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Rose obeyed and then blinked a few times against the brightness of the sun, but when her eyes focused, she gasped. Flower arrangements lined the steps of the arbor, and rose petals adorned the floor. She looked towards the violin player to find one of Anna’s oldest sons playing. Rose glanced around her. “This is beautiful, Max.”

“She worked very hard on all the preparations,” came a voice she immediately knew.

When she turned, her heart leaped in her chest. Tears instantly threatened. He looked so handsome, lighter somehow. “Edward? I mean, Your Grace?”

“Edward is fine. We are amongst family.” He reached out and took her hand in his, pulling her towards him.

Rose searched his face. “You are not angry with me?”

“No.” He touched her cheek with the back of his fingers. “I understand why you did it, now. At the time? That was a different matter. You scared me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I understand that you were testing me. If I could overcome my own pride, it would show how much I loved you. And my willingness to reunite with Max. Who is, by the way, the organizer of this event.” He reached out to Max who came to stand beside him.

“You have done an amazing job. Everything is so beautiful. The addition of Cordelia with the flowers in her mane is particularly touching, but what is all this for?”

“Well, Max and I would like to ask you something.”

She watched as her duke went down on one knee. “Rose, I love you. You have brought me back to life and given me back to my daughter. Will you please marry us?”

Us?

Edward pulled out a ring from his pocket and presented it to her. “I very much would like you to be my wife,” he said.

“And my mama!” Max added.

Rose laughed as tears leaked from her eyes. “Yes. Yes, I will to both of you.”

Edward placed his great grandmother’s ring on her finger and kissed her. “This is just a temporary one until we can get you one you want.” He held her close as if he did not want to break contact with her. Then he gestured for Max to join them in a hug.

“No. I like this one just fine. Your mother’s grandmother’s?”

“Yes.”

“You and Max have been busy plotting and planning. How long have you been here?”

“Three days.”

“But how did you beat me?”

“I came by horse and took some shortcuts,” he said, kissing her again. “I would have gone straight to Ashtonvale, but I had something important I needed to do first.” He looked down at Max who was smiling up at him. “We have talked nonstop since my arrival. Not all of it has been easy, but I fear I will need a lifetime to truly hear all that my daughter has to say. For now, she does not hate me, and that is a start.”

“What of your work? The prince?”

“I have resigned as the King’s Liaison. He will not be happy, but I need to be with my family. I will have enough to do with two pesky women that I doubt I will miss it.”

“Pesky?” Rose asked with a raised brow.

“Delightfully pesky.”

“That is more like it,” she said, running her hands up his chest to his shoulders and then his neck, dragging him down for yet another kiss.

“Come, children, let us leave the lovebirds alone for a while,” Anna said, ushering the children back into the house.

“Can we look from the windows?” Rose heard Max ask.

“No!” she and Edward said in unison. Then laughed when she humphed and strode away.