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Charlotte had been eager to return to Severn, for she had missed her gardens. Alaric wanted to bring her home, particularly to show her the gift he’d bought her. And now that they had finally returned home, he could hardly wait to reveal it.

The spring sunlight was warmer, and all the snow had melted from the grounds. He led her outside onto the terrace and towards a new archway that had been cut out of the shrubbery.

‘Where are you taking me?’ she asked.

‘Can’t you guess?’ He led her inside the boxwood arch and into the garden maze. She glanced around at the greenery, noticing that it had been trimmed back. ‘You hired gardeners, didn’t you?’

‘Among other things,’ he said. He paused a moment and pressed her back against the hedge. ‘Do you know, this might be a good place for seduction. No one would see us here.’ He stole a kiss, sliding his arms around her waist.

She laughed softly. ‘It’s still cold, even though spring has arrived, Alaric. I’d rather be in a warm bed than outside where anyone could encounter us in a compromising position.’

‘I’ll hold you to that promise,’ he said. ‘I intend to compromise you most thoroughly, after I’ve shown you your gift.’

She stood on tiptoe and kissed him again. ‘Show me, then.’

He led her through the maze, until at last they reached the centre. There, he revealed the construction on an octagonal foundation with brick walls that were nearly as high as her shoulders—although the roof wasn’t finished yet. It was the summerhouse she had dreamed of.

Charlotte gave a cry of delight and hugged him. ‘Alaric, this is wonderful! How long will it take them to finish it?’

‘A few more weeks,’ he said. ‘They broke ground the day you left.’

Her smile brightened. ‘I love this so very much. And I love you.’

He tightened his embrace, savouring her joy. Seeing his wife smile was its own gift. ‘And they will build your fountain as well,’ he promised. ‘You’ll have to choose the right place for it.’

‘I know exactly where I want it.’

Her mood turned pensive as she reached out to take his face between her hands. After she kissed him again, she murmured, ‘Which rule did we have about sharing my bed?’

He hadn’t memorised all of them, but that particular rule was burned into his brain. ‘Rule 9.’ His voice came out rough, and she laughed as she claimed his mouth again.

With a wicked smile, he led her back out of the maze. Despite his own eagerness, he was careful not to rush her, for he didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable. She could still move freely, but he was fully conscious of her pregnancy.

After they were back inside the house, Alaric picked her up in his arms and began carrying her up the stairs.

‘Oh, do be careful,’ she warned. ‘I’m getting heavy.’

‘Nonsense,’ he finished. But he knew stairs made her dizzy, and it was easy enough to carry her. ‘It’s an excuse to hold you in my arms.’

But when they reached their bedchamber, he did nothing to hide the hunger he felt for his wife. ‘You promised to show me that naughty book of yours when we returned home, Charlotte. I believe we should start at the beginning and try every single chapter.’

She laughed at that, although he was fully serious. The thought of his innocent wife trying to research ways to make love with him was too much to resist. He lowered her to stand before him once they were inside their bedchamber.

The hearth was lit, and the room was filled with warmth and sunlight. Upon the windowsill, one of the servants had placed a tiny pot of the last of the white and purple crocuses in soil. And then on the table beside it lay a bulb resting in a shallow dish. He’d thought it was the same type of bulb she had tried to grow for him before the last one had died from neglect. But this one had just begun to bloom a vivid crimson. Charlotte reached out to trace the red blossom.

‘Thank you for the amaryllis,’ she told him. ‘And I am glad to see that you kept the crocuses potted this time, so they won’t die.’

He took her palm and drew it to his mouth. ‘I have a great deal to learn. And in the meantime, we may want to draw up some new rules of marriage. There should be frequent kissing. And our marriage will be based upon love.’

‘I don’t think we need any rules at all,’ she countered. ‘Only each other.’

Epilogue

Nearly two years later

The sound of a child’s laughter broke through the halls, and Charlotte wondered what sort of mischief Alaric and their son Thomas were up to. She was busy hanging up mistletoe in the rooms while Moreen arranged greenery on the fireplace mantel.

‘Do you know what they’re doing?’ she asked her maid.