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He touched her cheek. “My practical wife.” He turned to Phyllida. “And my elegant mother.” He squeezed her hand, and Phyllida practically glowed.
“I am also practical, I’ll have you know. I will go arrange for the food. I’m sure you and Fincher can take care of the bath.” With that, she stretched up for a kiss on the cheek and left the nursery.
Sarah turned and gave Robbie over to Nanny. “Will you bring him down after His Grace eats?”
“Of course, my lady.”
“I will send someone up.” She turned back to Matthew, who had one eyebrow arched. “What?”
“I arrive, injured, looking for all the world like something the dog’s dragged in, half dead, stunned that I have a son, and you do not flinch or skip. A hug, then down to business.”
She straightened her shoulders. “I believe, sirrah, that is one of the reasons you married me.”
“I am going to regret that statement for a long time.”
“Indeed you will as I plan to live up to it.”
He chuckled, then grimaced. “I am afraid laughing will hurt for a bit.”
She sobered as they left the nursery, closing the door. “How bad is your injury?”
He released a long breath. “I am alive. Thousands are not.”
“I have heard some details.”
“I hope not too many.”
They reached the stairs and started down, but Sarah stopped. “Matthew?”
He turned. He stood on the step below her, so that they were face to face. “Yes?”
Sarah took his face in her hands, no longer able to hold back the tears. They flowed freely down her cheeks. “I love you.” She kissed him.
With a low moan, he returned the kiss and wrapped his arm around her, pressing her against his chest.
When their kiss broke, she pressed her cheek to his. “I was so afraid you would not come home.”
“So was I.” He eased away from her. “I have a great deal to tell you. More than you can imagine.”
“Matthew, I—”
“You once said to me that you wanted more.”
She touched his cheek. “Yes.”
He nodded toward the nursery. “You will have it. Thoughts of you made me want to survive, and I realized”—he held her tighter—“I love you, too. You are my brand from the fire and my hope for tomorrow.”
She kissed him. “That is definitely more.”
“And always will be.”
The End
