Epilogue
The blue Tyrrhenian.
Cala Violina, Tuscany—eight months later.
Nat lounged on the sand, lazily enjoying the sunshine warming his face as he watched Meg.
She was standing with her dress hitched to her knees, the gentle waves frothing about around her ankles.
Before her stretched the endless blue of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and she had been enchanted from the moment she saw it.
Nat remembered having thought about seeing her this way, remembered wishing to bring her to such a place, so she might see and touch and experience it all for herself.
At the time, he’d thought himself mad to consider it.
Now he almost felt sick at the thought he might not have come to his senses in time and grabbed hold of her before some other devil realised what a treasure she was.
But he had, and she was his, and life was more than he could ever have imagined.
They had travelled throughout France and down through Italy, visiting wonderful gardens and exploring remote places searching for specimens for his garden, stopping at ancient ruins, and visiting all the places Meg had only ever read about in books.
There was still so much to see, so much to discover, and each day seemed like a gift.
He turned as he heard a voice hailing him and saw Francesco, the young man who worked at the villa they had rented, hurrying towards them.
“Signore, signore, ho un pacco per la signora. Arriva direttamente dall'Inghilterra!”
“A parcel?” Nat said, recognising that word at least, and affecting nonchalance with difficulty as excitement made him want to grin. “Darling, are you expecting something?”
Meg turned to look at him, and a pang of wonder struck his heart as he saw her in profile, the sun highlighting the subtle swell of her belly where their son or daughter was growing.
“No. What is it?”
“No idea,” he lied. “Come and see.”
Meg padded back up the sand, smiling warmly at Francesco, who gazed at her like an adoring puppy. The poor young man had become quite besotted by Meg, who spoke his language as beautifully as she did her own, and apparently with a charming accent.
“Per me? Grazie mille per averlo portato da casa. Sei gentile,” she said, thanking the handsome young fellow who appeared to grow a foot taller.
Nat gestured for him to go away, aware the lad would linger at the slightest opportunity.
Glowering a little at Nat, Francesco went back to the house, and Meg sat on the sand beside him.
“What is it?” he asked, though he knew full well, gazing at the curiosity upon her lovely face.
“I don’t know. It’s heavy, though. Isn’t that Hawkney’s handwriting?”
Nat nodded. “It is,” he said, without looking.
Meg broke the seal and untied the string holding the parcel closed, and Nat heard her breath catch. He waited, anticipating what she would say.
“It’s my book,” she said in wonder. “I don’t understand. How? How did he get it?”
Nat sat up, relishing the chance to reveal his secret. “Do you remember that little trip to London I took with Hawkney?”
“Of course, you were both terribly mysterious, and I missed you horribly,” she said, still a little cross about it.
“We paid a visit on the family who employed you,” Nat admitted.
Meg’s eyes grew wide. “You didn’t!”
“We did, and Meg, I wish you’d been there.
I’ve been simply dying to tell you. Hawk was magnificent.
He was so abominably top-lofty, berating them for having treated you so ill, and threatening to have Mr Corbyn cast into the tower of London for stealing from an innocent girl before throwing you onto the street. ”
“He did that?” Meg asked, stunned.
“He did. Mr Corbyn looked truly terrified, and his wife was so in awe of Hawk it was appalling to watch. However, it did us no good, for he’d sold the blasted thing. But I’ll give Hawk his due, he tracked it down. I owe him a deal of thanks for persevering.”
“You asked him to do this?” she said, gazing at Nat.
“Well, I would have gone on hunting myself, but we were due to leave, and I didn’t want to spoil our honeymoon. Besides, Hawk enjoyed himself. Being on a noble quest made him feel chivalrous, I think,” he said, laughing. “He was also born at the wrong time. He ought to have been a knight of old.”
“Thank you,” Meg said, gazing down at the book in her lap. “I thought I’d never see it again.”
“I know, but I know it means everything to you,” he said, watching her stroke her hand lovingly over the cover.
She looked up at him then and shook her head.
“Not any longer. It is still precious, a memento of my father I shall always treasure, and I am so happy to have it back, but it was only everything when I had nothing else. I have so much now, Nat. You’ve given me so much.
” She reached for his hand, placing it on her stomach.
“You’ve given me everything I ever dreamed of. ”
“I never dreamed of you, Meg,” he said frankly. “I had no idea such an astonishing girl existed. But I’m glad, because I’m never giving you up.”
She sighed, leaning into him. “Do you want to go collecting specimens this afternoon?” she asked lazily.
Nat shook his head. “Not today. It’s too hot for such exertion. There’s plenty of time for that. I think we need a nap.”
“We do?” she asked, knowing precisely what he had in mind. “Isn’t it a little hot for that too?” she remarked teasingly.
Nat laughed and pulled her to her feet. “Is that a complaint?”
“Never!” she said, hugging the book to her chest. “But I warn you, I searched the villa’s library and found that book I told you about.”
“What book? Oh! You don’t mean the Greek one with all the naughty goings on?”
“The very same. Shall I translate it for you?” she asked, lowering her voice, her eyes sparkling.
“Darling, you say the most erotic things,” he said with a sigh. “What are you waiting for?”
So they ran back to the house, with Nat finding nothing the least bit odd in his anticipation at listening his wife read some ancient book. Education was a marvellous thing.