Tristan blinked. “In my defense it was dark and rainy that night, and you were dressed in breeches with your hair hidden under a cap.”
“Of course, I was. I can’t be expected to climb or run in skirts and petticoats, can I?”
Her tone was teasing, and he couldn’t help but drop another kiss onto her temple. “No, indeed, and I realized my mistake soon enough.” Pain arced across his chest as he reached for a lock of her hair, but he sighed with satisfaction as the silky strands slid between his fingers. “I’ll never forget that moment when I took your cap off.” His voice dropped lower. “All that thick, dark hair tumbling over your shoulders, and the greenest pair of eyes I’ve ever seen. So beautiful, I thought I’dimagined you.”
Sophia raised her head again. Her gaze met his, and whatever she saw in his eyes made her breath catch.
“I should have known right then what would happen,” Tristan murmured, still toying with her hair. “I should have known I’d fall in love with you. Perhaps I did know, even then, because I’ve been chasing you ever since.”
Sophia let out a shaky laugh. “Perhaps I should have known as well, since you’re the only one who’s ever caught me. But Tristan, I…you’re an earl,and I’m just—”
“You’re just the only woman I’ve ever loved, and the only woman I everwilllove. The only woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.” He let the lock of her hair fall onto his shoulder and turned her face to his. “Do you love me at all, Sophia? Because nothingelse matters.”
She gazed up at him, the firelight catching the tears shimmering in the green eyes he loved so well. “Idolove you, Tristan. You’re good and kind, and the best man I’ve ever known, for all that youarean aristocrat, and terribly proper.”
He chuckled. “Perhaps I am, but I see a great many improprieties in our future, my lady.”
She raised her hand, and her fingertips drifted over his lips. “Oh, dear. I’ve ruined a perfectly good earl, haven’t I?”
“You didn’t ruin me, pixie.” He pressed a kiss to her fingertips, then buried his face in her hair with a sigh. “You’re the onewho saved me.”
Epilogue
Three months later.
Tristan woke to the sensation of something soft tickling his lips.
It felt like…a butterfly? With every flutter of the butterfly’s wings the delicate scent of honeysuckle drifted like a cloud around him, and he inhaled deeply, losing himself inthe sweetness.
Ah, a dream, then. Tristan had left his nightmares behind weeks ago, but it was a bit jarring to leap from blood and gravestones to butterflies in fieldsof honeysuckle.
He burrowed into his pillow, a smile curving his lips. Not that he was complaining. Who didn’t like butterflies? And the scent of honeysuckle always reminded him of…
Sophia.
Tristan opened his eyes to find her leaning over him, brushing soft, teasing kisses over his lips. Ah. Not butterflies or fields of honeysuckle, then, but his lovely wife. Tristan closed his eyes again as he reached for her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Are you waking me with kisses, Lady Gray?”
Sophia laughed softly. “Certainly not, my lord. Go back to sleep. I’m conducting an investigation, and it doesn’t concern you.”
“No? How curious. It feels as if itdoesconcern me, and rather intimately.” Tristan’s smile widened as the tip of her tongue grazed the scar onhis upper lip.
“The tip of a riding crop might have made such a scar,” she murmured, drawing back to study his lips. “Did you accidentally strike yourself in the face with your crop?”
Tristan did his best to look outraged. “How dare you, madam? I’ll have you know I’m an accomplished horseman.”
Sophia’s brow furrowed. “An encounter with a sharp tree branch, perhaps?”
“No. This may surprise you, Lady Gray, but I’m perfectly able to manage London’s trees.”
“Hmmm.” Sophia brushed her fingertip over the scar. “I know! You were drinking tea from a cracked teacup. It fell to pieces in your hand, and one of the shards sliced your lip.”
“That’s a shocking allegation, Lady Gray.” Tristan regarded her with mock horror, then added in virtuous tones, “I will do you the favor of not disclosing to Mrs. Beeson the viciousness with which you’ve maligned her teacups.”
“Very well. Keep your secrets, then.” Sophia lifted her chin and glared down her nose at him. “But I don’t wish to hear another word from you, Lord Gray, unless it’sa confession.”
With one final quelling glance she wriggled away from him and tried to scramble over to her side of the bed, but she didn’t get far before Tristan caught her by her waist and rolled herunderneath him.
“That’s a fetching pout, Lady Gray.” He brushed his thumb over her lower lip, his blood heating at the hint of damp warmth he found there. “How can I resist teasing you when you pout so prettily?”
