“Look, love. Over there beside that tree…”
Elinor sucked in a breath as they watched a flower rise from the ground, only to be joined by other flowers.
“How lovely,” she whispered.
“Yes,” he answered. “You are.”
She turned on a laugh only to find his mouth waiting for hers, and in that moment, they kissed with their hearts as well as their bodies.
“Will you?” Caleb tore his mouth away from hers, but held her tight against him.
“Yes, I will. Of course I will.” She reached up and touched his face. “And not because of Tylwyth Teg, or any of the incredible things we’ve experienced. But simply because I love you.”
“There is no greater magic than that, Elinor. I love you, too.” He paused. “Er, there is one thing I should probably mention…”
She drew back a little and gazed at him, eyebrows raised in question.
“You see, a long time ago now, several years at least, I was almost bankrupt. Tylwyth Teg had been badly managed, theland had not been cared for, and the amount of money needed to return it to its normal state? Well, I simply didn’t have it.”
“What did you do, Caleb? Whatever it is, I know you did it for the right reasons…”
He took a deep breath. “I tried something unusual. I was desperate, you see… so I took a chance and wrote a book.”
There, it was out. He waited to see her response.
“A book,” she echoed. “Well, that was quite clever of you, Caleb, and it certainly explains your suggestion that we write one about Tylwyth Teg. I would hope that it enjoyed good sales?”
“You could say that.” His lips twitched. “Good enough that I wrote several more, all of which also sold very well indeed.”
“Goodness.” Elinor blinked. “I would like to read them. What were they about?”
“I’ll show you…”
And he kissed her with all the heat and passion and love a man could possibly feel for a woman. His mouth lingered on hers, his tongue learning her sweeteness, and his hands roaming up and down her back, and tenderly caressing her bottom. Finally, he let her go, keeping an arm around her waist.
“Caleb? Exactlywhatwere those books about?” Her voice shook a little.
He took a breath. “I, my darling, amLady Celata.”
The silence was deafening.
Then she turned to him, her lips curving into a delightfully wicked grin. “How absolutelywonderful. Now I know I’ll have the most extraordinarily magnificent wedding night that any bride haseverhad.”
Stunned for a moment, Caleb just stared at her. Then he started to laugh, the sound echoing around the new and changing garden and into the dazzling sunset.
“You shall have it, my darling. I promise you shall have it. And so much more…”
Epilogue
Late November, Tylwyth Teg Abbey
The Bedchamber of Sir Caleb Howell and his wife, Lady Elinor Howell
A huge sigh emanated from beneath the thick bedcovers.
“Are you well, Lady Howell?”
“Mmmm.”
