“And, of course,” Diana went on, “we’ll have Helga and Bruno here, too.”
“They’ll certainly help the children settle in and settle down.” Toby met Diana’s eyes. “I don’t know all that much about organizing children, but I suspect our first move will be to establish the proper form of guardianship.”
“From what little I know, it might be best to marry first, then formally adopt them.” She arched her brows at him. “What do you think?”
He turned the notion over in his mind, then nodded decisively. “I think that’s likely to be our wisest course. Much less chance of anyone quibbling over anything, and they’ll have the added protection of legally being Cynsters, and that’s nothing to sneeze at.”
“Well, then.” She refolded the letters, then the sound of shrill laughter from somewhere outside reached them.
They both looked in that direction, then Toby smiled, rose, and held out his hand. “I believe our immediate next step is obvious.” He tipped his head toward the noise. “Let’s go and see what the three think of our plans.”
She smiled, put her hand in his, and let him draw her to her feet, and arm in arm, they walked out to hunt for the children.
They found them prancing around a circular pond, leaning over the low edge and tracking goldfish who, sensibly, were darting about and hiding under the lily pads.
By then, Toby had worked out a condensed proposal that he proceeded to lay before the three. “As you already know, Diana and I are going to get married. Until then, we’ll be your guardians if required, but once we’re wed, your father has given us permission to formally adopt you.” He looked from one bright face to the other, eventually landing on Evelyn’s. “That will make you our children in everyone’s eyes.” He paused, again looking from face to face. “Will that be all right with you?”
Roland asked, “Does that mean we’ll become Cynsters, too? Properly and forever?”
Toby nodded and raised Diana’s hand. “Just as, when we wed, Diana will become a Cynster, too. Properly and forever.”
“So you’ll truly be our papa, and Mama will be our real mama?” The light in Bryce’s eyes made it plain what answer he wished to hear.
Toby grinned and obliged. “Yes, exactly.”
“Yes!” Evelyn shrieked and flung up her hands and threw herself at Diana.
Laughing, Diana caught her up in her arms and hugged her tightly.
Echoing their sister’s enthusiasm, the boys launched themselves at Toby.
With Helga and Bruno watching in benevolent approval from the shade of a nearby tree, with Toby and Diana laughing and the children shrieking with joy, they ended up dancing in a circle beside the pond.
In the aftermath of their fraught journey, all was well-nigh perfect in their world.
* * *
Eventually,with all of them still smiling fit to burst, they returned to the house and allowed Gallagher and the footmen to serve them luncheon.
Afterward, the children, patently intent on embracing their new life, set out to explore further under the watchful eye of Helga and Bruno, aided by the head groom. The children had thought to ask where their new family would live and had been delighted to learn that Fellows Hall would be their home.
On returning to the drawing room, Diana and Toby seized the moment to inform Gallagher of their decision regarding the children and their future lives and, under his gentle supervision, were introduced to the rest of the household, stable, and grounds staff.
Subsequently, Diana went off with Mrs. Gallagher to organize rooms and approve the menu for dinner that evening.
Meanwhile, Toby found his way to the study. Apparently, there having been no gentleman in residence, the room had sat unused for years, yet nevertheless, the chamber had been kept dust-free as if in expectation of the imminent arrival of its next occupant.
Toby had settled in the leather-covered chair behind the large desk, then summoned Gallagher and had a longer chat with the butler. It transpired that the local solicitor whose office was in Winstead village served as agent for the estate and would be the best source of information regarding the property. As Toby had assumed, Gallagher appreciated learning that Toby was a significantly and independently wealthy gentleman, and therefore, the staff’s positions at the house and on the estate were assured.
“Indeed,” Toby added, his vision still expanding to take in the scope of this new reality, “I would imagine we’ll be adding more staff in the not-too-distant future.”
That comment, more than any other, allayed Gallagher’s understandable concerns.
After dismissing the man, Toby sat and pondered, then went in search of Diana.
He found her in the family parlor at the rear of the house. She was standing before a wide bay window and looking out over a stretch of lawn. The quality of the smile on her face told him what—or rather, whom—she was looking at even before he halted beside her and followed her gaze to the children, who were romping in that fashion that declared that—at least in that moment—they had not a care in the world.
Toby studied the bright, laughing faces and heard the confidence ringing in their piping voices. After a moment, he murmured, “Getting here, to this particular moment in time and space, was worth every second of difficulty and angst.”
