She didn’t look like a lady. She pushed her spectacles higher and scrunched her nose. Although the ceremony had been brief, to put it mildly, she and Marcus had actually done it. They’d eloped.
Now, if only she could find him. After her behavior last night, she’d be lucky if he didn’t leave for London without her.
Marcus didn’t need to look up from where he sat in the tap room to know she’d appeared at the top of the stairs. Surprisingly, it was as though he could feel her presence. Did marriage do that? Connect you somehow? That made no sense. They hadn’t even consummated it yet. Perhaps it was justher… or as she’d insisted… theirfriendship.
He touched his pocket. Yep, the small pieces of metal he’d had prepared were still there. She took hold of the balustrade and glanced around. When she met his eyes, she smiled.
When had a smile come to feel like a balm to his soul? Did it mean she’d forgiven him? Marcus met her gaze and rose from his chair as she descended the stairs.
“I thought you might have left me.” She laughed in that self-deprecating way of hers. “I can’t believe I’ve slept most of the day away.”
Marcus cleared his throat. “Feeling any better for it?”
She winced a little but nodded. “A little.”
“Would you like to take in some fresh air?” He’d already explored. He knew precisely where he wanted to take her.
“I think that would do me a world of good.” She hesitated only a moment before taking the arm he held out. The last time he’d done this, they’d gotten married. And he’d made a horrible hash of it.
Clouds hung heavy, but Marcus didn’t think they’d produce anything for a while. The air felt humid and cooler than it had earlier.
“I love that smell.” Emily took in a deep breath. “It’s one thing that’s never changed. Whether I’m in London, or at home, or… in Wales… and now I’m here with you. And even though everything is about to change, it’s still the same. The scent of rain.”
Marcus led her to the edge of town where a meadow opened up. She wore her half boots, so she had no difficulties picking her way through the flowers and grass beside him. He’d caught sight of the spot from the road earlier and known it would be perfect.
Someone had built a small gazebo, and just behind it, a stream dropped into the most adorable lily pond. Would she like it?
“Oh, Marcus! Look at this!” She ran to the railing and peered over the edge of the railing. “Such a magical place!”
Marcus knew himself to be a scoundrel, because when she bent over, he envisioned himself covering her from behind. “You like it?”
She turned around, more color in her cheeks than had been there before. “You knew it was here? And… you wanted to bring… me? Here?” She shouldn’t be so astonished that somebody would wish to do something special for her.
He needed to rectify that.
And he intended to begin right now.
Reaching into his pocket, he dug around until his fingers grasped the two pieces of smooth metal.
“Emily.” He cleared his throat. She suddenly seemed to realize he’d brought her here for a reason. “I know our wedding ceremony wasn’t all the crack you’d thought it would be. Hell, even I was surprised how dry and… unromantic it was.” At her raised brows, he cleared his throat again and forced himself to go on.
“God, I hope this fits.” He reached for her hand and she gave it up willingly. He slid one of the rings to his fingertips and then slid it on her third finger. “I know we’ve talked about not having a regular marriage, but I rather thought…” God, his throat closed up on him again! “I thought you might wear a ring? Something to do with… friendship?” This was stupid. Hell, he’d have laughed at himself for doing something so maudlin and sentimental less than a week ago.
“You have two rings?” Her voice sounded breathy. She opened his fist and exposed the second, larger ring. Were both of their hands shakings?
“There was leftover metal.” He tried to make light of it.
“Left over? From what?” She peered up at him with those pools of warmth. He shrugged. This was only getting worse.
How had it felt like a good idea earlier today?
“Your broken spectacles. I had them metal melted down.” He might as well tell her the rest. She could go back and have a hearty laugh with her friends at some later date. He supposed he’d deserve it. “I figured, they had helped you to see. And I was thinking they could be symbolic. For seeing the truth. And clarity. In this… whatever it is…”
He’d barely finished talking when she took the larger ring from him. He held out his hand, and she glided it up his finger.
“Marcus.” She spoke barely above a whisper. “Thank you.” She stood inches from him, and her scent wafted up to his nostrils. It blended with the hint of rain in the air. Leaves rustled nearby, creating a particularly magical music along with the stream.
She’d not released his hand, rather she turned it over and studied the back of it. She smoothed her fingertips along his knuckle and then over the ring. When had her touch come to affect him this way?
