Chapter Twenty-One
Finn found himself with an unusual amount of eagerness as he stared over the map in front of him. And when Hecate walked in, he knew his smile was wider than normal.
“You look inordinately pleased with yourself, Mr. Finn.” She smiled back. “And where is my tea?”
He turned to the map. “I have no clue. Ask Winnie.” He tapped a long finger on the unfolded sheet. “Here, Hecate. This is how we should go, I believe.”
She came to his side, slowly and with a slight hitch to her step, but no cane. He’d noticed her leaving it behind more and more, and today especially he breathed a sigh of relief. If he had hurt her last night…
“Do you see? It is shorter to take this route to Richard’s, and from there we can make it to the next posting house in a day or less, if the weather holds.”
“And then to Ridlington…another day and a half perhaps?”
“Maybe two. But the going should be fair, since we can take the toll roads for a good portion of the way. If any are clear and easily travelled, those will be the ones.”
She glanced at him. “I think it’s an admirable plan. We can worry about getting to London after reaching Ridlington. Somebody there will know how to go. Probably James.” She noticed his enquiring look. “Sir James FitzArden, my sister Letitia’s husband.”
“Ah,” he answered with a nod. “Family.” He looked glum. “I will have to meet them, won’t I.”
It was a statement, not a question.
Hecate chuckled. “Yes, I’m afraid so. But they don't bite. At least most of ‘em, anyway.”
“Tea, Ma’am.” Winnie entered bearing the traditional tea tray.
“Excellent, thank you, Winnie.” Hecate watched as the girl confidently placed the dishes onto the table and added the teapot and other necessary bits and pieces. “How is everything going below stairs, Winnie? Is your Mama getting on all right? And Frank? Settling in, do you think?”
“Oh yes, Miss.” She beamed. “‘E’s doin’ ever so good.” That was followed by a blush.
“I’m happy to hear it,” answered Hecate, seating herself. “We must see about making sure you all get a bit of time off. Do remind me…”
“Oooh, that’d be awful nice, Miss. I’ll remind yer.” She bobbed a quick curtsey and hurried away.
“Considerate of you, my dear.” Finn strolled to the table, his eyes full of laughter. “Assisting in a romance, are we?”
Hecate sniffed, and poured tea. “Just giving it a helping hand.” She pushed the cup over to Finn. “I’m happy. I’d like everyone around me to be happy as well.”
He watched her eyes, bright and shining in all the myriad shades between blue and green. “Are you truly happy, Hecate?”
She glanced at him. “Yes, Finn. Yes, I am truly happy today.” She sipped, then sighed. “And yes, I have you to thank for it.”
He gazed at her. “I should be the one thanking you.” He took a small tart and put it on his plate, staring at it for a moment as if trying to guess what it was. “You gave me back my life, and now you’ve given me more joy than I ever had a right to expect.”
“My goodness,” she chuckled. “All that?”
“Yes, Hecate. All that.” He kept his voice was tender but serious. “I’m alive because of you. I have my memory back because of you. I have a goal…because of you. And I’ve learned to love because of you.”
She stilled. “Finn…I…”
He held up his hand. “Hush, I haven’t finished. There is one thing I have to say about all this, Hecate. About us. One thing that’s become clearer and clearer every day we’re together. And today I realised I need to ask you something.” He took a breath, wondering what the hell had come over him.
She swallowed. “What’s that?”
“Will you marry me?”
“What?” She stared at him.
“Er…I said will you marry me?”
She blinked.
“Hecate?”
“Uhh…” Her mouth fell open but apparently his proposal had robbed her of the power of speech.
He sighed. “It’s not a terribly confusing question, sweetheart. Let me put it simply. Will. You. Marry. Me.”
“You…you want…” she pointed at herself… “me?”
Taking a breath and trying not to clench his teeth, he nodded. “Yes. I want to marry you.”
“To marry me?”
Finn leaned forward and thwacked his forehead on the table three times. Then he straightened. “Yes, dammit.”
“Then, dammit, the answer is yes.” She leaped from her chair practically into his teacup, stumbled and ended up sprawled across his lap. “Are you sure?” She looked up at him, sliding her arms around his neck.
“God, yes. But it’s you who needs to be sure, love. I have nothing to offer you…”
Her eyes shone so brilliantly, it was as if a pure teal blue sun had risen. “You are offering me yourself. What more could there possibly be?” Her gaze dropped to his mouth. “Except this…”
She kissed him, and as she did so, Finn knew he’d made the right decision, even though the words had popped out unexpectedly.
When he could breathe again, he held her by the shoulders. “Shouldn’t you be taking the time to think about this, Hecate? I’m serious when I said I don’t have a penny to my name. I owe you the clothes on my back.”
“Then I reserve the right to remove them tonight. One by one.” The look of sensual wickedness in her eyes took him aback, stunned him, and made his heart thunder beneath his shirt. God, she was amazing.
“You…destroy me, Hecate. In the best of ways,” he breathed, scared to move lest she vanish. How could this moment be real?
“But I am serious. I come to you with nothing, no worldly goods to endow you with, no fortune to add to yours. All I can do is pledge my life, my heart…my soul. To you. Always.”
“Oh Finn,” she whispered, her eyes glittering with unshed tears.
If Lady Augusta had not arrived at that moment, matters might well have gone another way, but the sound of her clearing her throat brought both Finn and Hecate to their senses.
With a certain degree of embarrassment, she slid from his lap. “I tripped,” she lied.
“So I see,” grinned Augusta. “Well caught, sir.” Her smile encompassed Finn.
Since he was doing his best to hide his natural masculine response to having his woman kissing the breath out of him, Finn was glad for Augusta’s nonchalance. He half rose and blessed the large tablecloth.
“We have news, Augusta.” Hecate resumed her seat.
“The trip to London? You have matters in hand already?”
“We do,” nodded Hecate, glancing at Finn.
He wondered if she’d mention their brand new engagement, and decided to take his lead from her. After all, they’d only been affianced five minutes ago. It would be precipitous to shout it from the chimney pots this soon, although he’d half a mind to rush up to the attic and try it; such was the level of his excitement. And his arousal.
“I do hope you will choose to remain here, Augusta.”
Finn pulled his brains out of his breeches and focused on Hecate’s conversation.
“You don’t mind?” Lady Augusta helped herself to tea.
“Actually, I’d feel better.” Hecate bit into a tart with a murmur of pleasure.
Finn’s brains rocketed downward again as her tongue flicked out to catch an errant morsel of pastry. Oh God, that tongue…
“With you and Dal in residence, Doireann Vale will continue to function effectively, I know. Now that the Tisdale twins are pretty much living with Mrs. Trimmer’s cousin, and all but next door to their farmers, I do need someone here to keep the fires burning, so to speak.”
“They’ll be wed before Christmas, I’ll wager,” said Augusta.
“Huh?” Finn blinked at her. “Who?
“The Tisdale girls. Digby and Harvey. I’m not sure who’ll end up with which twin, but I’d lay a pony on the outcome.” Augusta raised an eyebrow at him. “Any takers?”
He grinned at her. “Besides not having sixpence to my name, I never bet on a sure thing.”
*~~*~~*
Hecate readied herself for bed, trying not to be aware of her heart beating rapidly. Would he come tonight? And what would happen if he did?
She’d promised to marry him. Did that mean he’d be sleeping with her from now on?
So many questions. She didn’t realise she’d been pacing the length of her chamber until Bub, who was sprawled on the bed observing her, made his opinion of the whole business known.
He gave a cat groan, and yawned, then stretched, his rump high, his front legs gripping the quilt.
“Am I boring you?” asked Hecate. “I do apologise.”
She sat down on the bed next to him, smiling as he moved to her side and rested his chin on her leg. Stroking his silky fur always calmed her and within a few moments he was purring, a deep rumble that she could feel vibrating against her skin.
She felt like purring as well.
And when the door opened and Finn peered around it, she beckoned him without a second thought.
“I wondered if you wanted company tonight,” he said, with an inquiring look.
“I think…” she chose her words carefully. “I think I will always want your company, Finn. Especially at night.”
Bub opened an eye, took Finn’s measure, and closed it again.
“I’m glad you feel that way.” Finn sat on the other side of Bub, as if hesitant to disturb him. “I don’t want to spend another night of my life without you next to me, Hecate. I know that’s unreasonable, since we have to maintain the proprieties until we’re wed, but having your warmth beside me…well, somehow it’s just right.”
“Come then.” She stood and slipped out of her robe, moving up the bed and pushing back the quilt.
He did the same thing on the other side.
Together, they eased themselves onto the bed, trying not to disturb the heavy, warm and purring lump of fur that now took up at least a third of Hecate’s side.
“I’ll have to wiggle around him a bit,” she sighed, moving into Finn’s arms.
He stroked her, much as she’d stroked Bub, a gentle petting that soothed and comforted. “Any second thoughts, sweetheart?”
“About what?”
“Marrying a penniless Irishman…”
She sighed. “I know it will take you some time, Finn, but I do wish you would stop worrying about that. I would never marry anyone for money. I know it is important…I’m not a fool. But it does not measure your worth as a man. And as a man—I have no second thoughts about marrying you.”
His arms tightened and he pulled her on top of him. “You are an extraordinary woman, Hecate Ridlington. In more ways than I have yet discovered…” His hands slid down and he began to tug her nightgown up and over her backside. “Also, to return your compliment, you have an amazing bottom as well.”
She giggled and slithered around, managing to extricate herself completely from her nightgown. “I’m so glad you think so, sir. May I say I believe you to have some amazing parts of your own…one of which deserves more attention, I’m thinking…”
A few minutes later, Bub uncoiled himself, glanced at the moving figures that were disturbing his rest, and jumped down to the floor, stalking off to find a more peaceful place to sleep.