Heirly Ever After, Vernon, Magan [best thriller novels to read .txt] 📗

have any of your stained-glass pieces,” Natalie said as she popped up next to her sister.

I swallowed hard, my heart thudding in my chest as I waited for his response.

Great-Grandpa tilted his head then squinted his eyes before slowly sticking his hand out. “Ah, you must be the great Lady Webley, getting the manor ready for all of us.”

She smiled brightly. “That I am, and I’ve been waiting to meet you, Great-Grandfather. So has my husband, Lord Gavin.”

Gavin was at her side with that stone face, but once Great-Grandpa took his hand, I thought I saw the hint of a smile on his lips. “It’s so great to finally see you.” He lifted an eyebrow slightly. “Do I call you Uncle?”

“Call me Great-Grandpa. Everyone else does.” Great Grandpa laughed, and for the first time, that bloody bastard did it. Gavin smiled.

Guess I should have brought Great-Grandpa around months ago to see that smile.

He even kept that same grin as he met my sister and parents.

All of the tightness I’d been carrying in my shoulders slowly started to drift away as they talked about MacWebley like they were old friends. Family who had known and loved each other for years.

This was it. This was the perfect moment.

But then I turned to see Hugh with his hand in my box of pastries and crumbs around his mouth. “Damn, Jacob, you deserve some recognition for these fancies. Did you seriously make these?”

I froze, every hair on the back of my neck standing on end.

All of the work.

The weeks of preparation.

Making sure Madison never went down to the manor kitchen as we remodeled.

All swept away in frosting smeared across my cousin’s face.

“What does this say on the—” He paused, the box still open as he blinked hard.

Quickly, I grabbed it from his grasp and looked down at the missing parts.

“Bloody hell,” I mumbled.

My breath hitched as a wave of nausea rolled in my stomach.

Madison glanced over my shoulder and let out a low gasp, her body stilling behind mine.

As the utter terror rolled through me, a new sense washed over it. My shoulders lightened as I laughed. Something I wouldn’t have done months ago. But nothing had been perfect for us, no matter how hard either of us tried. And yet this little slip was perfect for us.

Why should this proposal be different?

I turned to her, the only thing between us the bright pink box with the white fancies now reading “Will You May Me?”

“I had a better plan for all of this, but here it is, damsel. I may not always be the best knight or savior, and life has a tendency to become extra messy when I’m around, but I’ll always be here for you.” I had to pause and take a breath. “I love you. I respect you. And I bloody want you to be my wife. What do you say? Will you marry me?”

The knots were still pulling in my stomach, but on top of all of that was the overall lightness this woman brought to my life. I wanted her to be with me more than anything. To be my forever. And now she just had to say yes…

She blinked a few times, looking at the box, holding her hand to her chest.

“Shit, I didn’t eat the ring, did I?” Hugh’s voice carried over us, causing everyone to still.

Then Natalie took a step forward, pulling the velvet box from her pocket. “No, don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

Thank bloody hell we went with Plan B and didn’t put it on the cakes.

Madison stared wide-eyed at her sister before swallowing hard. “You knew?”

She took the pastry box and handed me the smaller box with a wink, and bloody hell did that make me smile in return. “Who do you think helped with the family jewelry?”

I faced Madison once more and opened it. Emerald and diamonds weaved together along the gold band etched with the thistle and the rose. “Your sister found Great-Grandmother’s old ring at a pawn shop of all places and helped to find the best place for the adjustments.”

Great-Grandpa hobbled closer with the aid of the still-smiling Gavin.

“I haven’t seen this ring in so many years,” he said wistfully. He placed his hand on the box then on Madison’s looking between us. “Thank you for bringing it home.”

My hands shook as I tried to control the warmth radiating through me. Pride. Elation. All of it at having this woman as mine and the MacWebley ring coming home. Webleys and MacWebleys united. The thistle and the rose. For better. For worse. For all the bloody ruckus.

That was…if my damsel said yes.

She was still staring at the ring box, my throat tightening with each passing second.

“Well, bloody hell, don’t leave the poor lad waiting and give him an answer,” Great-Grandpa barked with a laugh.

She stared down at the ring then me, a small smile crossing her lips. “Do you still have that coin to flip? Heads yes?”

My heart beat so hard in my chest I swore it was going to escape.

I pulled the two-headed coin out of my pocket that was always present there. “Do I even need to flip it?”

She shook her head. “Heads it is.”

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Acknowledgments

First off, I need to thank Candace and Stephanie for believing in the initial concept of this story and for pushing me to keep going.

To my editor, Amy, for taking me on when I’m sure wasn’t sure what to think of this lady who liked to talk about dogs and Dan Jones.

To Jen, for helping with all things Scottish and English.

My entire Entangled production team who has put up with me from my first story to begging for a message from Dan Jones and to plan our June wedding.

The Vernon family has taken me in from the moment I met my husband. This year was especially difficult when we lost the patriarch, Dodo (aka my husband’s grandpa). In the