And after that, the group scattered, since it was now very late on Christmas Eve and the Ridlington guests had a journey ahead of them before reaching home.
Harriet hugged Letitia hard, tears in her eyes. “I am so glad you were here, my friend. And I missed your wedding…” She sniffled.
“I’m glad I was here as well, and my wedding was nowhere near as interesting as yours,” chuckled Letitia. She leaned close to Harriet’s ear. “You remember my book?”
“How could I not,” whispered Harriet.
“Then you’ll be just fine tonight,” grinned Letitia.
Since Paul was walking up to them, Harriet’s only answer was a blush and a giggle.
Farewells were said, last hugs exchanged, and promises to meet very soon given with heartfelt enthusiasm. But at last, Paul and Harriet were alone, riding back through the first hours of a brand new day.
“Well, Lady Hayward.” Paul rode close by her side.
“Well, my Lord.” She blinked as they exchanged their new addresses. “It sounds awfully strange, doesn’t it?”
“It does,” nodded Paul. “And to be honest, I had not realized that there was any likelihood of my inheriting a title at all. I had been out of England so long, that the family tree had been lost in the forests of Europe.”
“Understandable,” she nodded. “Paul, I must say one thing.” She glanced at him as the horses picked their way back to the hunting box. “I had no idea of your good fortune, nor your title. I knew even less than you of the DeVoreaux family tree. I doubt even Lady Rosaline knew.”
“I know, love.” He reached out and took her hand.
“So please believe me when I say that I have not married you for any of that.” She took a deep breath. “Nor have I married you to escape my own relatives, although that is a happy by product of our union.”
“I know that too.”
“Do you?” She squeezed his hand. “Do you? My reason for marrying you this night is the simplest one of all, yet easily the most complicated.” She breathed again. “I love you.”
Paul brought the horses to a halt, and with one swift move lifted her right out of the saddle and onto his own horse, sitting her in front of him with her legs dangling over one side.
“I hoped that might be the case,” he said, settling her more comfortably and taking the reins of her mount from her hands. “Because I have discovered something myself over these last days.”
“What?” She looked up at him, her heart beating rapidly, her hands itching to touch him.
“I knew I desired you from the moment we met. There was something about you that captured my attention and made me long to see what lay beneath that delicate exterior. To discover the fire I know is there.” He kissed her quickly, a firm touch of his mouth to hers.
“Oh,” she breathed, eager for more.
“But somehow, as we became better acquainted, the desire grew to be more than just want, it became a need to know more than your body. I needed to knowyou, Harry. What you were thinking and why. To see you in a good mood, and watch you anger at something. To find out everything there was about you.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” He kissed her again, lingering this time, letting their cool lips warm each other. “And at some point, my sweet, it hit me. I have known many women in my time, Harry, but I’ve never known one like you. Because I never loved any of them. I do loveyou.”
What could she say? Harriet had no words; her heart was in her throat and tears shimmered behind her eyes. All she could do was seize his head and bring it to hers, and kiss him until she didn’t know where her mouth ended and his began.
She plundered him with her tongue, dueled with his and moaned in his arms when one of his hands delved beneath her cloak and pressed her close. If his horse hadn’t shifted at that moment, goodness knows where they would have ended up.
But the disturbance recalled them both to where they were, and Harriet sighed. “Let’s go home, Paul.”
“Yes,” he answered, his voice rough with need. “Oh yes, dear wife. It’s time.”
He spurred the horse onward, giving Harriet the reins to her horse so that it would stay at their side. She leaned against him, her arm around his back beneath his jacket, relishing in his warmth and the sense of protection she felt from the knowledge that they were now joined as one.
A shiver went through her at the thought.
“Cold, love?”
She smiled up at him in answer. “A little. But I shall be warm enough soon, I know.”
His teeth flashed whitely as the moon emerged from behind a cloud and illuminated his wicked smile. “I believe you are correct, my Lady.”
“I am, you know.”
“What, correct?”
“No. I am your Lady.” She sighed. “I rather like it, so far.”
“It will only get better,” promised Paul. “For both of us.”
