On second thought, perhaps she best look around and give the room a once-over with her senses just to be sure. She pushed up and scanned the darkness, spotting Leopold washing himself in the wingback chair beside the hearth. Other than the ghostly cat, they were quite alone.
She pecked a kiss on Ross’s shoulder before nestling her head back into the dip of his arm that perfectly cradled her. “It is just us here, husband. Maybe wee Leopold has taken a liking to me.”
His arm tightened around her. “Watch for him on the stairs or anywhere else where he might make you fall. I do not want you harmed.”
The concern in his tone stoked the fires he had kindled in her heart. A deep, contented sigh escaped her.
“Are you all right, dear one?” He kissed the top of her head and touched her cheek. “I fear I hurt you and cannot help but feel selfish for returning to you a second time so soon after the first.” He grazed his thumb across the fullness of her bottom lip. “I will never get enough of you, Harmony. You possess me fully.”
She lifted her head and nibbled a kiss along his jaw, the dark stubble tickling with its scratchiness. “’Twas naught but a wee sting when we joined the first time, and ye gave me such great pleasure—” The memory made her hitch in a deep breath and try to ignore the renewed longing to enjoy him yet again. “My only regret is that I must return to my own cold bed too soon.”
“Stay with me,” he said, his voice deep with a huskiness that thrilled her. “Let this be our bed from this night forward. We have no need for two—as long as you are willing to go to sleep in my arms each night and awaken in them each morning.”
“I would like that,” she whispered, and brazenly pulled herself on top of him. “Do ye think me terrible?” she whispered while leaning forward for a deeper kiss.
He stroked her back and cupped her bum in his hands, groaning as she returned him deep where he belonged. “I think you are terribly wonderful, my love. Terribly wonderful, indeed.”
*
“More tea, mydear?” Nettie held the cracked teapot over a dusty cup, waiting to pour what they both knew had ceased to be within their grasp of enjoyment many years ago.
“No, thank you, dear. You know it only makes me miss the teas we once knew.” Edgar hovered over to the attic window at the rear of the house, the one overlooking the gardens. “He is happy, Nettie. Our Ross, our duke, is finally happy.” He nodded at the scene below. “I cannot recall him ever smiling so much, and Lady Harmony appears pleased as well.”
Nettie joined him at the window. “We have kept our word, then. To all the Ramthwaites before him.”
Edgar turned and studied her. “Why so sad, my dear? You said you were weary and ready to move on. We can finally rest now. Did you see the fine monument our Ross placed where theold well once was? It marks our burial site with a heartwarming inscription beneath our names and the date we died.”
“Who will protect our duke and his duchess once we are gone? Who will see to the continuation of their happiness?”
“That is not our duty, Nettie, and you know it. We stayed behind to fulfill that which we promised—and bungled it more often than not, I might add. The duke and duchess will take care of each other and tend to their own happiness now—as is right and proper.”
“But I want to see the babies.” Nettie shimmered with a heavy sigh that made her hovering form sink lower.
“What babies?”
“There are sure to be babies, Edgar.” Nettie huffed. “Goodness gracious, they have rarely emerged from their private chamber over the past month and a half. That is why I kept sending Leopold in there to make certain nothing dire had happened to them.”
“Thank goodness you sent the cat and did not check on them yourself.”
“Edgar!” She scowled at him. “Even as a ghost, I have some scruples. It would be most inappropriate for me to intrude upon the privacy of newlyweds.”
Edgar clasped his hands behind his back and floated back and forth across the length and width of the attic while slowly shaking his head. “We should move on, Nettie. It is only proper. We have fulfilled our purpose.”
She clutched her hands to what had once been her voluptuous bosom and adopted a pouty frown. “May we please just stay long enough to see the first baby? Please?”
Edgar blew out a long-suffering sigh. “Only if His Grace permits us to do so. And Her Grace as well. It is most unseemly for us to overstay our welcome.”
Chapter Six
Ross paced thelength and width of the bedchamber. He had never been so gripped by fear and dread in his entire life. With every pass, he glowered at the connecting door that led to what had once been Harmony’s bedroom, wishing he could see through the solid oak barrier. “Miss Nettie—go in there and check on her. Please. I beg you.”
Nettie floated even farther away from the door. “Forgive me, Your Grace, but I must refuse. Her Grace was most adamant that it would be ill luck indeed for the departed to be present while she brought new life into the world.”
“Her Grace asked that we stay with you,” Edgar told him, materializing enough to offer Ross a sparingly poured glass of whisky.
Ross held up the glass and eyed the depth of the golden liquid. “Rather a stingy pour, old man.”
“One must keep one’s wits about oneself at a time like this,” Edgar advised.
