Chapter 16 #2
It took a moment for Bull to work his way through that convoluted sentence; when he did, his smile grew at the same moment Rose sucked in a happy gasp.
“I love you, Da!” she cried, throwing her arms around her father.
Demon buried his head in her hair and wrapped his arms around her.
Bull expected him to keep her there for as long as possible, holding onto that last unattached hug until forced to release her, but soon enough the older man grunted and pulled back, placing his hands on his daughter’s arms and staring into her eyes—eyes identical to his.
“Go on, then,” he mumbled with reddening cheeks. “Find yer forever.”
It was a beaming Rose who turned back to Bull, and his chest expanded with the possibilities.
The ring still sat in his palm, an offering to her.
“Rose, I love ye. I love the way ye see me, the way ye throw yerself into everything ye do with all yer heart. I love that ye learned to cheat at cards and how to pick pockets and how to play a role and how to wear a costume to become another person and how to kiss.”
“Wait, what?” growled Demon suspiciously.
Bull ignored him, smiling into Rose’s tear-filled eyes.
“I love that ye are brave and tenacious, and the smartest person I ken, including Rupert. I dinnae ken if the future will take us back to London to solve more cases, or to start a fashion line, or write a book on art together, or to learn how to beg if I lose all our clients. But I do ken that I want to share it with ye, nae matter what we do or where we go.”
“Oh, Bull,” Rose breathed, those tears finally spilling down her cheeks as her fingers pressed to her lips. “You mean it? You really love me? You want me to join your detective agency?”
“Like hell,” Demon growled, and Bull’s grin grew.
“How could I no’, my love?” He stepped forward and peeled her shocked hands away from her mouth, cradling them and the ring between them. “I was a fool to think I could do this alone, to think I could ignore ye and my feelings for ye. I love ye, Rose, and I want to spend forever with ye.”
“You are my favorite forever,” she breathed just before she threw herself into his arms. “Yes! I would be honored to marry you, Bull!”
Relief, relief such as he had never imagined settled into Bull’s chest as he claimed her lips, and she was smiling as she surged up to meet him.
He wasn’t sure how much time passed as he lost himself in the feel of her, the all-consuming taste of her, but eventually Demon’s quiet cursing broke through his bliss. When Bull finally pulled away, it was to find the older man glaring at him.
“Learn to beg? My Rosie’s a duke’s daughter, ye pugnacious turdgoblin! If ye dinnae plan on providing for her in the manner—”
“Da,” Rose interrupted, beaming. “I am a very unusual kind of duke’s daughter. You are an unusual duke, and I am about to become a detective!”
“Or a seamstress,” Bull teased her, gathering her close and reveling in her warmth. “Remember what ye said about my talents in fashion.”
“Oh, yes, good point.” Rose pretended to consider the possibilities. “I think, with your charm and ability to make friends, and my eye for art, we should be able to make ends meet—”
“Dinnae forget yer book.” Bull kept a serious face as he ignored Demon’s low, continuous growl. “Everyone kens that authors instantly become famous fashion icons as soon as they publish a book, and are absolutely able to sustain themselves and their families on those stupendous royalties.”
Rose burst into giggles. “Oh yes, my book on art theory! Will you help me write it? I will need someone to intimidate gallery owners and—”
“And that’s before we return to my pickpocketing ways and infiltrate Society,” Bull said, struggling to keep the serious expression on his face but putting in the extra effort, just to infuriate Demon. Hell, his future father-in-law. “Diamonds and pearls and pocketwatches—”
“Insidious shiteweasel! Toad-spotted cuntdouche!” Demon finally burst out, looking as if he wanted to snatch Rose back home and forbid her from ever leaving again. “Ye’re going to support yerself by sewing clothes?” He glared at Bull. “Ye’re going to force my precious bairn to work—”
Their laughter drowned out his anger, and Lady Mistree stopped them all with a gentle hand wave. When they turned to her, she pushed herself upright, away from the pillows in her chair.
“I might be able to soothe your worries, Demon,” she murmured. “At least, some of them. I still have one last inheritance to bestow.”
Bull shook his head. “Ye’ve already given so much—”
“Yes, I have. My Teddy will receive the estates linked to the Earldom, of course. But there is more.” She smiled up at Bull. “My dear friend, I have given you that ring, and told you it was your inheritance, but that was not the full truth. Your real gift was Rosie.”
“Aye.” Bull tightened his hold on his love, his throat thick with unexpressed emotion. “She is.”
“But Rosie, child,” Eliza reached up and took her hand. “Your inheritance…is Rosewood. One day soon, when I am reunited with my beloved family, this estate will become yours. It was always meant for you, as was that ring…” She glanced between them. “And Bull.”
“Rosewood?” Rose breathed, excitement in her eyes. “I—I am going to inherit this estate?”
Bull blinked. No, wait, that wasn’t right. For if Rose was the mistress of Rosewood, that would make him—
A place?
He would have a place. Beside his Rose.
Eliza grinned. “I have provided a generous pension for any of the staff you choose not to keep on, but Jones has been loyal to me for years, and I hope you will treat him—”
“Yes!” Rose squealed, lunging forward to hug the older woman. “Thank you so much, Aunt Eliza! That is…my goodness, that is—”
“Thank ye, Eliza,” Bull managed to rasp. “Thank ye.”
The old woman beamed as she hugged her great-grandniece.
“All of my scheming has been successful, then. Your ring has claimed Rosie, and Rosie has claimed Rosewood. A home, warm and respectable, and an income from the estate to prevent the need for sartorial success, artistic authorship, and pernicious pickpocketing. Are you satisfied, Your Grace?” she teased Demon.
He made a show of studying the room around them, his arms folded across his chest. “Well…yer mother will like it. Her family legacy. And this place isnae too far from Endymion, so my daughter can visit daily.”
“Weekly, Da,” Rose countered with a laugh.
“We’ll expect ye for dinner on Sundays and all holidays.” Demon pointed a fierce scowl at Bull. “And ye’re no’ going to be alone before the wedding!”
Rose was laughing as she slid into Bull’s arms, and he grinned down at her as he flourished the ring. “So what do ye say, my love? Will ye marry me?”
“A million times yes,” she whispered, sliding the band onto her finger, where it fitted perfectly, where it belonged. “You are my forever.”
Nodding, Bull lowered his mouth to hers. “My favorite forever.”
And when he kissed her for the first time as his wife-to-be, he knew he’d found his home.