“It is.” He stooped and gathered a handful of snow before playfully threatening to throw it at her. “Come here, my little snow angel.”
“I’m no snow angel.”
He threw the snow, and it landed against her left shoulder. “You’re snowy and an angel.”
She snorted. “I don’t think anyone has called me an angel since the day of my birth.”
“Precocious were you?”
“Yes.” Jemma’s unrepentant grin made Ben laugh.
He held out his good arm to her, and she wrapped hers around his upper arm as they set off for their walk. The sun shone, and the nip in the air wasn’t too brisk. There was no wind, which was unusual so close to the sea in winter. It made their outing pleasurable and allowed them to spend longer away from the manor. Jemma’s maid and a groom walked behind them as their chaperones. Ostensibly, the groom was there to ensure the maid didn’t slip on any ice and as extra protection. But they were courting just like Jemma and Ben. She’d asked Tilly before Vinita could find another maid. Jemma knew Tilly and Gordonwould be too occupied with each other to pay much attention to her and Ben. They were there merely for the appearance of propriety.
“Will your parents be upset you aren’t home for Christmas?” Jemma’d worried about that while he was gone, but Charlie assured her their parents understood.
“I’m certain they would prefer all their children could be with them for the holiday, but they know Charlie and Raj wish to spend this first Christmas with your family.” He didn’t mean the couple’s first Christmas now that they were wed. He didn’t wish to say aloud it was the first Christmas Indira would remember without her parents. His sister and brother-in-law decided to bring the girls to the Rowes’, so their family tradition of rotating among the three sisters’ families didn’t end. Even though Raj’s mother died on the voyage from India to England many years ago, his father had always insisted Raj and his brother travel with him to Sarla’s and Vinita’s homes and they host Christmas once every three years. Raj and Charlie wished to do the same.
“They planned for your sister to be away, but they expected you to return in time.”
“Are you trying to chase me away?” Ben waggled his eyebrows at her, and she playfully elbowed him.
“No. I just feel guilty.”
Ben stopped them and turned to face Jemma. “You have a kind heart, sweetling. I appreciate your concern for them and for me. Your father said he dispatched a messenger yesterday morning to let my parents know I would remain here because there’d been a delay. It’s not as though I simply don’t show up.”
Jemma nodded as she watched Ben. She mulled over whether to share her thoughts. She was about to turn back to the path when Ben canted his head, his brow furrowing. “What is it?”
“I suppose next Christmas, we’ll…” She dropped her gaze.
“Yes, we can spend next Christmas with them. Or we can return here. Maybe Raj and Charlie will host us all.” He slid his arm around her waist.
“Return here? You see me in Bedruthan with you?”
“It’s a little far for me to ride back and forth every day. I refuse to sleep without my wife when I don’t have to. I’d like you to join me in Bedruthan once we wed, but if you don’t want to leave here, we?—”
“No.” Jemma shook her head, making Ben’s heart race as he feared what she would say next. She rested her hands on his chest when she realized he misunderstood. She felt how fast it beat, so she hurried to explain. “My home will be with you, and your home is in Bedruthan.”
“But if you’d be happier here...” Ben meant his offer, but it wasn’t what he’d planned.
“Maybe at first because this is where I’m used to. But you and Charlie are marvelous, so I assume the rest of your family is to. You had to have learned your charm from someone.”
“Don’t you think it comes naturally?” Ben tickled her ribs as he calmed.
“Sometimes.” She winked at him. “I’d like to spend next Christmas with your family. Not just because you’ll miss this one. I want to know what this holiday is like when you’re at home. Will we be married by then?”
“Absolutely. Jemma, I explained to your father the other night I wish to court you, so I can spend time with you before we wed. I don’t need to figure out whether I wish to marry you. I already know that. If you need time?—”
“I don’t.” She smiled sheepishly, embarrassed by her eagerness. Ben drew her close and leaned over to nuzzle her neck. He kissed along the bare skin from the top of her coat collar to behind her ear. He kissed the end of her jaw before bringing his lips to hers. He shifted to block Tilly and Gordonfrom seeing them, but he suspected the other couple would soon be doing what he and Jemma were.
His tongue flicked against her lips, and she opened to him. She stretched her body against his, and neither appreciated the layers of clothes between them. His hand slid from her waist down to cup her backside.
“Do you have any idea how many times I dreamed of holding you like this while kissing you senseless?” Ben’s whisper puffed warm air against her cheek, making her shiver. Or perhaps it was the secret he just shared.
“Maybe a fraction of the times I thought about it too.”
“I’ve longed to taste all of you, Jem. I want to make you my wife sooner rather than later, but I won’t rush you.”
“What if I rush you? What if I’m tired of waiting?”
