The Skilled Seduction (48 page)

It filled his heart with pride that she was his and he had God to thank for it.

“I didn’t abandon you. You must understand that,” he confided, his tone gentle.

“It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Yes, it does. It matters to me,” Tristan leaned into her, placing his forehead against hers. “I prayed for you and our child. For the first time in years, I spoke with God, in His house, and I asked Him for a miracle.”

Tristan knew that Victoria would comprehend the significance of such an act. She confirmed his belief when she pressed her palm against his cheek.
 

A rugged sigh escaped his lips. “For whatever reason, He took our baby from us, but I still prayed to Him – for you and the child we lost. I begged Him not to take you away from me. Even after I knew you’d be all right, I went to His house, to church again, to thank Him. Had I known you’d awaken when I wasn’t there—”

“You don’t owe me any further explanation,” she laced her fingers through his. “I’m sorry, Tristan.”

“I’m sorry, too. That I ever gave you reason to doubt me.”

He meant it.

“No more doubts,” she assured him. “Never again. I promise.”

He placed her palm against his heart and she could feel the rhythmic
tha-thump
, strong and steady through the damp fabric of his shirt. “My heart belongs to you,” he whispered, “now and until the end of time.”

They were the most poignant words she had ever heard.

Tori kissed him gently, offering her soul to him in that kiss and he readily accepted. Long after, she had changed into a dry chemise and lay underneath the warm covers, nestled against her husband’s naked form, his hand caressing the nape of her neck.

“I love you,” he murmured into her hair.

Victoria smiled because she believed him and because she now knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that her husband was more spectacular than she had ever imagined.

Within his warm embrace, a heavy weight having been lifted with his heartfelt declarations of love and devotion, Victoria spoke what had long been in her heart. “I love you more with each day that passes. You were worth the wait, Mr. MacAlistair.”

Tall praise, indeed.

Chapter 21

Tristan leaned against the cool balustrade, the sound of children’s laughter dancing amongst the soft autumn breezes. He couldn’t take his eyes off of Victoria, who was sitting in the gazebo with Emma and Nicholas, teaching them how to draw with charcoals, as Sophie rambled through the grass with her butterfly net, pealing with laughter.
   

Eve and Colin sat with Fiona, shaded by a large, leafy tree with their little girl and sleepy hound. Colin was attempting to teach his daughter how to say “Papa” but she was insistent on repeating the same word:
pup
. Eve and Fiona chuckled in amusement as Colin swept his daughter up into the air, causing her to squeal with laughter.

It no longer bothered Tristan to see them together. To the contrary, he was happy for his brother and his family, in part because Tristan had his own. His eyes scanned the scene, again searching for his one true north—

Victoria.

She was still drawing with Emma and Nicholas, though Sophie had joined them and now sat on Victoria’s lap, charcoal in hand, drawing what he assumed to be lines and circles. Tristan’s heart swelled with pride, overcome with just how much he loved them.

The feeling that had once eluded him for so long now made him so joyous, so grateful, that a wide grin swept across his face at the sight of his family.

“It fills me with joy to see you happy,” Sebastian’s smooth baritone reverberated through the bright afternoon sunshine.

Tristan was unable to suppress his smile. “Not as much as it does me.”

“My sister is glowing.”

Sure enough, Victoria was.
 

“How does your grandfather like living nearby?”
 

“My grandfather adores being so close to his family.” Tristan turned to his brother-in-law. “He sends his apologies for missing today’s supper. Business detained him in London.”

Malcolm MacAlistair had moved to the countryside in an estate that Tristan purchased, situated about half the distance between Sebastian’s estate and Colin’s. Though originally intended for Tristan, Victoria and Sophie, the opportunity for Malcolm’s residency occurred when Sebastian made it clear that he couldn’t abide Kellington Manor without his sister’s presence.

It hadn’t taken much persuasion to convince Victoria and Tristan to agree to Sebastian’s proposal. They resided in their own large wing with Sophie and shared their lives with Sebastian, Gwen, and the twins – the people dearest to them. It was far from shocking since Tristan would eventually inherit his grandfather’s title and his family would reside in their new home after the dear man’s demise, which everyone hoped would be a long time in the future.

Relocating to the country allowed Tristan to manage his estates and work with his grandfather on further expanding their investments in relative seclusion while Victoria enjoyed being nearer to her brothers.

“I still can’t believe Victoria converted your father’s home into an orphanage,” Sebastian said with mock severity. “Lachlan must be turning over in his grave at that unexpected turn of events.”

Tristan arched his brow. Yes, Lachlan would be mortified. That is one of the many reasons that Victoria’s idea made perfect sense.

“It is a boarding school,” Tristan corrected his brother-in-law. “How many times must your sister explain that to you?”

“Of course, you have my sincerest apologies.” It was Sebastian’s turn to grin. “So how many more are you both planning to adopt?”

“As many as Victoria wishes,” Tristan answered, thoroughly content. He was convinced that he would never, no matter how many years passed, ever take for granted this newfound inner peace that filled his heart all because of Victoria.

Sebastian’s brow furrowed. “I owe you an apology, Tristan.”

“You owe me nothing of the sort,” Tristan met his brother-in-law’s intense gaze.

“Ah, but I do,” Sebastian’s tone was rough with emotion, as he turned once again to study his sister.
 

Sophie and the twins were now enjoying story time, Tristan noted, swallowing hard against the lump of emotion that formed within his throat at the sight of his family.

“I see it now,” Sebastian continued, “every time you observe Victoria, and every time she gazes at you. The love you both feel for each other is evident. I wish I had recognized it sooner. I also wish that I hadn’t been so contemptuous towards you when I first learned the truth.”

“I deserved your contempt at the time. Besides, none of us could have predicted this outcome.”

“Gwen did,” Sebastian’s shoulders shook with mirth. “She believed from the very beginning that you were in love with Victoria.”

Tristan studied his twin, who was walking across the lush lawn in an attempt to assemble the children for their early supper on the terrace. She had always known him so well and, even though it was often infuriating and downright unnerving, he now found it comforting. Like the knowledge that his wife loved him, the knowledge that their daughter was safe and happy.

“All right, my darlings,” Victoria announced, lifting Sophie off her lap. “We must straighten up.”

“That’s my cue,” Tristan announced, excusing himself before taking his leave. He then strode
 
towards his family, stopping briefly to kiss his sister on the cheek.

“Papa!” Sophie squealed as she ran towards him.

Tristan scooped her into his arms. “Hello, sweet girl. You are getting so big. I believe you’ve grown an inch since this morning.”

“It appears so, doesn’t it?” Victoria approached them, sketchpad in hand, and he kissed her forehead while gently placing his free hand on her lower back.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

Victoria leaned into him. “I am feeling pregnant,” she patted her distended belly. “I am also enjoying every minute of it.”

Their little girl squirmed and Tristan released her so she could run with the other children.

“That’s good,” Tristan murmured, wrapping his arms around Victoria’s expanding waistline as he murmured so only his wife could hear. “Because I enjoyed every moment we spent creating that child you’re carrying.”

A hearty chuckle escaped her throat. “Of that, I am aware.”

There had been so much fear at the beginning of her pregnancy. Fear of losing this child, like they had their first. Dr. Danbury confined Victoria to bed rest for the first few months and Tristan doted on her with great care and adoration, reassuring her that everything would be all right this time.

As long as he lives, Tristan will never forget the relief that had washed over him when the kind doctor finally told them he believed the pregnancy had taken and that both mother and child were healthy.

Of, course, Tristan was still protective of his wife. He always would be. He clasped her hand in his as they strolled towards the rest of their party.

“I noticed you chatting with Sebastian,” she paused to rest under the canopy of leaves that had shaded Colin and his family moments before. Tristan welcomed some time alone with Victoria before they were again within earshot of their families.

She continued with a mock grin, “No blood was shed, which is always a good sign.”

Though the two men had been friendly to one another, and now resided under the same roof, one of Victoria’s biggest regrets remained that Tristan’s relationship with Sebastian had been irrevocably damaged by their initial night together. Seeing him with her brother this afternoon reminded Victoria just how much Tristan had sacrificed for her.

“Brace yourself, my love,” Tristan teased, his tone animated as he leaned into her. “Your brother actually apologized to me.”

Victoria’s eyes widened. “
No!
”

“Yes. My charm, it would seem, is undeniable,” Tristan winked at her.

She adjusted his periwinkle cravat. “I could have told you that a long time ago.”

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Tristan said as he reached into his vest pocket. “I have something for you.”

He handed her a black velvet box with a red ribbon tied in a bow.

“To what do I owe this honor?” she asked.

“The date. One year ago this evening, on a stormy night, our fates were forever joined,” he said, gently pushing a wayward auburn curl from her face. “Though it may not have seemed like it at the time, you forever changed me, Victoria.”

Victoria placed the box against her heart. “You remembered the date?”

“How could I ever forget?” he kissed the top of her head, whispering into her lush auburn curls. “That was the evening when I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, even if it did take me ages to admit it.”

“I love you,” she proclaimed and Tristan was certain that he would never tire of hearing the words.

Victoria opened her gift, a gold bracelet with a filigreed oval locket dangling from it. It reminded her of the necklace that her mother had given her years ago, the same locket she had given to Sophie’s mother.

“Oh, Tristan,” Victoria held the gift to her heart. “It is beautiful.”

He reached down and pried open the cool metal charm, revealing a miniature portrait of their daughter, Sophie. “As you can see, there is a spot for our newest addition,” he said, gently placing his hand upon her abdomen. Then, with a conspiratorial wink he added, “There are plenty of links so we can add to it as our family expands.”

“I don’t deserve you,” she said, her sweet timbre rich with emotion as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

He begged to differ. His beautiful wife had taught him to love, fully and completely. Together, along with their children, Victoria had filled Tristan’s heart with more joy than he ever imagined.

“No, my love,” he said at last. “You deserve this and much more. Therefore, I intend to spend each day of my life making sure you never forget it.”

“I do love you, Tristan,” she whispered.

In his wife’s heartfelt proclamation, he found heaven. This woman, her love, renewed his faith. She was his salvation … just as he had suspected on that fateful night when their souls fused as one.

“You are my miracle, Victoria.”

* * *

Later that evening, after Sophie had fallen asleep cuddling with her favorite stuffed puppy, Tristan climbed into bed next to his wife. “I expected you to be fast asleep by now,” he quipped, referring to the sheer exhaustion she had been experiencing through this stage of her pregnancy.

Victoria placed the leather bound novel she was reading atop her nightstand between two gilded framed portraits, one of her mother and one of Tristan holding Sophie in his arms. “I managed to stay awake long enough for my husband to kiss me goodnight.”

“It better be one hell of a kiss, then,” he retorted.

She offered him one of her seductive smiles, “Rest assured, I have no doubt that you will make it worth my efforts.”

Tristan pushed the covers aside, kissing the thin