Phillip looked up as Harmonia walked into the study, her lips curving into a gentle smile as she saw him. Caught by her loveliness, Phillip put down his papers and smiled back at her, thinking her a welcome sight after what had been a busy day of reading and accounts. It was strange how much he missed her after what had only been a few hours apart!

“You are working late this afternoon, my love,” she said, quietly, handing him a letter than had evidently only just arrived. “Do you have much to do?”

Catching her hand, Phillip pressed a kiss to her palm before taking the letter from her. “No, not too much. The steward has done a very timely report for me on my holdings, and so it is just that I need to go through it all before I respond.”

A small sigh escaped her, but her smile remained. “I quite understand. You are very diligent in your work, Phillip, which is to be commended. I shall see you at dinner, however, yes?”

The urge to be with Harmonia instead of doing what was required of him began to grow steadily as he rose up from his seat, coming around his desk to stand beside her. Harmonia smiled at him, her cheeks dusting with pink as he kissed her gently.

“Dinner seems much too far away, so I suppose I could spare a few minutes with my wife,” he murmured, gently, taking her hand. “What say you to a short walk in the gardens?”

“I would like that very much,” Harmonia replied, with a glad smile. “Besides which, I have some news for you.”

“Oh?”

Unfortunately for Phillip, he had to wait until they had both found their coats and stepped outside into the gardens, for it was rather cold still, even though it was now well into springtime. Once outside, Harmonia led the way towards the path that led to the rockery, her favorite part of the gardens in the winter and early spring. She had said how the greenery often brightened her spirits, even on the dullest day.

“Well then, what is this news you speak of?” Phillip asked, slipping one hand around Harmonia’s waist as they walked. “Nothing bad, I hope?”

“No, not at all,” Harmonia replied at once, smiling up at him. “It is just that I have heard from my father.”

A slight frown of worry caught Phillip’s expression, but Harmonia quickly brushed it away.

“He is quite well, my dear, so have no concern in that regard. In fact, according to my sister Jacintha, he is doing better and better every day! She even mentions that she cannot recall him ever being so well for such a long time, so I am greatly encouraged. There was once a time when he considered himself drawing close to death’s door but now, I think, that has gone from his thoughts entirely.”

Relieved, Phillip nodded and smiled at her. “Indeed, I am very glad to hear it, Harmonia. That is very good news.”

“He wishes to come and stay with us for a time, Phillip.”

Seeing his wife so happy, Phillip could not help but agree. “Ah, now I see why you are so happy today! Yes, indeed, I would be very glad to have your father here, Harmonia. You need not seek my permission for this. You know how much I admire and respect your father.”

Harmonia’s smile was a beautiful one as she leaned into him. “Thank you, Phillip. It seems that my father is spending a few months with each of his daughters and I am to be next.” She looked up at him a little anxiously. “You would not mind if it was for a prolonged visit? I have the feeling this might be an annual visit!”

“Of course, I would not mind,” Phillip said at once, giving Harmonia a gentle squeeze. “You are to tell him that he is to consider our home to be his home also. I would happy for him to come and go as he pleases, my dear.”

Turning in his arms, Harmonia looked up into his eyes, her arms slowly sliding around his neck. “You are truly a wonderful man, Phillip.”

His heart began to quicken at her nearness, the warmth of his affection growing steadily as he looked into her eyes. “I am the one blessed by you, Harmonia. I consider myself the luckiest man in all of England to have you as my wife.”

She smiled at him then, her fingers twining around his neck as he held her tightly. There was so much love in her eyes that he felt it spread from her heart to his, right into his very soul.

“I love you, Harmonia,” he murmured, as she lifted her face to his. “I love you more and more with every day that passes.”

Touching his lips to hers, he heard her catch her breath as she leaned into him. The world seemed to stop, bathing them in sheer beauty as their love twined them together, a cloud of happiness settling all around them.

“And I love you, Phillip,” she whispered against his lips. “More than I can ever express.”