Page 85 of Love with a Notorious Rake

When they arrived the next day, the look of surprise on his face turned to one of concern. They adjourned to his office, and Cristyn began a breathless narrative of all that had happened since she and Aidan had reunited in Earl Shilton—leaving out the more intimate details.

“Marry?” Her father’s eyebrows furrowed.

“As soon as I can arrange it,” Aidan said. “By special license, if need be. We both wish for you to be there. But more than anything, we wish for your blessing. Dr. Bevan, you are well aware of my past, my struggles,” Aidan said. “And now, so is Cristyn. I’ve told her the entirety of the tale. I love your daughter with all my heart, and want nothing more than to make her happy. She will always remain independent. I will never smother her or deny her anything. She is my world. The moon and stars. She is everything.”

Her father nodded as Aidan spoke. “I can see that you love each other,” he said in a soft voice. “But there will be obstacles, aside from the class difference. Taking on orphan children? And what of your addiction?”

To Aidan’s credit, he kept his temper under wraps, though Cristyn observed him clenching his fist. “There will be ruts in the road—there are in any marriage. But as Cristyn said, we will meet any and all challenges together. My family will approve of the match wholeheartedly. All we wish is for you to do the same.”

Her father sighed as he looked at her. “My dear, I will miss you terribly. What will I do without you, not only in the clinic, but in my heart? Your absence will leave a gaping hole.”

Tears gathered on her lashes. “I won’t be all that far. It’s time for you to hire another doctor, one who can cover for you when you come to visit us. Several times during the course of a year, I pray. We have your blessing?”

“With the whole of my heart.”

Cristyn rushed to her father’s arms and hugged him tight. Now there was only Aidan’s family to see.

They arrived at Wollstonecraft Hall two days later, and when it came into view, Cristyn gasped at the size and scope. Once the carriage pulled into the circular drive, she was swept up into a buzz of activity. The front hall, which looked ancient and medieval, was filled with handsome, formidable men—it wasn’t hard to see where Aidan got his stunning good looks. She was introduced to each of them, and became reacquainted with Garrett’s wife, Abbie, and his daughter, Megan. With hugs and delighted laughter, Aidan’s father, the viscount, introduced his betrothed, Alberta Eaton. The wedding would take place the first of next week. Good heavens, her head was spinning from all the enthusiastic chatter.

“Enough suspense. Has Sabrina safely delivered?” Aidan asked worriedly.

“The difficult delivery was touch and go, but I am the proud father of a little girl. We named her Fiona, after Mother.” The two brothers embraced warmly.

Abbie slipped her arm through Cristyn’s. “Sabrina will never forgive me if I do not bring Cristyn up to meet her immediately—the perfect opportunity, with Bastian taking a much deserved nap. We must coo over the baby. Gentlemen, tea in one hour in the Georgian parlor.”

Abbie led her toward the staircase, the other women following behind. “I know it can be overwhelming, but you could not have chosen a more loving and caring family to marry into. I am pleased for you and Aidan. I thought I sensed a spark all those months ago. I admit to a feeling of satisfaction in knowing I was correct.”

Cristyn laughed. Yes, a loving and caring family. But to her, Aidan was the most loving and caring of them all. Her notorious rake. Her hero. Her true love.

* * * *

The men headed to the earl’s study, and once Martin served the drinks he left them alone. Aidan gave them a condensed version of what had occurred the past several weeks. “But enough about my adventures; I want to know what happened with Sabrina. That note chilled my blood.”

The men exchanged glances. “It chilled ours as well. Sabrina was not due for at least another three weeks.” Riordan took a large swig of scotch. “We sent for Bastian—Dr. Faraday—but it took several hours for him to arrive, so we had to settle for Phillips in the interim. He did what he could. God, Sabrina was in labor for close to two days. Hearing her scream was agonizing. I stayed with her during the delivery. The baby arrived, but both mother and daughter were in distress. There was a chance they would not make it.” Riordan’s hand shook as he lifted the glass to take another draw. “Then when it appeared all was lost, they began to recover. Now, five days later, Sabrina and Fiona are hale and hearty. I cannot explain it.”

“I can.” Garrett turned to look at Aidan. “When did you tell Cristyn that you loved her? Said the actual words?”

“Monday night. Why?”

“The curse is broken,” Garrett murmured. “Broken at long last, for Monday night was when Sabrina and the baby began to improve.”

Aidan gave his uncle a quizzical look. “What are you on about?”

“Son, we made a discovery while you were at the sanatorium,” his father stated. “A journal entry from the Earl of Carnstone from the early eighteenth century. He wrote that a Scottish sorceress said the curse can only be broken if all the men living form a love bond within a lunar year. And we all have. You were the last.”

Aidan couldn’t believe this. “You didn’t think to tell me when I arrived home at the first of June?”

“We decided you had enough to deal with,” his grandfather replied. “Besides, you were on a difficult undertaking and needed no distractions. But it appears you had one at any rate.”

The men all chuckled, but soon sobered. All were lost in their thoughts.

The curse was broken.

Damn it all, he believed it, for he felt it deep in his soul. It was as if a weight had been lifted, his soul was no longer blackened and diminished. But Cristyn had more to do with that than any ancient curse. How gratifying it worked out for Riordan, Sabrina, and baby Fiona.

There was a birthday to celebrate, a wedding, an engagement. He had yet to mention the children he wished to take in.

Time to put the past behind him and forgive himself, and with Cristyn at his side, the future looked bright indeed. Aidan held up his glass. “To the Wollstonecrafts.”