“Well, I must be off and leave you two sweet things to enjoy your married life.” She stood. “Thank you for the tea, my dear. And ’tis fine to see you up and about, lad.” She paused at the doorway. “Now that you’re mending, I have to guess you’ll both be on your way soon?”
“I…” Harry paused, glancing at Willow.
She nodded. “We will, Mrs Smithers. Our families will grow anxious should we delay here for too long. And as you say, my…my husband’s ankle is improving daily. I’ll be sending a message home, and they’ll have a travelling carriage on its way to us as soon as they can, so we can make the journey without any difficulties.”
“As it should be,” she replied approvingly. “Remember, I’m next door if you need anything, and you’d best pop in and say goodbye before you leave…”
“We wouldn’t dream of doing otherwise,” smiled Harry. “And thank you again for all your kindnesses, both to me and to my wife.”
Once more, he kissed her hand, making her chuckle. “Oh give over, lad. Save your kisses for the one who needs ‘em.” She tipped her head at Willow. “Enjoy your day.”
“We will,” Harry slipped an arm around Willow’s waist as they stood at the door watching Mrs Smithers make her way down the slippery cobblestones.
“She’s going to turn and look at us, you know,” he whispered.
Willow jumped a little as his breath dusted her ear. “I know. She always gives a little wave before going indoors.”
“Well then…” He pulled her close. “We’re newlyweds. Best we act like it.”
“I…”
He stopped her words with his mouth, kissing her tenderly, then more thoroughly, pulling her fully into his arms, and thrilled to find hers lifting to his shoulders and around his neck.
He didn’t know if she’d ever been kissed or not, but he hoped he might be the first. Hesitantly, she opened her parted her lips to him, murmuring low in her throat as his tongue plunged past her lips, tasting her, teasing her.
And before he knew it, Harry Chalmers was doing his very best to wrap himself around her, his arms banding her to his chest while her hands grasped his hair at the back of his head.
God, she tasted like nothing he’d ever imagined, and he couldn’t get enough. Apparently, he wasn’t alone in his delight, since Willow remained pressed against him, leaning into his embrace, sighing into his mouth with pleasure.
But the cold air crept around both of them, and in a few moments they eased apart, aware that they were in a doorway, clearly visible to the rest of the world, including Mrs Smithers. She must have given up waiting for the kiss to end, since she’d vanished from sight, but there might have been others passing, and Harry wasn’t keen on making too much of a stir in Little Witham.
He pushed the door closed as Willow eased herself away from him and cleared her throat.
“Well, that must surely have convinced her, and any passers-by, of our marital status,” she said calmly, walking back into the house. “Now, I think it’s time we started to talk about how to get ourselves home, don’t you?”
Harry, who was still waiting for his body to stop reacting to the most deliciously sensual kiss he’d ever experienced, just stared at her for a few moments, trying vainly to gather his scattered thoughts.
“Er, yes.”
A poor reply, but the best he could manage at that moment.
*~~*~~*
How Willow kept her knees from buckling, she had no idea at all.
She wanted nothing more than to sink into the little couch and curl up quietly while she examined the myriad of sensations that were rattling her bones, her muscles and her brain.
But somehow, she retained her countenance and forced herself to begin clearing away the remains of their breakfast and all the dishes and teacups that went with it.
“Let me help.” Harry walked to the table.
“No, no. I can manage. You must rest.” She managed to look at him without blushing, which was quite a feat, since she had to force her gaze not to linger on the lips that had so recently claimed hers. “We should make our plans for leaving, and you are yet to be fully comfortable on that ankle. So best not to risk setting your recovery back by being silly.”
“Willow,” he began.
“Shush.” She stacked saucers noisily. “There are decisions to be made. We need our heads to be clear.”
And with that determined statement, she walked steadily from the room into the little kitchen, praying that her hands were capable of carrying the dishes without dropping them.
