Then, to his stunned disbelief, she asked, “Even after the kitten?”
Douglas didn’t deign to answer.
“The kitten was a crowning achievement.” Douglas heard the amusement in his future mother-in-law’s voice, forgot that he actually held some regard for the woman and at that moment would cheerfully have wrung her neck.
She continued, oblivious. “Jewel is stubborn as an ox and she doesn’t like men all that much, though don’t think I blame her, considering. Must admit, though, she does hold on to things a bit.”
“A bit,” Douglas agreed sardonically.
This caused Patricia to roar with laughter. When she was finished, he could practically hear her wiping her eyes.
“White roses,” she said, apropos of nothing.
“Pardon?”
“White roses, she loves them, her favourites. Start with that and then whisk her off to Fiji. She’s always said she wouldn’t consider that she’d truly lived until she went to Fiji, God only knows why but once that girl gets something in her head, she doesn’t let it go.” Douglas made no response, he’d lived that nightmare. “And let’s face it,” Patricia spoke into his silence. “The girl needs a vacation. If you go, I’ll come out and see to the children.”
It took a moment for the realisation to dawn that Patricia was helping him and he hadn’t had to convince her.
“I take it I have your blessing?”
Three months ago, Douglas wouldn’t have cared less.
Now, he did.
“Let me tell you something, my boy, you’ve had my blessing for fifteen years. I saw the way you looked at her all this time, Tammy and Gav did too. Not to mention the way she looked at you. Why do you think you’re in this pickle? Tammy would be beside herself with sheer, unadulterated glee. By God, you’ve taken your sweet time.”
He was trying to cope with being called her “boy” and was definitely not willing to think of the rest of what she said.
“You want me to talk to her?” Patricia offered helpfully.
“No,” Douglas responded forcefully.
She laughed again and then, after a moment of contemplative silence, she said softly, “She’ll make you happy.”
He felt something reminiscent of the dazed feeling he’d had in the hall the night before but set it aside and said, “I’ve been trying to convince her that it will be the other way around.”
She gave an uninterpretable “humph” then she demanded, “See that it is.”
Now he was walking up the hallway toward the voices in the dining room.
He was looking forward to this. He didn’t know what he was looking forward to most, sliding his ring on her finger or taking her to bed while she was wearing it.
He rounded the corner and came to an abrupt halt at what he saw.
The room was set to a romantic glow with softened lighting, a fire burning at the grate and candles on the table. An elegant table, set for two, ready for an intimate dinner. Julia was standing in front of the fire looking ravishing in a stunning black dress with her hair softly pulled up at the crown, tendrils tickling the glowing skin of her neck where his emerald hung.
And Sean Webster was standing opposite her staring at her with earnest intent.
For the second time in his life, Douglas Ashton, Baron Blackbourne, completely lost control.
“What the f**k is going on?” he demanded, his voice rumbling with barely controlled rage.
Julia jumped, a reaction that took her dangerously close to the fire. She didn’t seem to notice it, her face snapped toward him and he saw that she was pale.
And her green eyes, usually alight with some emotion, were completely, frighteningly, blank.
“Douglas!” Sean exclaimed, the other man walking toward him beaming. “Good to see you, man.” And then he stopped and his gaze shifted to the flowers. He looked from Douglas then turned to Julia and started to ask, “What the –?”