‘I won’t.’ It was so simple, so him, and she believed him.
She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the truth of this wash over her.
‘I love you,’ he said simply. ‘And I am terrified that one day you will decide you don’t love me. But if the alternative is that I go and wave myself around in front of grizzly bears, then I would rather take this risk, throw myself at your feet and beg you to love me for as long as that good heart of yours can bear.’
‘I will love you for ever,’ she promised, wrapping her arms around his waist. ‘Because that’s exactly what you deserve.’
Their kiss swallowed most of his groan.
‘You’ll marry me?’
She laughed, because it was so like him to ask in such a manner, but she nodded anyway, smiling up at him. ‘As soon as humanly possible.’
His eyes flared. ‘Done.’
‘On one condition.’
He stilled, wariness in him, and she ached to wipe that away. But she knew only a lifetime of being loved and accepted would do that. She smiled, so he knew she was joking, and he relaxed.
‘Name it.’
‘No way will my husband be able to work the hours you do. I expect you to take weekends off, at least.’
He grinned. ‘I’m going to spend at least the first year of our marriage working from home. And even then, only sparingly. I have executives, you know, and a very wise woman once suggested I should delegate a little more freely.’
‘She sounds inspired.’ Jemima batted her lashes.
‘She is perfect, in every way.’
‘And she’s all yours, for always.’
* * *
‘I have a wedding present for you.’
Jemima stifled a yawn against the back of her hand. It was late. Somewhere around two in the morning. Their wedding, in the gardens of Almer Hall, had been everything she could have wanted. Small, no more than thirty people, in a marquee in the garden surrounded by candles and flowers, it had been low-key and exquisite all at once.
He’d flown them via helicopter back to London, and they were now in his townhouse where she’d come that first night—which felt so very long ago now.
‘I don’t need anything.’
‘I know.’
‘Then don’t give it to me,’ she teased, moving across the carpeted room and brushing a kiss against his lips.
He smiled down at her then strode towards the dressing table. He’d taken off his tuxedo jacket and waistcoat and rolled the sleeves of his white shirt up to reveal perfectly tanned forearms that made her mouth go dry with wanting.
‘It’s something I bought a while ago, as a point of fact. We can call it a gift, rather than a wedding present, if that helps.’
‘It doesn’t.’
‘Well, I cannot return it.’ He shrugged and pulled a small white envelope from the drawer.
It was so tiny, perhaps a card or a photo. Nothing of intrinsic value. Curiosity sparked, she extended a hand and he placed the envelope into her fingertips. She slid her finger under the triangular back and pulled out a single sheet of folded paper.
It was the deed for Almer Hall.
‘I don’t understand.’