Together.
Victoria never realised the power or the promise in one small word until two hours ago when she’d stood before the minister, her hand in Keir’s, as they promised to love and cherish each other forever in front of their families and a few very close friends.
They’d opted to be married in a ceremony in the conservatory at Dunstan. It was the only place where they could be guaranteed privacy from prying eyes.
Keir had looked down at her, his eyes filled with equal parts love, humour and gratitude, and she’d seen home and togetherness there. For the first time since the summer when her mother had died, Victoria was filled with the simple but profound feeling: Yes this is good, this is right.
Now, Victoria toyed with her simple yellow diamond-studded wedding band, the outward symbol of their commitment to each other.
Keir came up behind her and slipped his hands around her waist.
‘It was a lovely ceremony.’ His deep voice was a husky rumble that trembled right through her. ‘And you are beautiful.’
She melted, looking up at him and suddenly shy. ‘No regrets?’
His arms tightened and she emerged from his crushing embrace laughing. ‘You got any more foolish questions?’
‘I wouldn’t dare.’
‘I’m glad we decided to get married here,’ he murmured against her cheek. ‘I’m all for creating good memories.’
‘Me too. Is today the first time your parents have been together in the one room since they separated?’
He held her so close she felt the tension her question generated. He sighed softly and she felt a flutter of nerves. She’d insisted that they invite his mother, stepfather and his sisters as well as his father, but Keir had been ambivalent, not wanting any tension to spoil their day.
Eventually he’d capitulated and insisted she invite her father and Daphne.
‘I guess it must be.’ He nuzzled her neck.
Victoria was fast becoming friends with his sisters and his mother. Beth and Elizabeth had helped her shop for her wedding gown, a slim and elegant satin sheath, with a guipure lace bodice and a short scalloped train.
‘Your father was subdued,’ he murmured, nuzzling her neck.
‘Daphne was furious when she discovered he’d withheld your letter years ago, and she warned him that unless he was on his best behaviour today, he’d be sleeping in the barn for the next month.’
‘True?’
She nodded, grinning. ‘And she’d do it, too. She’s got his measure; she’s the best thing that ever happened to Dad.’
‘You like her?’
‘I do. She’s not my mum of course, but then she’s never tried to be, and I admire her for that.’
‘I’m so glad we don’t have a barn.’
She giggled. ‘You’re quite safe. I prefer you to keep my bed warm.’
‘You are beautiful, Victoria, inside and out. Have I told you how much I love you?’
‘Not in the past thirty minutes.’
Caine came to find them, Connor at his side and talking a mile a minute.
‘We’re off now,’ Caine said, holding firm to his grandson’s hand.
Victoria moved out of Keir’s embrace and crouched down in front of her son, taking his hands in hers.
‘You be good for Poppa, Connor. No climbing into high cupboards or places you shouldn’t be. No flying off sheds in Superman capes, okay?’
His lower lip protruded and dark brows descended in a frown. ‘You know I won’t.’
‘And how would I know that?’ she asked on a bubble of laughter.
Keir crouched bedside her and put a finger under his son’s chin, making Connor meet his eyes.
‘You heard your mother, Connor?’ His tone made the child’s eyes widen. He nodded, brown eyes solemn. ‘Your mother doesn’t want to spend the week worrying about you, okay?’
‘I’ll try and be good,’ he said with a heavy sigh that made everyone smile.
Caine chuckled softly. ‘He’s a pistol but don’t worry, mama, I have his measure. He comes by his daredevil nature honestly.’
Keir grinned as he exchanged looks with his father.
‘Remind me to tell you about some of your dad’s escapades, Connor,’ Caine chuckled. ‘About the time he sat up all night waiting to trap Santa as he came down the chimney.’
Keir groaned.
‘Now that I have to hear,’ Victoria said as she tried to muffle a giggle.
‘Say goodbye now, Connor,’ Caine said, chuckling again, and with a flurry of goodbyes they were gone.
The house was theirs.
‘He’ll be okay,’ Keir reassured her. ‘Dad’s great with kids and Connor’s good for Dad. He’s taken Logan’s disappearance hard.’
This was the only sad spot in her day. Victoria sighed softly.
Without warning, or a word to anyone and for no apparent reason, Logan Sinclair had packed a duffel bag and walked away from Darkhaven, and the horse stud he’d helped build, without a backward glance.
‘I wonder why he left.’ She worried her lower lip. ‘And where he went?’
‘I have a team working on it,’ Keir nuzzled a kiss on her neck. ‘I have a gift for you.’
‘Another one?’
‘This one’s special.’ He lifted his head from where he was nibbling her neck. ‘I wasn’t sure if it would be finished so soon.’
Intrigued, she pulled away from him. ‘What have you bought now?’
He was always showering her and Connor with little gifts.
‘Come with me.’ He caught her hand and led her down to his office. In the centre of his desk was a small oblong box. He picked it up and handed it to her. ‘Careful, it’s fragile.’
Curious, she rested against his desk, put the box on it and opened the lid. The breath left her lungs in a resounding whoosh as she stared at the contents.
‘Keir? Is this—’
‘Mandy? Yes. I had the packers search for every piece of her and I sent her away to be repaired.’
Tenderly, with reverent fingers, Victoria lifted the doll from the box. ‘She looks like she’s new.’
‘As good as. Her clothes were beyond repair, so I commissioned the restorers to source replicas of the original clothes she would have worn when she was given to you.’
‘Thank you so much.’ She smoothed a trembling finger over the doll’s hair and looked up to him, her vision blurred with tears. ‘My mother gave her to me when I was five. I never thought I’d see her again.’
‘It was my fault. I should have acted on instinct and had all your things packed and put in storage immediately. I, better than anyone, should have anticipated that break-in at your apartment.’ He gripped her shoulders tightly. ‘We’ll never be able to replace all your beautiful china. And for that, I’m sorry.’
Victoria laid the doll on the desk. She lifted a hand and laid it on her husband’s cheek. ‘They were only things, Keir, and not important. Now, Connor and I?’ She shook her head. ‘We’re safe. It could have been so much worse.’
‘I’ll always try to keep you safe.’
‘I know.’ A little smile played around her mouth. ‘And I have a present for you.’
She picked up Keir’s hand and splayed it over her belly, her hand on top of his. ‘In about seven months Connor’s going to have a baby sister or brother.’
‘You’re pregnant?’ Keir’s expression was thunderstruck.
Victoria nodded.
Shock, surprise and then pure delight crossed his face. ‘You’re sure?’
‘We’re going to have a baby,’ she said, just for the sheer joy of being able to say the words again.
Keir let out a wild whoop, picked her up and whirled her around in a circle. ‘We’re going to have a baby.’
‘Let me go, you clown.’
‘Never.’ He set her feet on the ground and with surprising dexterity he began to undo the many, many buttons on the back of her gown.
‘Haven’t we a flight to catch?’
‘It can wait,’ he murmured as the gown whooshed down around her feet. ‘I can’t wait to introduce our child to its father.’ He gathered her in his arms and joy shuddered through her. ‘I love you.’
‘And I love you,’ she murmured, melting into his kiss.
Together!
After the long, lonely years, Victoria knew she would never take Keir’s love for granted.