke went on, “you should have quite a comfortable life ahead as long as you use it wisely.” Standing, he held out a hand. “Welcome to the family, Your Grace.”
* * *
“I thought Big B was going to cry when he saw me.” Mara rolled her eyes. She was chatting with Lyra in her personal sitting room. Lavinia had taken her leave a short time earlier, giving the two women some time to catch up.
Lyra was thankful to see her mother had finally accepted Mara into the fold. It was still hard to fathom that a chance meeting at a London haberdashery had brought about all so much change, her brother’s happiness and contentment for instance, but she was thankful for it.
“He’s always been a soft-hearted bear,” Mara was saying. “But I swear he’s turning into a veritable watering pot since he gave up boxing and turned to gardening. Then again, my backyard has turned into the envy of all London, with every matron begging him to come and work for them.”
“You may have to increase his wage,” Lyra teased, thinking of the fearsome-looking, dark-skinned pugilist. In reality, he was just as Mara claimed, a gentle giant.
“Oh, he gets paid plenty. Even though he scowls whenever I give him anything, I make him take it. I just tell him I’ll make him take another position if he doesn’t, and he scurries off.” She laughed. “Personally, I think other society women terrify him.”
Lyra joined in the merriment before Mara leaned forward conspiratorially. “I can only imagine his reaction when I tell him he’s going to be an honorary uncle.”
It took a moment for her words to sink in, but when they did, Lyra’s eyes widened. “Are you…?”
“I am.” Mara’s grin could have lit up the Heavens. “I’m going to be a mother!”
Lyra gasped. She reached over and hugged her friend. “I’m so happy for you and Roarke! You certainly deserve some happiness after all you’ve been through.”
