Page 65 of The Allure Of Lord Devlin
Philippa flushed and came forward to tuck her arm through Dharma’s. She began drawing her away from the two men, who proudly watched like the love-struck husbands they were. “I have some ladies I want you to meet.”
Dharma looked back through the crowd at her dashing husband and saw his eyes were still upon her. She didn’t think she could get any happier.
Philippa followed her gaze and smiled at Tobin. “Come. Stop gawking. It’s never ideal to let husbands think they’re too important.”
They turned and continued across the large ballroom toward Lady Horsham. All she had to do was get through the next few hours and then Devlin would take her to bed and show her how much he loved her.
She wanted a child. Dharma patted her stomach. Son. How she’d love to have Devlin’s child. Soon she hoped.
Several hours later, Dharma had finally relaxed. She’d survived the ball with no mishaps. They’d made it. Just as her thoughts formed, there was a commotion at the top of the stairs.
She looked up to see a man. She thought it was a man, but his hair was wild, sticking up, and his face was covered with a full and long beard. He wore an eye-patch over one eye and he wasn’t dressed in formal wear. In fact, he seemed to be wearing pants made of animal skin.
The music and noise in the ballroom below died and you could have heard a hair-pin drop.
Who on earth was he? She looked across at her husband and saw him start, and then his eyes filled with tears. He forgot his audience and raced up the stairs and embraced the stranger. Harry arrived at her side. “My God, it’s George.” And then he, too, was racing up the stairs. She went to follow, but Tobin grabbed her arm. “Let them be for a moment. Devlin will be back. He hasn’t seen his brother in over ten years. George left the night their father died in the duel.”
The ballroom buzzed with whispers and stolen glances, the unexpected arrival of Lord Devlin’s long-lost brother casting a peculiar enchantment over the assembled guests. Dharma, despite her initial surprise, maintained her composure with practiced ease, moving among the attendees as if the reunion upstairs were merely a customary diversion.
Philippa orchestrated a seamless transition, commanding the music to resume its enchanting melodies, guiding the guests back into their revelry. She guided Dharma with a gentle yet firm touch, a silent understanding passing between them as they ensured the ball continued its rhythm despite the unconventional family drama unfolding upstairs.
When Devlin returned, his eyes glittered with a mixture of relief and joy. He joined Dharma with a serene smile, the twinkle in his eyes betraying the depths of his emotions. His touch was gentle as he took her hand, reassuring her without words that all was well.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
“Everything is perfect. George is home. I’ll explain more later. This day could not be more perfect. I have everyone I love around me.”
“You deserve to be happy. I want you to always be happy.”
He pressed a quick kiss to her lips, not caring who was looking. “Well, if you want to make me happy, I feel very aggrieved that as the husband, I’m yet to have a dance with my wife.”
“I’m more than happy to oblige, my lord.”
He took her hand and led her to the dance floor; she went into his arms as if she belonged there and he whirled her away. Into the dance. Into their future.
In the quiet moments between dances, Devlin shared snippets of his brothers’ past with Dharma, his voice carrying the weight of a decade-long separation and the bittersweet joy of reunion. He spoke of childhood memories, of brotherly adventures, and the sorrow that had kept them apart for far too long.
And as the night drew to a close, amidst the twinkling lights and the fading music, Devlin whispered to Dharma, “Today has been more than a celebration of our love. It’s been a day of miracles—a day where family, once fractured, healed and found its way back home. Are you happy?” he pressed a kiss to her forehead as he tucked her closer to his side.
“More than happy, if that’s possible. I know my husband loves me and would give me anything my heart desires.”
His smile faded as held her gaze. “Yes. Yes, I would.”
“Then it’s just as well that all I want is your love.”
“That I can give without hesitation.” His beautiful smile returned. “And I shall strive hard to ensure I never lose that love.”
“You won’t. Now, if you want to keep your wife happy, you’ll sneak away with me and take me to bed and show me how much you love me.”
He almost missed a step, then with his wicked grin plastered on his handsome face, he twirled them to the edge of the ballroom, and pulled her through the servants’ door into the corridor. “I’m yours to command.” He swept her into his arms, and still giggling, he carried her upstairs to his bed and showed her how wonderful married life could be.
Epilogue
Devon, The Devlin Estate - five years later
Devlin stepped out of the cooling bathwater, grabbing for a towel. A bath he’d been disappointed Dharma had not seen fit to join him in, but then their three children, Angelica, and twins Simon and David, had got over excited at his return. She was seeing to them.
An hour ago, he’d returned from London. An important vote in the House of Lords was the only thing that could take him away from his family these days. He took his duty to his king and country seriously since he’d been denied that right for so many years.
