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"Beautiful isn't a strong enough word," Julianthe babe's downy cheek, the warm curve of her chin

"She bellows like you, too Even Mrs Peters said so She said we should have expected such a loud yell and such a stubborn arrival—given the unpleasant but hter would take after you According to Mrs Peters, you're theman she's ever met And you doubtless wouldn't hesitate to pass those traits on to your child"

At that moment, not even Mrs Peters' caustic remarks could shatter Julian's euphoric state "There's another reason for our daughter's turbulent nature," hethat storm at sea"

"I know He told me so when he left my chambers—just a few minutes before she was born" Aurora kissed the infant's silky head "Julian, let's call her Marinna It's derived fro 'from the sea' That way, the love in which she was conceived will surround her, stay with her all her life"

"Marinna Bencroft" Julian shter's brow, then shifting to cover his wife's mouth with his "It's perfect So is she Thank you, soleil" He framed Aurora's face between his palms "I love you more than you'll ever know"

"And I you," she whispered

As if to remind them as the true cha then lifting to reveal the brilliant topaz depths beneath Squir, she opened her rosebudsquall that defied her delicate beauty and made her new father jump to his feet

Blinking, Julian gaped frohter's now-alert, wide-eyed appraisal to his tired, laughing wife "She takes after ile a creature coulda sound "Perhaps But there's quite a bit of you in her as well" He grinned as Marinna dehtrail in furious, determineddetained or deterred—then bellowing until Aurora arment aside "Quite a bit of you," Julian repeated, his chest tight with emotion "Such as your decided lack of patience And your uncanny resourcefulness," he added in an aching whisper as Marinna unerringly found heronto her mother's breast, her tiny fist clenched beside it

"You have a point," Aurora agreed, tenderly cradling their daughter as she drank "You, little one, are an impeccable combination of Huntley and Bencroft," she apprised the infant "And I can't i more ideal than that"

Silently Julian agreed Feeling ined, he watched the to over Marinna's fair skin

My daughter My daughter, he echoed inwardly, besieged by a fierce sense of possessiveness as he drank in the wondrous combination of himself and Aurora: his topaz eyes and dark hair blended with his wife's exquisite features, his own strong-willed intensity melded with Aurora's fire and spirit

Abruptly Mr Scollard's toast sprang to hthouse keeper had been right

Through Marinna, the Huntleys and the Bencrofts were now truly and wholly united

And from this day forth, their joys would abound