“I suppose not.”
He remained still, and his silence went on so long that a tinge of worry bloomed in her gut. “Robbie, if you want to withdraw—”
That spurred action. He spun her around, his eyes clouded. “You think I would leave you—?”
She shook her head furiously. “No, that’s not what I meant!”
“Then what?”
She could not stop the tears. “I just thought you might not—”
“Might not what?”
Eloise blurted it out. “Want another scandal!” Her hands fluttered in front of her in agitation. “You have worked everything out. Your whole family has worked so hard resolving what’s happened this—”
Her breath caught as he kissed her. His hands closed on her arms in a fierce hold that left no question that he intended to kiss her and continue kissing her. And when his tongue pressed hard against her lips, she opened to him, craving him as much he seemed to want her. As one kiss broke and he aimed for another, she said, “Let me hold you. Please.” Robert released her arms and she flung them around his shoulders as he folded his around her waist.
Across the room, the door closed with a firm click of the latch. They both looked at it, then Eloise began to giggle, pushing her face into his neck. Robert chuckled. “My sister-in-law. Subtlety escapes her.”
They held each other, silent for a while. Finally Eloise asked, “Do you truly want to marry me?”
“I am already thinking about how I can obtain a special license.” He leaned back to look at her. “My little mouse, you are forever in my heart. I want you forever in my bed, my home, my business. My life.”
“And you call me greedy?”
“Say yes.”
“Yes, my love. Now and forever.”
Epilogue
Sunday, 1 June 1828
The Surrey-Ashton School for Boys
Maidstone, Kent
Two in the afternoon
Robert sat onthe floor of the nursery, his six-month-old daughter clutching his forefingers and trying to pull to her feet. He murmured encouragement under his breath, watching his wobbly-legged child bounce twice, then drop back on her bottom. With each thump to the ground, Emma pouted then looked up at him. Spotting his wide smile, she would flop onto her back in a wallow of giggles before trying again.
Across the room, the nanny clucked her tongue as she laid out small bits of food on a low table. “My lord, she is too young yet. You are asking too much.”
Robert tickled Emma’s tummy, which set off another riot of squeals and giggles. “Nonsense. She is a brilliant child. The most brilliant in all of England.”
“Except Daniel, of course.” The sound of his wife’s voice made Robert’s grin broaden. He turned to look as Eloise entered the nursery, their two-year-old son in tow. Daniel spotted his father and bolted for him, clambering up on his back.
“Papa! Horsey!”
Robert caught his son before he toppled over the top of Robert’s head and swung him around and gave him a shaking hug. “Horsey later.” To offset a serious pouting episode, Robert pointed at the low table. “Nanny has a snack for you. And Papa has to help Mama.” Successfully distracted, Daniel trotted toward the food, and Robert got to his feet, brushing off his arse. As they left the nursery, he slid his arm around Eloise’s waist and kissed her cheek.
“Is everything prepared?”
“It is. But if your parents see you playing on the floor like that, they will be mortified.”
He squeezed her waist. “Hardly. Mother would sometimes play with us.”
“I bet your father never did.”
