men, they truly cared about each other. It was obvious.
Oliver headed toward us as William and James helped the children find treats at the table.
“Ginny,” Oliver said. “I have something for you.”
He handed her a book.
“It’s a journal. A diary. It was written by our mother around the time she met your father. I didn’t read it all, it felt too invasive. But there might be a hint of who your sire might be.”
Ginny held the journal close. “Thank you, Oliver.”
It was obvious they wanted to say more, but the children were back with plates of sweet meats and pastries, and any talk between adults would have to wait.
“Are you going to marry Auntie,” Whitfield’s daughter asked, her innocent round face staring up at us. “She would look ever so pretty in a wedding dress.”
“Millie,” Jules reprimanded.
Ginny blushed.
“Yes, are you?” Rafe demanded as he swept into the room. “Do tell. We’re most eager to hear.”
He didn’t look eager. He looked annoyed. The man still hadn’t warmed up to me, despite the fact that I’d saved Ben, and despite the fact that it was obvious Ginny belonged with me.
“Well, I…” I looked at Ginny. She looked up at me with mirth in her eyes. Oh, she found this funny, did she?
“Out with it,” James snapped.
“In due time, I—”
“In due time?” Rafe snarled, pausing in the middle of the room to cross his arms over his chest, and glare at me. “Due time is past!”
“Are you going to help me?” I whispered.
Ginny shook her head, biting her lower lip to keep from laughing out loud. Minx.
Of course I was going to marry her, but I had also wanted to make that proposal special, intimate. I’d certainly not planned to ask her to marry me in front of her entire bleedin family.
I started to respond and tell them to mind their own damn business, when I noticed something lurking in her gaze, something hidden behind the laughter and pleasure. Something that looked an awful lot like worry.
Hell, did she truly believe I wouldn’t ask? After all that we’d been through? After last night in that cottage? My chest felt tight, my heart melted like beeswax. Suddenly, it didn’t matter if the moment was perfect, it didn’t matter if the entire population of England was in that sitting room.
I reached into the pocket of my jacket and pulled out the little box I’d been holding since I’d arrived. I lifted the lid. “Ginny, will you make me the happiest man in the world, and marry me?”
Her gaze fell on the ring and her hands covered her mouth in surprise. I didn’t miss the tears in her eyes. Christ, I loved her. Loved her with all my heart, body, soul. Loved her in a way I never thought possible.
“Good lord, man, get on your knee,” Rafe muttered, interrupting.
I gritted my teeth, stood, bowed, and then dropped to one knee. “Ginny Smith, love of my life and all of my lives henceforth…”
“More than one life?” James muttered. “Sounds blasphemous.”
“Shush,” Jules reprimanded. “We’ll miss the good part.”
I cleared my throat. “Do you all mind?”
“Sorry,” Jules called out.
“Ginny Smith, love of my one life, because apparently believing in more than one, is blasphemy, will you make me the happies man on earth and marry me?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
I didn’t realize how much I’d wanted to hear her answer until she responded. The relief I felt was immediate. “Yes?”
“Yes!”
As I surged to my feet, she threw her arms around my neck. The room erupted into cheers of good will. The children abandoned their tree decorating and jumped around us, clapping and screaming like the little heathens they were.
“And if,” I whispered into her ear, as I held her close. “We do have more than one life, I swear I will find you each time.”
Despite her family watching, she pressed her lips to mine. It was a quick kiss, a branding kiss. But it left me shaken all the same.
“Alright, enough of that,” Rafe muttered.
Ginny dropped to the flats of her feet. I’d never seen her smile so brightly, never seen such happiness in her blue eyes. She lifted her hand and I slid the ring upon her finger. That was enough for Jules and Lilly to rush to her side, in order to see the ring.
“Oh lovely, so unique!” Lilly had said.
“Rather small,” Rafe muttered.
“Rafe!” Jules reprimanded. “So very rude.”
Lilly slapped him on the arm.
“Ouch, alright, call off your wives!” He cleared his throat, attempting to look apologetic. “I’m thrilled