“Yes, definitely something to consider.”
They left Truro the following morning, and three days later, James and Leah found themselves standing in the courtyard of Fulham Palace.
“We are home.” He slipped an arm around his wife’s waist and drew her in close before kissing her tenderly on the forehead.
Leah smiled up at him. “A proper kiss please, husband.”
He set his lips to hers, receiving a warm and encouraging kiss in return. When Leah slid her hand inside his coat and rubbed her hand against his trousers, he nipped at her bottom lip. “Minx. Don’t you go getting me all aroused just before I am about to greet my parents.”
She gave him an innocent ‘what, me?’ smile in return.
Their flirting was interrupted by a squeal of delight which rang through the air. From out of the front door, Claire came running to greet them. “Helloooo! Welcome home!”
James held his arms out to her. But she, in typical Claire fashion, raced past him and embraced Leah. “My sister. How wonderful. I am so pleased that you married my big brother. I just knew he would be your hero,” she cried.
James frowned. Since when had he become a hero? And what did Claire know?
Claire released Leah from her hug, then came to him. Uncharacteristically for Claire, it was in an almost reverent fashion. As her arms wrapped around his waist, she leaned in. “Thank you, James. Thank you for saving Leah.”
He shook his head. “I think you have it the wrong way. She saved me. I don’t know what I would have done if she hadn’t run out of the church.”
Claire looked up at him. “There has been the devil of a scandal over all of this, but to me it was the most romantic love story I have ever heard. Even Papa was emotional when he got home last week and told us that not only were the two of you married, but that you were in love.”
A look passed between Leah and Claire, after which Claire nodded.
Leah turned to James, taking his hand. “We have a small confession to make before we go inside. Claire helped with my plans to flee before the wedding. She investigated where the travel coaches left from in London and purchased my ticket for Truro. The black cloak I wore during my escape, and which you slept under that first night, actually belongs to your mother,” said Leah.
“It’s an old cloak, so Mama does not know it is missing. I don’t plan to tell our parents any of this, but as Leah’s husband, you have a right to know,” added Claire.
James looked to his wife. “At least you felt you could trust one of the Radley family when it came to it. I understand why you didn’t feel you could do the same with me. And I agree we should keep this a secret.”
He shook his head at Claire but couldn’t stop the grin which came to his lips. He would be forever grateful for his sister’s meddling. With Leah on his arm, and a happy Claire trailing behind, they headed inside.
The welcome from the rest of the Radley family was as warm as he’d hoped. After giving her new daughter-in-law a hug, Mary Radley turned and gave her son a gentle cuff over the ear. “That is for having run away and gotten married without your mother being at the wedding.”
James caught the smile on her face as she spoke. Even the normally dour Maggie managed to rally a smile for the newlywed couple.
His father saved the best for last. “I was wondering if the two of you were ever going to come out of the wilds of Cornwall. I told your new landlord that we were expecting you at the start of the week at the very latest, but never mind.”
“What landlord would that be?” replied James.
His father sniffed. “You are married. You cannot expect to still be living under your parents’ roof, can you? This isn’t Strathmore House with its abundance of rooms where you can have your own apartment. I have taken out a year’s lease on a house and servants in Wood Street. It is our wedding gift to the two of you,” said Hugh.
James looked at Leah; her eyes were brimming with tears. Their own home. This was most unexpected. And very generous.
“I spoke to Mrs. Shepherd and she has arranged for all of Leah’s things to be moved to the new house. They should be waiting for you when you arrive,” said Mary.
“Thank you,” said Leah.
Wood Street, which was close by St Paul’s cathedral, was not the most elegant of addresses in London. Leah had rarely ventured this far east in the city, her usual haunts being the rarified air around Mayfair and the parish of St James.
The town house which James’s father had rented for them was a short three-story dirty brown brick building with barely any street presence. It certainly wasn’t the lavish town house that Guy had prepared for her to live in close to Grosvenor Square. There would be no expensive furnishings, or fabulous green chinois dining settings for her and James.
But it was theirs, and Leah was determined to make it the happy home she had never had before. She trusted James to make a success of his chosen career, and as his wife, she would do all she could to support him.
As they reached the front door, James swung her up into his arms. Leah laughed.
“Time to cross the threshold of our first home,” he announced with a smile.
