Chapter Thirty-One
Maddie’s heart beat far too quickly for how slowly they were walking. Sebastian’s hand was warm around hers, steady as ever, and yet her fingertips trembled. Her ring—still unfamiliar, still a miracle—glinted in the morning light. It felt like a promise wrapped around her finger.
They crossed the threshold into the east drawing room, and she had only a breath to take in the familiar scene before the moment shifted.
Ashley sat on the settee, a book forgotten in her lap. Charlene sipped tea from an oversized porcelain cup, her brow arched in its usual pose of amused detachment. Sera stood at the window, chin lifted, as if soaking strength from the pale winter sun.
They looked up.
And then they saw.
Sebastian cleared his throat, but Maddie could feel the smile rising in his chest through the hand she held.
“We’ve something to tell you,” he said.
Ashley blinked. Once. Then again.
Charlene froze mid-sip.
Sera’s eyes widened.
Maddie glanced up at him, nerves bubbling like champagne in her chest. But then he squeezed her hand once—sure and steady—and she felt them quiet.
“She said yes,” Sebastian said simply. “Miss Madeleine will be my wife.”
The words landed like snow—soft, silent, and then—
Ashley shrieked.
“Oh, Maddie!” she cried, flying across the room, arms flung wide, laughter and tears pouring out in one joyous mess. “I knew it! I told you you’d be next!”
Before Maddie could reply, Sera barreled into her from the other side, handkerchief pressed to her cheek, shoulders shaking with happy sobs.
“It’s happening again! Another one—it’s happening again!”
Charlene stood slowly, placing her tea down with deliberate grace.
“Well,” she said, smoothing her skirts, “the final domino falls.” She stepped forward and, with a rare and elegant smile, added, “It’s about time.”
Maddie laughed, breathless, her heart near bursting.
Ashley caught her hands. “Let me see it—show me the ring!”
Maddie held it out, blushing furiously.
Charlene leaned in. “Understated. Elegant. Naturally.”
Sera sniffled louder. “We all thought you’d be the sensible one, and now look—you’ve caught the worst case of it of all.”
Maddie blinked. “Caught what?”
Ashley beamed. “Wedding fever.”
That set off a round of giggles—Sera dabbing at her eyes, Charlene smirking, Ashley already planning a thousand details aloud—and Maddie stood at the center of it all, wrapped in their joy, her chest so full she thought it might crack open from the light inside her.
This was it.
This was her life now.
Then came the sound of footfalls in the corridor.
The men arrived—Thomas, Rotheworth, and Prince Alex—greeted with grins and teasing as they entered. Sebastian remained at her side, and she reached for him instinctively.
“Careful,” Thomas called out with a grin. “Don’t get too close. It’s contagious.”
“It is wedding fever,” Ashley said with great seriousness, still dabbing her cheeks.
“Please,” Rotheworth scoffed. “You say it like we’re trout. We weren’t caught.”
Thomas groaned. “Speak for yourself. I was the victim of a plot.” He took Ashley’s hand, kissed it, and added, “A successful one.”
Sebastian leaned close to Maddie, lips brushing her temple. “I walked right into the net. Willingly.”
“And gladly,” Maddie whispered back.
The room buzzed with laughter, with lightness and love. But when the women turned to each other—Charlene brushing Sera’s cheek, Ashley clutching Maddie’s hand—something deeper stirred beneath the surface.
“This isn’t fever,” Maddie said softly. “This is love.”
“A wild, reckless, wonderful love,” Ashley added, grinning.
Charlene gave a rare, genuine smile. “And thank goodness we all have it now.”
Sera, tear-streaked and glowing, threw her arms around all of them.
“Let’s never be sensible again.”
They laughed—the four of them—wrapped in each other’s arms. Maddie closed her eyes for just a second and breathed in the moment.
This. This was what forever felt like.
She turned, just slightly, and there he was.
Sebastian.
Watching her with that quiet, ruinous smile.
She held his gaze for a long beat.
He winked.
And Maddie knew, without a single doubt, that the rest of her life would begin just like this—
Surrounded by love.
Warmed by laughter.
And cherished beyond reason.
*
Sebastian watched as the laughter of four women turned into something brighter—a radiant joy that filled the entire room.
He had seen many things in his life. He had seen greed. He had seen malice. He had seen Maddie’s eyes when she feared he might not come for her.
But this?
This was the kind of sight a man carried in his soul until his final breath.
Maddie’s eyes found his across the room.
They shimmered, still dancing with joy, still catching light like snowflakes kissed by sun.
He winked.
Because he couldn’t help it.
Because she looked like a secret only he knew. Like a life he’d almost lost and now could finally hold.
And her smile bloomed in answer.
Private. Bright. Meant only for him.
He took a step forward. Then another. Their ring—his ring, their future—shone on her finger like a vow already made. He reached for her hand. She gave it without hesitation. “You all right?” he murmured. He didn’t know why he asked—but he needed to.
She nodded, even as her lashes shimmered. “I think I’m floating.”
A pointed cough came from behind them—probably Thomas. Sebastian ignored it. Maddie tugged him gently toward the window, just far enough to steal a moment for themselves.
“It feels like my soul might leave my body.”
Sebastian inhaled slowly, letting it settle.
“Me too.” His voice softened. “I’ve never felt anything like this. Not even close.”
Maddie tilted her head, watching him with a gaze that saw everything.
“This feeling that something is finally… right. Like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”
Her fingers tightened around his.
“I used to think love had to be wild,” he said. “Tragic. That it came with pain, or sacrifice, or fire.”
“And it didn’t?” she teased, gently.
He smiled. “Well… there was no fire. Not much pain. And no sacrifice at all.”
She stepped in close, rising on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. It was soft. Not urgent. Just true.
And something inside him unraveled—again.
He caught her hand. “Come.”
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere private.”
More laughter and teasing followed them as they slipped from the room, but he didn’t care.
“I want to kiss you madly,” he said.
Maddie blinked. “You do?”
“Why do you look surprised?”
“Because no one’s ever dragged me away in front of an audience to be kissed.”
“Get used to it.”
Then he kissed her. Cupped her face in both hands. Claimed her lips like a man starved of sunlight. Not gently. Not sweetly.
Madly.
“I’ve wanted to do this since you smiled at me across that drawing room,” he said between breaths.
She rose to meet him, hands fisting his coat, kissing him back with such fire she stole his breath. She set fire to his mouth—and if that was love, he wanted to burn.
His hands slid into her hair and a groan tore from his chest as she melted against him. When they broke apart, she was breathless, her fingers still clutching his lapels.
“I think you’ve ruined me again,” she whispered.
He smiled against her lips. “Then we’re even.”
“You really do like kissing me,” she said.
“You make it impossible not to.”
“You’re terrible at restraint.”
“Correction. I’m excellent at restraint. I’m just not using it right now.”
She arched a brow. “Have you always been this cocky after a kiss?”
“Yes.”
“You wouldn’t be if you saw your hair right now.”
He grinned. “Disheveled in the name of love.”
“A noble sacrifice.”
“So are my good intentions.”
“Were they ever good?”
He leaned in, brushing his nose against hers. “They never stood a chance around you.”
She laughed, breath warm on his lips. “I like you like this.”
“Disheveled?”
“Carefree. And not sneezing.”
He groaned. “Will I ever live that down?” He kissed her forehead. “Let it be known, you make me forget every reason I ever built walls.”
“Good. I can’t imagine what I look like right now.”
He stepped back, just far enough to see her whole face. The curve of her lips. The fire in her eyes. She wore her love like she wore her skin. Boldly. Unapologetically. “You look like forever,” he said.
She blinked, then smiled. “Is that a vow?”
“It is.”
Her expression softened. “Say it again.”
“Forever.”
She reached up, fingers brushing his jaw. “I never thought someone would love me like this. Fiercely. Freely.”
“Neither did I.” His voice dropped. “Shall we go back?”
“To knowing smiles and smirks?”
“Or… stay here for a tryst?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Are you sure I can’t tempt you?”
She tilted her head. “I mean…”
He grinned and kissed her again. “Still no?” he asked.
“That’s not fair.”
“I’m not aiming for fair. I’m aiming for irresistible.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“And you’re not saying no.”
“I’m thinking about saying no.”
He leaned in again, his lips brushing the shell of her ear. “That’s practically a yes.”
“I have to preserve some reputation.”
He nuzzled her neck, shameless.
“Darling, that ship sailed the moment you brought me tea in bed.”
She laughed, shoving his chest. “That was medicinal! And I wasn’t sneaking, I was healing you.”
He caught her wrist, lifted it to his lips, and kissed her knuckles.
“Come away with me. Sneak into my chamber again. Just ten more minutes.”
She stared at him. “Ten minutes?”
“Ten minutes of you. Then I’ll shield you from all their smug grins.”
She shook her head, but her smile said otherwise.
“Ten minutes. And don’t think I don’t know you can’t shield me from anything.”
His grin was full and shameless.
“I knew I could tempt you.”