Page 79 of Truly, Madly, Daring

“No. We won’t,” Wrexham said with a smile. “Humboldt will draw up the terms and send them to you. Accept them, or don’t. I really don’t care. However, I would like to finish my drink in peace, so do us all a favour and clear off. This is my land, and you’re not welcome here.”

There was a cheer from behind them at Wrexham’s words and Emmeline turned to discover the room filled to bursting. Many of the staff from the Hall and all the tenants they had visited that afternoon were there, all of them supporting Lord Wrexham, because he was a good man and they all loved him.

Wrexham started in surprise, turning towards the sound.

“That’s for you,” Emmeline said, gazing up at his handsome face. “They’re proud of you, Wrexham, and so happy to have you home.”

He made a soft sound of surprise, his mouth quirking into a boyish smile.

“Kiss yer bride, man,” yelled a voice from the crowd. “She’s looking at you like you hung the moon, you silly bugger!”

Wrexham chuckled and turned to Emmeline, touching his fingers to her chin. “That true, pet?”

“Of course it’s true, you vexing creature,” she said with a sigh. “I told you. I’m quite disgustingly infatuated with you.”

“Ah, well. You can’t be blamed,” he said. “What else is there to do but love me?”

“Nothing,” Emmeline said, gazing up at him helplessly. “Not a thing.”

“Well, so long as we’re agreed,” he said amicably, and kissed her.

Epilogue

Lord Frederick,

It pains me to write this letter to you, but I can keep the truth from you no longer.

Aggie is gone. It has been two days now. We do not know where, or why. I have men scouring the country for her, but my daughter knows well how to disappear, and it appears she does not wish to be found. My heart is breaking. I shall not rest until I find her. I know the esteem in which you hold my daughter, and that after the conversation we shared at our last meeting, this will be a dreadful blow to you, too.

Is there anything you can tell me, any reason you can think of that would have sent her running? Please understand, I am not accusing you of wrongdoing. I know you well enough to understand you would walk over hot coals for Agatha, and nothing would induce you to cause her harm. But is it possible she took fright? Did you speak of your future, of a proposal perhaps? Anything that may have overwhelmed her?

If there is the least clue to why she went or where she might go, I beg you will tell me at once. All I have is an empty wardrobe and a note with the words,

‘Forgive me, I have no choice but to leave. I love you all.’

I will find her, Fred. I give you my word. I will not stop looking until she is safely back at home.

With regret,

Yrs, etc

―Excerpt of a letter from Louis César de Montluc, the Comte de Villen, to the Right Hon’ble Frederick Adolphus, (son of Their Graces, Robert and Prunella Adolphus, The Duke and Duchess of Bedwin).

Six months later…

19th of August 1845, Positano, Italy.

Emmeline stared out at the view before her, overwhelmed by the beauty of it, though she had already seen it every day for the past week.

The villa perched high in the hills, surrounded by lush greenery. Their bedroom opened onto a private terrace. All around the house lemon and orange trees grew, the bright fruit vivid against the astonishing blue of the sea. They had picnicked beneath them more than once now, just as her husband had promised her.

“Come back to bed, pet,” Wrexham grumbled.

Emmeline turned to look at him and found him reclining on the mattress, with only a sheet covering his bottom half, every bit as stunning as the view from the window. They had swum every day in a private cove, and his hair was an even brighter shade than its usual ripe barley, his skin tinged with gold. He shifted, one elbow bent behind his head, and she sighed, entranced by the way the muscles shifted in his chest and shoulders, the visible strength in his arms. Desire stirred in her blood, and she did not need him to ask her a second time.

She wandered back to him, shedding the sheer silk dressing gown as she went, revelling in the feel of her bare skin against his as she settled against his chest.

“Are you happy?” he asked, one hand toying with her hair.