He pressed his forehead to hers, dragging his thumb along her cheekbone. “Do you know how many children in London dream of the home we could provide for them? For the love we could give?”
Her mind was spinning as she considered his words. “But your title, Henry. Those children wouldn’t be able to inherit from you.”
Henry shrugged. “The title means nothing, and little of value in the estate is still entailed. Our children would be ours, trulyours, in every way that matters.” He hesitated. “Would that bother you, to have a child not your own by blood?”
Shaking her head, Ellie buried her head against his chest, his arms wrapping around her and holding her close. “Not a bit. Not if you are with me.”
The tension released from his body as he held her even closer, tucking her head into her neck. “I’m not certain it’s a good idea to let us name a child,” Henry said as he pressed a kiss to her hair.
“We would do a better job than our parents,” she replied, lifting her gaze to meet his. “Guinevere? Galahad?”
“I think we could be far more creative.” Henry lifted a curl from her neck and wrapped it around his finger. “Adalbert? Sigismund?”
Ellie winced and pulled back to twist her face in disgust. “You’re assuming they will be boys. What if we have a knightly girl? How about Boadicea? Or Melisende?”
Henry pressed his lips to her forehead and cupped her jaw in his gentle hands. “We could call her Mellie. Mellie and Ellie?”
“Terrible,” Ellie responded, turning her face to kiss his palm. “But you would convince everyone it is the greatest name in all of Christendom.”
“Just as I convinced you that you are the most beautiful woman alive. It is the truth, after all.” He cleared his throat as the smile slipped a bit. “Ellie, we’ve already established I’m a bit of an idiot—”
“Stop that!” Ellie hissed, swatting his shoulder.
He feigned a moan of pain before smiling again. “Fine, I’m not an idiot, but I would like clarification. I gave you a plethora of options… What is it you want, El?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps you are a bit of an idiot after all.” Before the smile could fall from his face, she leaned forward and kissed him, the way she wanted to be kissed, with all the passion and love and joy for the lifetime they would share. “I’m a selfish woman, Henry,” she said against his mouth. “I want everything from you. I love you.”
“Christ, Ellie. I love you more than I could ever put in words.” His lips captured hers once more, equal parts elation and desire.
Breaking their kiss, Ellie stepped back and turned towards the canvas. “You said it’s unfinished?”
Henry looked at her with a dazed expression, then considered the painting. “Yes, it’s missing something, but I can’t determine what.”
Ellie nodded towards the paintbrush and palette on the work table by her side. “May I?”
At his nod, she lifted a brush and dabbed it in some of the silver paint he had used to paint her spectacles, then hesitated. “You trust me with this? What if I make a mistake?”
Henry stepped forward and kissed her once more, slow and gentle. “We’ve made plenty of mistakes and I’m sure we’ll make more. We can always fix them.”
With his assurance, she lifted the brush to the hand spread across her likeness’s torso, then slid a silver line across the left ring finger. When she stood to appraise her work, Henry stepped behind her, his arms wrapping around her and pulling her close. “I think that is what you were missing, don’t you?”
Henry turned her in his arms and captured her in a kiss. “I agree completely.”
Chapter 33
My dearest Henry,
Thank you for the lovely roses you sent this morning. And the gardenias that arrived last night. And the chocolates accompanying them. I fear my mother’s sitting room will turn into a hothouse before you return from the Cotswolds.
And in response to your questions. 1) Yes, I love you. 2) Yes, I insist we post banns and wait to marry properly. No more scandal, no more nonsense. 3) Truly, you must believe me when I say I love you.
I love you.
Hurry back,
El
My darling, devoted, devilishly beautiful Ellie,
