Page 106 of A Night of Forever
It was more than possible. Arend had barely let her out of bed for the first week of their marriage. As they had been staying in her father’s house, where Arend’s brother, Curtis, was also a guest at the time, it had been somewhat embarrassing.
She had not complained, though. Making love with Arend was touching heaven. After almost two months of abstinence while her injuries healed completely, they’d simply enjoyed the intimate pleasures of learning each other as man and wife.
Now Isobel looked round the drawing room at her friends and their children, and she felt almost giddy with happiness. She was so lucky to have such amazing women as friends. She hoped she was with child. It would be so wonderful to see all their children grow up close in age, and become firm friends just like their parents.
It was the men’s camaraderie and love for each other, fostered since childhood, that had helped them through the hardest of times. Watching them, Isobel was struck by how similar they were, despite their differences. They were all extraordinary, vital men dedicated to honor, family, and of course love.
Arend strolled to her side and slid his arm round her waist. “I’d like to make a toast to my wife’s talents and”—his smile died—“to new beginnings.”
“Hear, hear,” Isobel’s father said.
A bustle at the drawing room door announced Portia and Grayson’s arrival, with Philip and Rose accompanying them.
Rose was Portia’s best friend. She was also, if Isobel gave any credence to gossip, Philip’s lover. Isobel wondered briefly why the pair did not marry. They effectively acted like a married couple.
But she was not going to focus on mysteries tonight.
“Aunt Isobel.” Sealey tugged at her dress. “Father gave me a present. Would you like to see it?”
Isobel gave Hadley a quick glance before crouching down to examine what Sealey held. “Of course.”
He opened his hand, and immediately a small ball went whizzing down to the floor, unrolling from a piece of twine before rolling back up again. And then down. Then up. “It’s a bandalore.”
“How clever,” Isobel said, enchanted. “May I try?”
Sealey dutifully handed her the toy and instructed her how to operate it. She tried, but managing the bandalore was much harder than it looked.
“You are not very good,” Sealey said when she handed it back to him. “But I can lend it to you so you can practice, if you’d like.”
She straightened and ruffled his curls. “That’s all right. I’ll get Lord Labourd to buy me my own.”
“Good idea.” And the boy sauntered off to tease Beatrice’s son, Henry, with his toy.
“You’ll make a wonderful mother.”
She turned to see Marisa watching her with a warm smile. “I hope so. I shall take lessons from you.” She nodded at the two-month-old baby in Marisa’s lap. “Little Stephen is not so little anymore.”
“Isn’t he blooming with health?” Marisa said proudly.
Little Stephen had been found on the steps of one of her orphanages when only a few days old. Marisa had taken one look at the tiny, undernourished newborn and claimed him as her own. Even knowing he might not live, she had taken him home. She’d surrounded him with so much love and care that the baby had done more than survive. He’d thrived. Isobel suspected he would be the first of many.
Helen, Marisa’s younger sister, wandered over to sit beside her. “I want one. This little fellow makes me want to get married tomorrow, but I need to find a husband first. Not an easy thing to do.”
Isobel laughed. “You will be the most beautiful debutante of the season. You will have your pick of men.”
“True,” Helen said, and then sighed. “However, all of you have ruined conventional marriage for me. I want what you have—a man I can admire and love. These men”—she indicated the men all sitting comfortably at the other end of the room—“are unique. One of a kind. I could wait quite some time to find a man good enough.”
Marisa bumped Helen’s shoulder gently with her own. “You are so young, sister dear. Don’t settle for second-best. Wait for your prince.” She looked over to where Maitland sat, a grin on his face. “The wait is well worth it.”
Isobel could not disagree with that.
—
“What do you think they are talking about over there?” Sebastian asked Arend.
“Us, of course,” Christian said before Arend had time to answer.
“That’s a frightening thought,” Grayson muttered. “Portia is driving me insane. After almost three months of bed rest, she is so full of energy, I’m struggling to keep up.”
