Her heart lurched in dismay. “That’s awful. It would tear me apart to give up a child.”
“Another reason why I love you. I have no doubt you would fight with all your heart and soul to protect our children. But the point I am trying to make is about Wainscott. As he left Alexandra’s house, he must have known he’d just lost everything. Then he saw our families gathered in the parlor, perhaps heard that you and I were planning to marry today, and so he hurled that rock.”
“Out of spite?”
Ronan shrugged. “Or out of frustration. Anger. Yes, spite.”
“It seems farfetched. How would he know to hit this exact window?”
“He may have known you and Heather were staying here and been watching you all along. I don’t know. But it’s a place to start the investigation. I’d go next door myself and ask questions, but...” He glanced down at himself. “I doubt the Earl of Balliwick will appreciate a naked sea captain knocking at his door just now.”
In spite of her misery, Dahlia managed a smile. “Perhaps Joshua can walk over there later.”
“I’ll ask him. If it’s any consolation, I doubt Wainscott will bother you again. If he has any sense, he’s riding out of London as we speak. Surely, he has to know the Braydens will come after him if he remains in town.”
She nodded. “I think there is something I must do now.”
He arched an eyebrow. “What, Queen Pea?”
“Our families need to be reassured. I’ve been crying on and off this past hour, questioning whether we ought to go through with this rushed farce of a wedding. But loving you is no farce. I don’t want anyone doubting my love for you.”
“Or mine for you.”
She rose and eased her hand out of his grasp. “I’ll be back in a little while. Are you hungry? I’ll bring up some broth and fish for you.”
“Sounds delicious. Just one thing,” he said as she was about to leave.
“What is it?”
He cast her a rakish grin. “Whatever you do, don’t smile.”
She walked out, laughing and shaking her head. Of course, this is how he always teased her. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling, and that smile stayed on her lips while she told her family how much she loved Ronan and thanked them for being with them despite the chaos of the day. “Once we are settled in our new home, we will have a proper party. Ronan will be wearing clothes, I promise you.”
Everyone laughed.
“He already has his suspicions about who threw that rock. Joshua, he’ll talk to you about it later. He believes it is not something likely to happen again. In any event, nothing can lessen our love for each other. Ronan is on the mend, and this is a happy day. Please do not walk on eggshells around us. And now I must feed that gorgeous wildebeest before he melts away to nothing. We are getting married as soon as Robbie and Finn return with the minister.”
She felt good when everyone began to cheer.
Heather ran over and hugged her. “You and Holly are both so brave. She with that deranged man who was stalking her, and now you with a rock-hurling fiend. I wish I was as brave as both of you. But I’m not. I just hope my wedding will be dull and uneventful.”
Dahlia groaned inwardly as her sister began to sniffle. “Heather, don’t start crying. I won’t allow it.”
“I can’t help it. I’m going to miss you and Holly so much. You’ll be marrying Ronan, and then I’ll be all alone.”
Dahlia had gone out of her way to be cheerful. Yes, her sister needed a little more time to come into her own. “Our family is too large. You will never be on your own.”
“It isn’t the same. You’ll both have husbands, and I won’t.”
Oh, heavens! Was Heather bent on making the same mistake she almost made with Gerald? “Don’t talk like that.” She cast her Aunt Sophie a pleading glance.
Her aunt came over and took Heather in hand. “My dear, you’ll know when the time is right for you. Don’t rush into anything because you are eager to be a bride. You don’t even have a beau yet.”
“But Lady Withnall said I’ve already met the man I’m going to marry.”
Dahlia tried not to lose patience with her sister. “Yes, but he hasn’t made his feelings known to you. In the meanwhile, you’ll have a line of gentlemen eager to pursue you. Enjoy your season. Take time to sort out your feelings.”
“And read that book. I will get it next, won’t I?”
“Yes. Heather, please. Don’t leap into marriage because Holly and I will be married. I haven’t even had my wedding ceremony yet.” She shook her head and sighed. “We’ll talk about it later. All right? Just let me get through this day.”
“Oh, I’m so horrid! Of course.” She allowed Aunt Sophie to scoot her away.
After issuing another quick thank you to everyone for their concern, Dahlia returned upstairs. Ronan must have found The Book of Love in the drawer of the night table, because he was reading it as she walked in.
He shut it and smiled at her. “I was bored. Probably not the right thing to say to the young woman I’m about to marry. But you were downstairs, and my mind was still racing. I thought I would read it again while you were gone.”
“Better put it away before Heather comes up here. She’s feeling as though she’s just lost her two sisters and is taking it hard. I don’t want her rushing into marriage simply because she does not wish to be left out. I want her to have the book...”
“But?”
“Something is holding me back. I don’t know, perhaps it is just my muddled head. I’ll think more clearly after we’re married.”
He cleared his throat. “I have a suggestion.”
She was eager to hear it. “About Heather and the book?”
He nodded. “Robbie wants to read it, too. He’s levelheaded and experienced.”
“A little too experienced,” she said with a frown.
“He’s honorable, Queen Pea. He would never take advantage of Heather. I’ll have his word on it, and he will never break that oath. You’re worried that she’ll be distracted by the wrong man, aren’t you?”
“Yes, it is my greatest fear. I don’t want her to lie to herself and force a love match where no love exists. I did this with Gerald, and I’m so afraid she learned nothing from my experience.”
“All the more reason to have her read the book with Robbie. He’ll watch over her and protect her from making a mistake.”
“Ronan, do you hear yourself? If they read it together, he’s going to fall in love with her. Isn’t this what happened to us? Not to mention, Holly and Joshua and Violet and Romulus. Same for Belle and Finn. Need I go on? We all fell in love over this book. Are you purposely matchmaking?”
“No, I’ll leave that plotting to you ladies. But you’ve just told me Heather is young and impressionable. She wants to leap into marriage because her two sisters will be married. Do you or do you not wish to stop her?”
“I do. How can I convince her the consequences will be disastrous?”
“She has to figure it out on her own. And while she does, Robbie will be there to protect her if she’s about to make a mistake. He’s an excellent judge of character. He will know to chase away the bounders and only allow the worthy men near. He will be vigilant and diligent, and no one will do a better job of looking out for her.”