Page 38 of Always the Lyon Tamer

And now, despite her shyness, the new Marchioness of Gloucester was welcoming her husband’s friends and family to their home with just as much confidence as a woman born with a title.

“My daughter, yes, little Rebecca,” came a voice.

John heard Becca sigh heavily. Her father was seated in a large armchair by the fireplace in the hall with a crowd of people around him. He looked rather pleased for the audience and was speaking in a loud, carrying voice.

“Now, I had assumed my little girl would not be married, being as she was over the age of one and twenty…”

John winced and glanced at his bride—but she seemed entirely unruffled. In fact, Becca laughed.

“He is not wrong,” she said with a grin. “He did think that. He even told me so once. Come, let us leave him by the fire. It can do no harm for him to tell his stories as he sees fit.”

He would never cease to be amazed by her.

“Remind me,” John said quietly as they stepped across the hall and into the drawing room, in which some of their most important guests were milling, “to never underestimate you.”

Becca laughed. “What, because I finally managed to convince you to marry me? It took me almost two years, John. I do not think I deserve praise for that!”

Despite her words, her smile was broad. There was something different about her. The Miss Darby he had first encountered at old Axwick’s wedding was still there, of course. The same chatter, passion, and enthusiasm.

Yet, this creature was more refined. And he loved her!

“Charlotte…”

The sound of her name caught the attention of John’s sister-in-law, for she turned from her conversation with the Duchess of Axwick and stepped lightly across the room.

“My ears are burning,” she said matter-of-factly. “What have I done, or better still, what am I being accused of?”

John laughed. He had always liked Charlotte, even before she had married William.

“No such terrible thing, I assure you,” said Becca reassuringly. “I was just saying that this wedding could simply not have happened in time without your help and support.”

“Nay, you do not take enough credit—I assure you, John, that woman has more lists about her person at any one time than a tax collector!” Charlotte said with a sparkle in her eye. “I was hard-pressed to keep up with her!”

The two ladies giggled, and John found his heart, already full of the activities of the day, grow with a little more joy.

Family.That was what was important to the Lennoxes.

“You were the one who introduced me to—”

“Ah, well,” said Charlotte impressively, waving a hand. “You spend years as a chaperone, and you start to know everyone in society.”

Becca laughed and turned to John. “This woman really does know everyone. I do not know how she does it! When I asked for roses—”

“Yellow roses,” interrupted Charlotte. “Yellow roses at this time of the year!”

“—Charlotte did it, of course,” Becca continued.

“Gown, flowers, cake, all in time—it was merely child’s play,” said Charlotte. “And speaking of—no, William, get down!”

She rushed away, and John’s gaze followed her—and met the sight of young little William about to topple over a vase.

“I always knew, you know.”

John had not noticed his brother approach, now leaning on an armchair with a knowing smile.

“Known?” repeated Becca.

William nodded. “I always knew it was you, Miss Darby—or now, I should say, Lady Lennox.”