Page 80 of A Bride By Morning
Wentworth followed his gaze. “I’m happy for you, my friend. And I’m glad you finally came to your senses.”
After polishing off his drink, Gabriel rejoined his wife in the carriage and tapped the roof to signal the driver. As the conveyance set off through the streets of London, Lydia smiled at him. “Did everything go well with Mr. Wentworth?”
Gabriel watched Wentworth’s house disappear around a bend. “I gave him our address in Scotland. He’ll have a great deal of future difficulty with the Syndicate now that Medvedev is gone and the brotherhood has reached England’s shores.”
Lydia made a sympathetic noise. “I assume Mr. Callihan has taken your place?”
“Yes.” Gabriel was quiet for a moment, then his gaze shifted to hers. “You understand that if they need me . . .”
“Of course.” Her expression softened. “Of course I understand.”
Gabriel stared at her, taking in the delicate features of the woman he loved. Since when was he so lucky? She was more than he had ever dared hope.
Without a second thought, he reached for her, yanking her into his lap. Lydia gave a little squeal and then a laugh that he felt through his entire body. His blood ran warm now; every part of him had thawed, only for her.
With her, he had finally come home.
EPILOGUE
TWO YEARS LATER
“Can I open my eyes now?”
Laughter rumbled through Gabriel’s voice as Lydia attempted to steer him down the uneven path. The late summer sun was high in the atmosphere and glinted off the dark auburn of his hair that was presently pushed back by the blindfold.
“Not yet,” Lydia said. She clicked her tongue. “You’re so impatient.”
Gabriel raised her hand to his lips. “Impatient to get back to kissing you. Lady Derby’s visit has me stealing time with you like a thief.”
Lady Derby had come all the way from London to stay with Lydia and Gabriel in Scotland. When Lydia had bounded into her arms upon arrival, the matron had smoothed a hand over her cheek and remarked, “You look happy.” Then she’d glanced at Gabriel. “I’m pleased I haven’t come all this way just to murder you.”
Warmth filled Lydia as she directed him around a bend on the path. They had spent two years at his estate in Sutherland, where the quiet, slow highland life had taken getting used to. But in their years together, Gabriel had been an attentive husband. He stole kisses between meetings with his tenants. When he left for visits to London or his other estates, Lydia missed him, and he made love to her for days upon his return. Some nights were difficult—Kabul and Moscow still lingered in his mind—but Lydia did not leave him to those places alone. Never.
“She’s threatening to stay another month,” Lydia said.
“God help me. Does she have any friends nearby we can convince her to visit?”
Lydia grinned. “No. ButIhave a solution for us.” She pulled him to a stop and gently tugged down his blindfold. “Now, you may look.”
To one side of the path, there was a small and charming stone cottage. The dwelling had been entirely Lydia’s design, right down to the blue shutters and the flowers for the garden. The house was in full color, the florals blooming in a dazzling display of pinks, reds, and yellows.
Gabriel gazed down at her tenderly. “So you’ve finished your mark on the world.”
“Oh, I haven’t finished.” She grinned. “I’m only getting started.”
“Mm.” He dropped to his knees and pressed a kiss to her rounded belly, so close to delivering their first child. “I can see that, and I can’t wait to meet her. She’s going to come into this world like a storm, just like her mother.”
“And how do you know this baby will be a she?”
Gabriel pressed more kisses to her belly. “Because when I had my ear to your belly yesterday, she kicked my head, and I thought, ‘ah, that’s my girl.’”
Lydia smiled again, running her hands through his hair. He was going to make an exceptional father. “Would you like to see the inside, or do you intend to remain on your knees in the dirt?”
Gabriel gave her a wicked look. “I’ll look at the inside. But I don’t think I’ll be off my knees for long.” He grabbed her hand. “Never tell your aunt or any of our future children about this cottage,” he said firmly, dragging her toward the door. “I’m going to steal you away here every afternoon.”
She laughed and let him lead her inside, where they enjoyed the solitude of their home away from home.
