“No belly ache?”
She shook her head. “Not this morning.”
He went over to the table where he had set his pumice stone and set down the collection of daggers in his hand. Thenhe returned to Emberley and scooped her up in his enormous embrace. He hugged her tightly as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He just stood there and held her, her feet dangling more than a foot off the ground.
“It is so good to simply feel you in my arms,” he whispered against the side of her head. “This reminds me of the days back at Dunster when it was just you and me and the children, without a care in the world.”
She held on to him, drowning herself in the man’s massive body and warm power.
“We will know those days again,” she assured him softly. “Perhaps it will be in Burgenland, high on a mountaintop, but I swear we will know those days again.”
He kissed the side of her head and set her carefully to her feet. His green eyes were serious.
“I know that you have already considered this, but if we are forced to flee, we cannot be legally married,” he said, his voice low. “But I swear to you, in my heart, mind and body, we will be more married than any two people have ever been on this earth. I will call you my wife regardless.”
She smiled at him, holding his big hands in her small warm ones. “And you shall be my husband,” she whispered. “Marriage is a foolishly inconsequential thing compared to the love and devotion you and I have. Marriage could not make us any richer.”
He returned her smile, kissing her hands gently. “Lady Emilie has a grand meal spread out below for you,” he told her. “Rom is already down there, eating everything of noteworthiness, I am sure.”
Emberley wriggled her eyebrows. “Perhaps I had better join them before everything is eaten and gone. Will you be joining us?”
He escorted her to the door, opening it for her. “Later,” he told her. “I have a few things to attend to now that you are awake.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
He dipped his head in the direction of the table that held the pumice stone and daggers. “I have been sitting with you all morning in case you woke and needed me.”
She smiled and shook her head. “I am not a child that needs to be tended every moment, Gart,” she pinched his cheek affectionately. “Although I thank you for your sweet devotion, you could have easily gone about your duties as I slept.”
He fought off a grin. “I know,” he replied, almost defiantly. “But I wanted to watch you sleep. I have not had that privilege in some time.”
She laughed softly, touched by his words, as she quit the room. Gart took her hand as they descended the steps. As they neared the bottom of the staircase, talking softly between them, Emilie caught sight of the pair and rose from her chair. She appeared in the door of the reception room, her lovely face alight with a smile.
“Lady Emberley,” she greeted. “It is good to see you looking so well this morning.”
Emberley smiled at the truly likable woman. “Thank you, Lady de Lohr,” she said. “I slept very well in your lovely chamber.”
Emilie came towards her, hand outstretched. She was looking at Gart as she spoke. “You have monopolized her enough, Gart,” she scolded lightly. “I should like to come to know my new friend. Go now, and do whatever it is knights do these days.”
Emberley laughed at Gart’s fallen expression as she took Emilie’s hand and the two of them looked quite companionable. Gart sighed, putting a hand over his heart.
“You have hurt me deeply, Lady de Lohr,” he jested. “I suppose I am being chased away.”
“You are,” Emilie winked at Emberley. “But we will be right here, have no fear. Your lady will not be far from you.”
Before Emilie could pull Emberley away, Gart bent over, cupped her face with one hand, and kissed her cheek sweetly. With a wink and a rather provocative rake of her body with his gaze, he quit the entry hall and disappeared towards the rear of the manse.
Emberley watched him go before turning to Emilie and realizing the woman had been studying the interplay between her and Gart quite intently. Her cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink.
“He loves you a great deal,” Emilie said softly. “I can see it in everything about him.”
Emberley was floating on clouds, deliriously in love with the man. “As I love him also,” she admitted, not sure what more she could say on the subject. “Have you known Gart long?”
Emilie clutched her hand as they retreated back into the reception room where Romney was stuffing himself with apricot sweets.
“I have known him for four years,” she said. “He is a good man. I am so glad he has found happiness with you.”
“I have known him most of my life,” Emberley replied. “He was my brother’s best friend before my brother perished in The Levant.”
