Toby’s heart was thumping painfully against her ribs as he approached; gazing into his dark eyes, she was extremely glad to see him. Tate walked up to her and took her hand, kissing it gently. Toby remembered his kisses from last night and couldn’t help the intimate thoughts that filled her head, inappropriate and wicked as they were.
“I am all right,” she replied to his initial question. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Not long,” his gaze devoured her. “Wallace said that you were looking for me.”
She nodded. “I was,” she said. “I just wanted to say good morn, I suppose.”
His gaze was extraordinarily gentle upon her; his eyes moved over her face, her forehead, the delightful style of her hair. She looked exquisite this morning and his heart was swelling hugely at the sight of her.
“And a very good morning to you as well, my lady,” he addressed her as he said he would; as a noble lady. Then he chuckled, losing some of his confidence. “I must say that I am rather surprised that you are speaking to me this morning. I half expected you to… well, I was not sure if you would look so kindly upon me this morn.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Why not?”
He scratched his forehead, suddenly having difficulty looking at her. “For my lack of control last night.” He squared his broad shoulders and forced himself to fix her in the eye. “I swear to you, I have never suffered such a complete lack of control ever in my life. What happened last night… Elizabetha, if I could apologize enough or make appropriate amends, please know that I would gladly do so. I do not know what came over me. All I know was that something filled me the likes of which I have never experienced. I should not have done what I did last night and I pray that you will forgive my impetuousness.”
It was apparent, by his speech, that he had been giving much thought to the subject. Toby stared at him, her eyes wide and her mouth popping open. “Do you mean to say that you regret it, then?”
He almost nodded but saw, very quickly, that it would probably not be the best response. He put his hands on herupper arms, gripping her tightly. “No, sweetheart,” he said evenly. “I do not regret it. But I should not have been so bold with you. I should not have forced myself upon you and for that, I am truly sorry. I should have been more considerate. It should not have been something so brashly taken and I am deeply sorry for that. But I could not help myself.”
She gazed at him with her lovely almond-shaped eyes, her porcelain beauty so sweet and ethereal. She seemed to be mulling over his answer.
“If anyone should apologize, it should be me for allowing you to take such liberties,” she said quietly. “But I realize that I am not sorry at all. God knows, I should be. I should be horrified and ashamed. But I am not because it seemed the most natural of things. You are to be my husband, are you not? Perhaps… perhaps I feel that you already are.”
He smiled faintly. “If that is true, then I am an extremely fortunate man.”
She met his smile. “It is true.”
His grip on her tightened. “Then let us not wait. Let us see our marriage today.”
Her eyes widened. “Today?”
He nodded firmly. “There is a church in Harbottle. A small one, but we can be married there today.”
Toby was suddenly so giddy that she felt faint. All she could do was nod at the man. Tate kissed her swiftly and ushered her towards the door.
“Then go and dress,” he instructed. “I will prepare an escort to take us into town.”
Toby was in a daze, pausing a moment to pick up the kitten before she left the chapel.
“Are you sure?” she asked. “So soon, I mean? We only just became betrothed yesterday.”
He paused as they stepped out into the sun, the excited expression on his face dampening somewhat. “There I go again,” he muttered. “I am forcing myself upon you and not giving you any say in the matter.”
She shook her head. “That is not what I meant,” she said quickly. “’Tis simply that I do not want you to feel as if you must rush into this after what happened last….”
She couldn’t even say it, lowering her gaze and looking away. Even though she did not regret what had happened, still, she was not yet brave enough to speak frankly of it. Strange, given her frank nature. Tate’s dark eyes twinkled and he put his hands on her arms again, pulling her up against him. His forehead rested against the top of her lowered head.
“What happened to us last night only made me realize that I cannot wait any longer to call you wife,” he murmured, kissing the top of her head. “The sooner we wed, the happier we will be.”
She lifted her eyes, smiling shyly at him, and he laughed softly as he kissed her again, this time on her soft lips. He wanted to do more but dared not make a spectacle in public. At least, not until she was legally his. Putting his arm around her shoulders, he escorted her in the direction of the keep.
He couldn’t even tell her what was truly on his mind after his conversation with Stephen that morning. They were headed to London as soon as the gates were repaired and he was loath to leave her behind. In fact, he couldn’t even stomach the thought. At the moment, he simply wanted to feel his joy at becoming Toby’s husband. The rest, he would deal with at the appropriate time.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“He took awife,” the general announced.
Hamlin’s eyebrows rose. “Who did?”
