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He felt her hand on his arm, and the strength of her grip surprised him. He furrowed his brow, confused. She gave him a breathless smile.
“Stay,” she whispered. In that one word, he could sense her desire matching his. He came back to her, picking her up in his arms. He then carried her to the bed, lost in the love he saw shining in her bright blue eyes.
Chapter 27
December 21 - St Thomas’ Day
When Ellen awoke the following day, grey early morning shadows could be seen in the cracks of the curtains. She shifted slightly, and Simon’s arm tightened around her middle. A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, and she settled back into the covers. He drew her closer against his chest, and she breathed a contented sigh. If she had known it would be like this, she would have opened her heart to Simon much sooner.
His breath tickled her ear, and she moved away slightly. She did not want to let the moment slip away. Thankfulness blossomed in her heart. God had known much better than she the kind of man she needed in a husband, and Simon was her perfect match. She grinned like a giddy young girl. She was a real wife now. She had never known she could be so happy as she was at that moment.
She lay as still as possible for a few more moments and then gently lifted his arm so she could climb out of bed. He groaned in disappointment when she got out of bed, and she laughed softly as she padded over to the vanity and began brushing her hair.
She heard Simon shift to his other side and soon felt his eyes upon her. “What are you doing out of bed so early? It is not even six o’clock yet,” he said. “Come back to bed,” he urged.
Ellen waved him off with her brush. “I cannot, although I wish I could. We have a lot of houses to visit this morning, and I do not want to have to rush to get ready.” She leaned closer to the window and looked out. “It is going to be cold today, by the looks of the dusting of snow outside.”
Simon sat up slowly, propping himself up on an elbow. Ellen looked at him through the reflection in the mirror. He was so handsome it took her breath away. “Well, I do like a good snow,” he said.
She continued untangling her hair, and she sensed the brush of his gaze. He smiled at her in a way she guessed only a married couple could understand. She let her hand fall to her side for a moment, leaning her head to the side. “What is it?” she asked, amused.
He got out of bed and padded over to her. He leaned down and kissed her neck. “Nothing. You are just the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” he mumbled against her skin. She closed her eyes and then turned around to face him. He kissed her on the tip of the nose and then stepped away from her.
“You are right, though. I should get changed as well. The household will be awake before we know it.”
He started to walk away, and she sighed happily, turning back on the vanity seat. However, she felt his hands on her shoulders again, and he knelt before her, taking her into his arms. He kissed her soundly on the mouth, and she leaned into him, unable to help the smile that came to her lips despite having his pressed against them.
“Alright, I am going now,” he said. He gave her another quick peck on the lips and was gone. She laughed at his antics and shook her head. She looked at her reflection, realising how furiously she was blushing. She set the brush down.
“Golda was right,” she whispered. “Youarehopelessly in love with him.”
Chapter 28
Simon had been unable to wipe the smile off his face all morning. He tried to calm down, but every time he glanced at his reflection in one of the shop windows, he saw how ridiculous he must appear.
It was late in the morning, and the sun was shining through a band of lazy clouds, causing a shifting between light and shadow. Sun reflected off the water that pooled between the cracks in the cobblestones and the small puddles scattered helter-skelter around the streets.
He smiled, watching Ellen knock on a plain wooden door and greet the woman inside one of the homes of the poor villagers that they were visiting that morning. As was the tradition for St Thomas Day, the leaders in the community spearheaded efforts to ease the suffering of those less fortunate as Christmas Day approached.
Several baskets had been prepared with the combined efforts of his cooks and gardeners, with produce from the Sotheby gardens and meats and cheeses from the local farmers. There were either chickens or geese in the baskets, ready to be cooked for a Christmas Day feast.
He could not take his eyes off his wife as she visited with the poor families of the community. Of course, his mother had always made a point to speak a few words with women whenever they visited the townsfolk for their St Thomas charity mission. However, as he watched, he saw that Ellen was not only doing this to say she had done her duty. No—she listened to each person intently, making sure each person felt like they were valued and seen.
Simon smiled as a young girl came to the door and hung back behind her mother’s apron. Ellen leaned down and acknowledged the girl. She was shy at first but was soon won over when Ellen handed her a small rose bloom. The little girl’s face lit up, and she began to cry, turning her face into her mother’s apron.
Ellen scooted closer and asked the girl if she could hug her.
“She is a credit to the Grant name already,” his father’s voice sounded beside him, and Simon raised a brow.
His father repeated himself, motioning in Ellen’s direction. “How are things going between the two of you, eh? I certainly saw a connection between you two when you were dancing at the ball the other night. Are things improving then?”
Simon smiled, looking back in Ellen’s direction. “Things are going extremely well as of late,” Simon admitted. His father raised his brows in question, and Simon shot him a knowing glance. Thankfully, he did not have to say another word, for his father nodded in understanding.
“Well, I am glad of that. It is about time,” his father teased.
“I did not want to rush her. And I am glad that we waited. I love her, Papa, and I think she loves me as well. I would not have wanted it to happen any other way.”
“Ahh, yes, it is best to love each other. That is why I am so thankful for your mother, you know. We did not start out in love as some couples are privileged to do. Yet, so many of us find ourselves in the midst ofadvantageousmarriages, without an ounce of mutual care and respect. I was lucky enough to have found a woman who was not only beautiful, affluent and brilliant, but genuinely caring. I think you have found the same in Ellen.”
