Feeling rather smug, all things considered, Richard left the fancy dining room where they’d all had dinner with William and Destiny. Ben and Mack stepped into place beside him as they strolled back toward their hotel.
“Why the devil didn’t you just tell them that you approved of this wedding?” Mack asked.
Richard grinned. “I wanted to make the old man sweat a bit longer, just to see what he’s made of.”
“And?” Ben prodded. “What was your conclusion?”
“No question that he loves Destiny,” Richard conceded. “Not that I’m convinced he’s not some sort of business shark, but the prenup he agreed to sign even over Destiny’s objections pretty much settled that worry.”
“I still say you gave him a rough time for no reason,” Ben scolded mildly. “It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if they decided to elope and leave us out of it.”
Richard regarded his brother with alarm. “You don’t really think they’d do that, do you?”
“I’m with Ben. I think they might,” Mack said. “You were awfully tough on him.”
“But I relented in the end,” Richard protested. “Did you miss that?”
“Oh, I caught your grudging concession that you wouldn’t stand in their way,” Mack agreed. “Made me feel all warm and fluttery inside.”
Richard stared from one to the other. “Hell, you can’t be serious. We can’t let them elope. Destiny deserves better than that from us.”
“I agree,” Ben said. “Mack?”
Mack nodded at once. “Let’s head back over there and smooth this out once and for all.”
Richard turned to find that Melanie, Beth and Kathleen were grinning.
“What?” he demanded.
“It’s about time the three of you came to your senses. Now, let’s go plan a wedding,” Melanie said, tucking her arm through Richard’s. “Just try to remember one thing.”
“What’s that?” Richard asked.
“It is Destiny’s wedding. You don’t get to micromanage it.”
“Me?” Richard asked indignantly.
“Yes, you!” five voices chorused emphatically.
He laughed. “Okay, okay.” He turned to his brothers. “Think our wives can keep their noses out of it, too?”
“Not a chance,” Mack said.
“No way,” Ben agreed.
Melanie, Beth and Kathleen merely shrugged. “Destiny already asked for our help,” Melanie said.
Richard frowned. “They were never going to elope?”
“Well, they would have if you hadn’t come around,” Melanie told him. “But I convinced them to give us five or ten minutes to work on you.”
He stared hard at his brothers. “And you were in on this scheme, too?”
“Scheming and manipulation,” Mack said cheerfully. “It’s the Carlton way.”
Richard tried to maintain his indignation, but he couldn’t pull it off. “Damn straight,” he said at last.
* * *
In the end, the wedding was held in Provence in the middle of a field of poppies. All of the Carltons attended, as did Violetta and most of the people from the village, old friends it seemed to Destiny that she’d left only days, rather than decades, ago.
There was no aisle for Destiny to walk down, but when the minister asked who was giving her away, Richard, Mack and Ben stepped forward. “We do,” they said in unison. “With our love and our blessing.”
Tears streamed down Destiny’s face as she kissed each one of them in turn, then faced William, her heart lighter than it had been in years.
The vows came easily. She’d loved and cherished William for most of her life now. Never again would they have to face whatever challenges came along alone. He would be her strength and, as she’d only recently realized, she was capable of being his. Together they were a formidable team.
In fact, if she had her way, there would be a Carlton Industries and Harcourt & Sons merger one of these days that would be just as invincible as the two of them.
But that was getting ahead of herself, she thought as she gazed into her new husband’s eyes. Right now there was a honeymoon to savor, right here in the farmhouse where it had all begun. All she had to do was get this meddlesome family of hers out from underfoot by sunset. Given the way they’d fallen in love with the farmhouse and with Provence, that didn’t seem likely.
Ah, well, a honeymoon with the family she adored wasn’t such a bad way to begin her new life, either. After all, very little on earth meant more to her than family…and now William was a part of hers. Sometimes fate simply couldn’t be ignored, no matter how long it took.
* * * * *