“Not before you pay for calling me old,” puffed Jilly, lunging at the nimble sprite who easily maneuvered himself beyond herreach. After two more attempts, she gave up. “Our children are going to run circles around me,” she complained to Lewis.
“I would expect nothing less if they’re to take after you,” said Lewis.
“Hmm, perhaps I should start walking more sedately, after all.”
Lewis grabbed Jilly by her waist and tugged her toward him. He tucked the knuckle of his forefinger under her chin and lifted it so that they might look at each other, eye to eye. “You have a wild heart, my love. I would not see it tamed. You will teach our children all they need to know to manage in society. But, more importantly, you will show them what it is to be truly alive. And I would not have it any other way.”
Jillian buried her face in her husband’s warm embrace. “What am I going to do with all those copious notes I took for you about farming?” she murmured into his jacket.
“When we reach Oakwoods, you and I shall meet with Mr. Cooper, Father’s land steward, and you will amaze him with the wealth of your knowledge.”
“Really?” Jillian perked up at once.
“Really. And you shall choose your own cook and lady’s maid, unless you have grown fond of Wallace. Choose whomever you like, someone who matches your personality and who has not been selected for you by my parents. Perhaps Ellena can make a recommendation.”
“Oh! Do you think Ellena will mind if I leave after little more than a week? I haven’t really spent that much time with her and I only seemed to have made things worse for her with her father.”
“I was actually meaning to have a word with the fellow before we leave. Set him straight, as it were.”
Jillian lowered her gaze. “You don’t have to do that for me. I know I have your trust.”
“I am glad of it. But my father, as you know, is easily perturbed. I would prefer to avoid unnecessary correspondence from this quarter in future. As for Ellena, she will not begrudge you a happy resolution to your troubles.”
“Are our troubles resolved, though? Your parents will resent every decision you have made in this regard.”
“My parents have chosen their path and we have chosen ours. If these diverge beyond what they can tolerate, then that, too, is their choice. I will no longer be hamstrung by their expectations of us. You are my future, Jilly. You and our children. That is enough for me.”
Jilly subsided into his arms once more. Lewis savored the heat of her body against his.
“Ahem.” Sam raised the shears and made a clipping motion in the air. “This shrub ain’t going to trim itself.”
“Oh, allright!” Jillian huffed. “We’ll just have to take the carriage to the inn and continue our conversation there.”
“I can think of other things I’d like to do rather than talk.” Lewis’s words breathed hotly into Jillian’s ear.
“Ah, yes,” she agreed, winking coyly at him, “I supposed you’d like to sleep. You must beverytired.”
“You know,” Lewis answered, “I seem to have found my second wind…”
