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“Oh, dear. What a trial.” She put her hand to his cheek. “Does that mean you’ve forgiven me?”
“I’m not sure. I’m still put out with you, and I spent the whole night thinking on it. You lied to me.”
“I know.”
“But then, you also gave up your dowry and the chance at a secure marriage, risking ruin and spinsterhood for me. Which seems as though it ought to count for something, too.”
“I only did it because I loved you so much. I hoped perhaps you felt something for me, but I knew you’d never do anything about it. If I told you how I felt, you would have fled as quickly as Shadow could carry you. You would never have married me unless you believed you were coming to my rescue.”
“I wish I could contradict that, but I suspect you’re right.”
“I’m always right.”
He gave her a look.
“Often right,” she amended. “If it helps, my first plan didn’t feature deceit at all. I was going to simply seduce you. But I didn’t have the confidence that I could pull it off.”
His mouth quirked at the corner. “Oh, you could have pulled it off.”
“Really?”
“Without a doubt.” He drew her close, resting his forehead to hers. “Mary, Mary. Can you truly love me that much?”
“More. You should have seen my third plan if this one didn’t work. There were highwaymen.”
He laughed.
It was a warm, unburdened laugh that made her heart soar.
She’d disarmed him now. He couldn’t keep her out any more.
“I love you,” he murmured. “God, it feels good to say that at last. I love you, Mary.”
He bent to kiss her, then stopped. “I’ve just thought of something. If your trunks weren’t packed for a honeymoon with Giles Perry, does that mean all those negligees were truly—”
“For you?” She smiled. “Yes.”
“Are there more of them?”
“Take me upstairs and find out.”
She didn’t have to ask twice. He bent down, lashed an arm around her thighs, and flung her over his shoulder before mounting the stairs.
Mary hoped he’d pieced that bed together correctly. Because it would be put to the test all week long.
Epilogue
“Come away from the window, darling,” Mary said. “You’re leaving nose prints on the glass.”
Henry pouted. “You said Papa would be here in time for tea.”
“He will be. He promised, and your father always keeps his promises.”
Mary was eager for Sebastian to arrive, too. Tending all four of their children during his absence had left her frayed at the edges. When they were in London or at Byrne Hall, she had a nursemaid to help, but when they took their annual holiday here in the cottage, they preferred to keep it family only. With the addition of Dick and Fanny Cross, of course.
She shifted Molly, her youngest, to the other arm and wiped the spittle from her chubby face. The poor dear was cutting a new tooth. At least William had gone upstairs for a nap, but Jane and Henry wouldn’t cease bickering.
Someday, Mary would finish her latest strident letter to the editor ofThe Times—but it wouldn’t be today.
