EPILOGUE
The fire crackled in the grate. Rubina shifted where she lay beside Camden and leaned back on the pillow. She was relaxed. She was happy.
In the room, the vast main bedchamber of Buccleigh, the fire was stoked with scented herbs and the linen was clean and cool. They lay in the vast four-poster bed and the only sound that broke the morning silence was the slow, insistent crackle of firelight.
“It's going to be a warm autumn,” she said.
“Mm.” Camden leaned over and gently kissed her hair. “I think so.”
“Good.”
Rubina nestled close. Since the initial clashes, a treaty had been made. However, no one on either side believed it would be of long duration, the month or two of peace time and uneasy truce meant planning. For now, though, Rubina would not think of it. Nor would Camden.
“They will be bringing in the harvest soon,” Rubina commented. “It's been a good year.”
“I heard,” Camden agreed. “It's a funny time of year, this.”
“Mm,” Rubina nodded, snuggling closer to his warmth. “My favorite one.”
“Oh?” Camden leaned down and stroked her hair back from her brow, an inquiring look in his eyes. “I didn't know.”
“Yes,” Rubina insisted. “With the colors of the woodlands, and the warmth and fireside tales, and the scent of spices from the kitchen...but still not too cold to ride out.”
He chuckled. “It suits you,” he murmured. “I should have guessed.”
“Oh?”
He stroked her hair gently. “Mm. Your hair is like the color of leaves,” he said, kissing her head. “I hope I have told you every day how beautiful you are.”
Rubina twisted and looked up into his eyes. Gray like cloud-wrack, they were exquisite. She stroked a hand down his face.
“You are beautiful, too,” she murmured. “Look at those eyes.”
He chuckled and gently kissed her open palm. “Thank you, my dear.”
She smiled. “Well, you are.”
He chuckled and kissed her fingers, one by one, stroking her palm tenderly. They lay silent a while, enjoying the simple closeness to each other and listening to the crackle of the fire.
“My leg is doing well,” he commented after a long moment passed. “I rode for two hours today without stopping.”
Rubina flipped onto her tummy so she could look down into his face. “That's wonderful,” she encouraged. The burn had taken part of the muscle on his right leg so that it took time for him to regain his strength again. Now that the dreadful wounds were scarred over, he was beginning the harder task of regaining the use he had lost.
He stroked her hair.
“My wise wife. You have given me so much.”
She snorted. “How can you even think like that? If I had to enumerate each thing you have given to me, just by being, I'd never run out of words. Suffice to say, I love every part of you and everything you do. Now and always.”
She was surprised to see his throat tighten and his eyes fill with tears.
“Oh, Rubina,” he said, voice ragged with feeling. “I can say the same. I love every part of you, and all you do. Now and always.”
The words were solemn as a promise. She looked into his eyes. They both felt the solemnity of the moment. Then she giggled.
“What?” he asked.
“You have fluff in your hair,” she said, and reached up to stroke a frayed fiber of linen from the tousled locks.
He chuckled. “Oh, you. What am I going to do about you?” He wrapped his arms around her where she lay on his chest, looking down into his face.
“I would suggest something,” she said fondly. “But I'm sure you have ideas.”
He chortled with delight. “I would love to hear your suggestions, my dear,” he said, tightening his grip and pressing his body to hers. “But first, I would like to make some of my own. Sound fair?”
She took a long slow breath, seeking to withstand the wildfire of longing his words lit inside her.
“I think,” she managed hesitantly, “that sounds completely fair.”
He chuckled. “Good.”
His hands stroked down her back and she leaned against him and, as her body dissolved into the sweet fire that only he could kindle inside her, she knew that she had never been so happy.
She loved Camden and he loved her. They knew themselves loved and every day they rejoiced in each other, and in their loving. They were so, so happy together.