“What thought troubled your brow just then? You should know that, while I did visit her, I only visited to discuss Mercy.”
“That’s not it.” Cassie shook her head. “I knew you would have to speak with her.”
“What I told you in the carriage was true. You do know me better than she ever will.”
“I don’t doubt you. Not anymore. It’s just that…Lady Pennington called you Edward.” She glanced up through her lashes. “But you’ve never givenmeleave to call you anything other than Harbury.”
“Not even Adrian calls me Edward.” He threaded his fingers through hers. “And, you should know that on that visit, I rescinded permission for Lady Pennington to do so.”
“You did?”
He nodded. “My Christian name should only be used by someone with whom I’m intimately connected.”
“Like me?”
He nodded. “The first night of our marriage—”
“I was furious,” she interrupted. “Furious and frightened.”
“And Iachedfor you to call me Edward. Only, for years, I’d rejected every part of me ‘Edward’ embodied. You changed that. You made me understand I could take the best parts of the boy I had been and use them to become a better man.”
Her features went soft. “Thebestof men.”
“Please, call me Edward. Call me anything you wish.”
She laughed. “Even thickheaded?”
“Especially thickheaded.” He ran his thumb back and forth across her hand. “I cannot wait to take you home. But there isn’t time to return to the Hall today.”
“No,” she agreed. “We should wait at least until tomorrow.”
“I didn’t bring much, but I did throw a few necessities into a satchel.” He glanced up. “Should I have my things sent up to your room?”
She wrinkled her nose.
“What?” He raised his hand to his chin. “Do I have something on my face?”
“No.” Her grin widened. “But you were making the same face Mercy makes when he wants his belly tickled.”
“Are my attempts to influence you working?”
“Perhaps.”
He leaned forward, then lowered his voice. “I wouldn’tobjectto having my belly tickled, either.”
She pretended to consider. “Perhaps…so long as you agree to page 57.”
He groaned. “I willalwaysagree to page 57.”
“Then, yes,” she said primly. “You may send your things up to my room.”
He kissed her softly, lingeringly.
“Come, Edward,” she said with a wide smile. “Be with my family.”
And, perhaps for the first time in his life, Harbury felt as if he were exactly where he belonged.
*
