Page 30 of The Misfortunate Miss Farthington
“I’m saying, you are to stay on as the headmistress…and my wife.” He smiled. “If you’re willing, of course.”
She stood stock still before tugging on his hand.
He chuckled but followed her lead. “Where are we going?”
But soon they were in a hallway and then she pulled him into a dark alcove. “I couldn’t do this out there,” she whispered. She threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck as she spoke urgently against his shoulder. “Yes, Richard. Yes, I will marry you and we’ll be teachers together and…” She pulled back. Even in the dark he could see the glitter of unshed tears. “This is all I ever wanted. You are all I want.”
He was still grinning like a fool when he pressed his lips to hers. “And you are everything I want. Everything I’ve ever wanted and more.”
He kissed her again, this time slow and sweet as they learned the feel of one another and reveled in this newfound closeness.
“I suppose we ought to get back to the party,” she whispered when they finally came up for air.
He squeezed her tight. “It wouldn’t do for the headmistress of the School of Charm to cause a scandal,” he teased.
He felt her smile against his lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “It’s agreed then. We’ll return to the party…” She kissed the corner of his mouth and her tone turned impish. “After one more kiss.”
EPILOGUE
It was customary for a wedding to be followed by a meal. But there was little customary about Tessa’s courtship or the future she and her new husband had planned, so why break with tradition now?
This was why she and her close friends were gathered at the School of Charm while her family and his awaited them at a feast.
Richard leaned down slightly and wrapped his arms around Tessa’s waist as the others milled about, making themselves at home.
“Well, my love?” he murmured, so close to her ear, she shivered.
Warmth spread through her as he kissed her temple and added, “Does it look the same, wife?”
“Wife.” She rested her head back against his chest with a contented sigh. “I love hearing you say that…husband.”
“Wife, wife, wife,” he teased, nipping her ear gently with another kiss. “I love calling you that.”
Her cheeks ached from smiling. All morning…nay, these past weeks leading up to the wedding she felt like she’d smiled more than she had her whole lifetime combined. And it was all because of this man.
“Well?” Richard asked. “What do you think of the school?”
She considered his question as her gaze roamed over the familiar drawing room. “It’s strange. It looks exactly the same, and yet…more beautiful than ever because now this place is truly my home.” She squeezed his hands which rested on her belly. “Our home.”
“A home for our family,” he added softly. Her heart felt as though it might burst with happiness.
“Our family,” she repeated quietly.
Turning in his arms, she went up on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck. He smiled down at her with such ardent admiration it made her belly flutter wildly.
She could hardly wait to be alone with this man.
“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for giving me everything I’ve always wanted.”
He leaned down and kissed her gently. “Thank you for being everything I’ve always wanted.”
Her lips curved in a smile against his. “Today marks the first day of the rest of our lives.”
He brushed his nose against hers, his smile teasing. “How shall we mark the occasion, Love?”
She laughed softly, joy wrapping around her like a warm blanket as she leaned into his strength. “I can think of a way.”
And then, despite the friends who milled around, she kissed him with all her heart and soul.
