Fable leapt from his arms. He tried to catch her, but she hopped away.
Ben turned to his sister and returned her smile.
“I knew you would return to him,” Prudence told her as she slowly closed the distance between them. “He doubted you would.”
“I did not!” He snapped his head around to Fable. “I never doubted you.”
His sister gave his reply a short laugh. “You trudged around here, pining for her as you had lost her. Am I not telling the truth?”
It didn’t matter that she was right about him. She made him sound like a pitiful sot–and he didn’t want to admit to that.
“Am I?” Prudence insisted with a glint of affection for him in her eyes.
“N–” He sighed then began again. “Yes, it’s true.”
Both women smiled at him, and then at each other.
“Welcome back,” Prudence said to her. Then, “You are his wife now. Welcome back, Sister.”
Fable appeared flustered by Prudence’s new behavior. Ben liked it.
“Come inside and see my parents.”
Ben took Fable’s hand and led her into the house.
They met Stephen, who called out for Edith in between his wide grins. By the time all the servants were gathered around her to welcome her home, Ben’s parents arrived to see what all the celebration was about.
“It’s good to see you again, Daughter,” his father greeted her first, looking happy and relieved for his son.
His mother offered Fable a practiced smile. Ben was happy she appreciated the importance of it and practiced it for his sake. She didn’t know Fable. Once she did, Ben was sure she would love Fable as much as everyone did.
“You have made my son a very happy man today, Miss Ram–” She stopped and corrected herself. “Fable. Was your family against this?”
“I won’t let anyone keep us apart,” Fable let her know with a confident smile.
“We are happy to hear that,” the Lt. Colonel said. “Our son is a fortunate man to have a wife who will defend their marriage.”
Ben nodded slightly. His father had spent time with her. It was clear that he liked her. But he didn’t care who accepted her or not. He was hers.
They ate together at the large family table in the dining Hall. Ben wasn’t sure if there was a moment when his beautiful wife wasn’t smiling. She laughed with Sudbury and even Prudence. She toasted with his father, and asked his mother what her favorite things were. Any favorite things; food, plants, flowers, etc. Ben suspected Fable would think of something kind to do for his mother. It made him love her all the more if possible.
When she took a moment to whisper in his ear that his mother wanted a grandchild, he would have cheered his mother’s answer if he thought it would not embarrass Fable.
“I’m eager to make one,” he whispered back. He’d dreamed of the night on the floor with books scattered around them when he had begun to teach her to read. And then with eyes painted by talented artists watching them. He missed her. He wanted to kiss her, touch her, breathe her in…
She slapped his fingers away when they reached for her thigh under the table but he was close enough to see the pulse beat at her throat quicken. He stretched his arms up and yawned, bringing Stephen to his feet. The steward hurried to Edith and they both left the dining hall.
“We should help,” Ben said to his wife, looking after his steward and her servant. He took Fable’s hand and stood with her. He bid everyone at the table good night and barely gave her time to curtsey before he pulled her away.
She blushed on the way out of the dining Hall, but they ended up laughing together as they hurried up the stairs. They didn’t speak, for words were forgotten in place of desire. They kissed up the last four steps and almost tumbled back down all of them, but Ben found his balance and they laughed again as they approached their chamber door.
When they entered the chamber in each other's arms, Stephen smiled and quickly grasped Edith by the elbow and pulled her toward the door.
“Good night, my lady,” Edith bid, digging in her heels and refusing to be moved just yet. “I cannot tell you how happy I am..we all are that you are back. Mayhap tomorrow you will tell me about the world you came from?”
Fable gave her a warm smile. “Of course.”
After another warning look from Ben, their friends left and he was finally alone with his wife. He couldn’t wait anothermoment to be with her, to tell her with his body what she meant to him. He pulled and tugged at her futuristic clothes but couldn’t get off the contraption covering her bosom.
