He caressed her cheek with a soft and gentle touch. “I have learned never to assume anything where you are concerned. You surprise me every moment, but I will give you the life you want because I want you more than anything else.”
“Thank you.” She leaned into his fingers, her mind making plans for what she needed to do in the next few weeks. “The banns can be called on Sunday and that gives us time to organize everything.”
“Ah,” Walter’s face colored, “about that. I wrote to Hawke for advice and he delivered a special license on his arrival. We can be married today—tonight in fact, —if your brother is in agreement and we can come to terms. Mr. Pease is here to do the deed so there’s no need to delay, is there?”
“Today?” Her mind raced. Her trunks were still packed in readiness for her aborted departure. Her parents were so wrapped up in their own affairs they probably would not protest about missing the wedding. She was of age to make her own decisions without deferring to them.
It
was rather clever of Walter to have everything done so they could marry tonight. She frowned at that thought though. “When did you know you would propose to me?”
“I was never going to propose, but I decided I’d like you for my wife after our first kiss.”
“And when did that happen?” Valentine cut in loudly.
Walter’s smile was a trifle sheepish. “Close your ears.”
They had argued not long after their first kiss. And yet, that still didn’t explain his sudden decision to marry her. It made no sense. Unless…
She checked the location of their friends and family and, seeing none near, she leaned into Walter. “When did you fall in love with me?”
A shy smile crossed his lips as he smiled down at her as if she should know the answer already.
Melanie had known Walter almost her whole life. He was the only one she’d ever trusted implicitly not to overstep and as a child she had always liked to talk to him most out of everyone. He had always been there, in the background of her life, stepping in when a partner was needed for dancing or when she was uncertain. “A long time ago?”
“Yes, Mellie.” His eyes sparkled. “A very long time ago. No doubt about the time you fell in love with me.”
Her feelings for Walter had grown so gradually that she still wasn’t sure when they had begun. Although she had loved her brother dearly, she had always envied Imogen and Walter’s closeness. Had her feelings not been envy at all but the beginnings of a crush that she had misunderstood? She smoothed his cravat and stared up into his eyes as she accepted that her heart had been lost long ago, and she’d never realized that fact until this moment.
“Well, that is perfectly all right then. It is horrible to be in love alone.”
Melanie rose up on her toes and kissed Walter full on the mouth before their family, their friends and the vicar. It didn’t matter what anyone said about her behavior tonight. Walter had a special license and in less than an hour perhaps, she would be exactly where she wanted to be. Safe and loved in her Walter’s arms.
Epilogue
A year and a bit later…
“Walter, you’re being a stick-in-the-mud. Come and sit by me and take off your shoes.”
He grinned at his wife where she sat alone on the seashore, removing her half boots and stockings in preparation for the night. The sun was just setting on another perfect Brighton day. It was a special occasion—the anniversary of their first summer, more or less.
Since their marriage, Melanie had blossomed and a decidedly bold and daring streak had taken over her nature. Many of the things she’d disapproved of before had been tried. Tonight’s adventure was swimming—naked with him in the sea. He’d suggested it six months ago, but at the time it had been too cold. “I think everyone has gone home. We have the beach to ourselves.”
She threw a heart-stopping smile his way. “Everything is perfect, my love.”
His heart squeezed tight in his chest at the endearment and as she lifted her hands to the front of her gown, he smiled. It wasn’t quite dark enough to remove their clothing yet so he plunked down beside her and put his arm around her back. “Ready for sunset?”
She set her head on his shoulder. “I am indeed.”
Tonight, under the stars and a clear sky, the evening would look magical. Melanie naked—there were no words to describe how much he looked forward to those moments.
As the light disappeared, they stood and stripped off their clothing in the new dark. He caught his wife’s hand and drew her toward the waves. He ducked under at the first wave, but Melanie wasn’t so quick. She shrieked a little as it broke over her thighs, but eventually she ducked under the surface with a gasp.
Walter gathered her against him. Her slender thighs wrapped around his waist immediately and she held to him in the current. “That wasn’t so bad.”
A wave crashed over their heads and they both came up spluttering.
“Except for that,” she twisted against him and the slip of her skin against his made him moan. Melanie chuckled wickedly. “Are you becoming aroused?”