Chapter 22
“To find you out in the gardens at this time of the afternoon is a singular pleasure indeed.”
A rush of warmth swept through Nora at the sound of Lord Hampshire’s familiar voice, his face brightening as she rose to her feet and hurried to him. “I have been waiting for you to call all day,” she told him, her hands going to his. “Wherever have you been?”
“I have been plagued by all manner of papers and documents,” he said, taking her hand and then bringing it to his lips. “But all of it is for good, since it will bring us together in marriage.”
She sighed contentedly, joy still warm and vibrant within her. “I have some more news for you,” she told him, hoping that no one would think to interrupt them for a few minutes now that they were engaged. “Lord Hawkley has asked Louisa to marry him, and she has accepted.”
Lord Hampshire’s eyebrows rose. “Indeed?”
“He stated that last evening, when you spoke, he realized that he, too, wanted the very same joy as was obvious in your own expression when you talked of our engagement.” Nora moved a step closer, shortening the distance between them, a shiver running through her when his thumb traced lightly over her knuckles.
“He spoke to my father this morning and then proposed shortly thereafter.”
A broad smile settled on Lord Hampshire’s face. “How wonderful. I am truly delighted for them – and you are pleased also, I presume?”
“I am delighted,” Nora answered fervently. “They both believed that I might be somewhat upset over their haste, but I could not have been happier. We shall be brides together, and I think that the most beautiful notion in all of the world.”
Lord Hampshire laughed softly. “You have always been so very considerate, my dear Nora. Even when we were set apart by my uncle’s codicil, it did not prevent you from expressing your concern and your care for Frederica.
” His head tilted. “She and I had a lengthy conversation this morning, before I went to see about the banns.”
“Oh?” She smiled up at him. “Have you something to tell me also?”
“I do. It is that, finally and without a good deal of pressing from me, she has admitted her affection for Lord Dumfries – and I do not think it will be long before Lord Dumfries admits to his interest in her either!” He chuckled as Nora caught her breath, her eyes widening.
“I expect him to come to call by the end of the week.”
A thrill of both relief and delight spun up Nora’s spine. “How wonderful.”
“She confessed that her hope for our future together were very dim and dull indeed,” Lord Hampshire told her, with a wry smile.
“She expected us to tolerate each other, thought we might rub along well together, but there would be nothing more than that. Oh, Nora, you should have seen how her eyes glowed when she spoke of Lord Dumfries and the expectation she now has of their connection.”
With a warm smile, Nora boldly reached up and let her fingers brush across his cheek before settling her hand on his shoulder. “It appears that nearly everyone has decided to fall in love, have they not?”
Lord Hampshire’s eyes affixed to hers, watching her with such a steady, full, tender look that Nora’s breath tugged out of her lungs and pulled itself away. The laughter faded, the soft smile on her lips gentling.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The ache of the year that had separated them sat between them, acknowledged without words.
“I was a coward,” he admitted, leaning closer to her. “I should have come to speak with you, I should have told you all rather than simply writing a few short lines and praying you would understand. I confess that to you, and I beg your forgiveness.”
“Oh, Hampshire.” Nora shook her head briefly.
“You need not ask me for such a thing, not when you already have it.”
The wind picked up as she spoke, stirring the leaves of the trees around them as they stood together in silence, their gaze holding and melding, their hearts healing any final tears and brokenness.
When he lifted his hand and cupped her cheek, Nora let out a slow, shuddering breath filled with longing and hope.
“Nora.”
When he bent his head and kissed her, every grief of the past year seemed to fall away.
The kiss was soft, tender, speaking of all of his love for her in one single action.
Her fingers curled lightly into his coat as he deepened the kiss gently, still unhurried and just as tender.
Her other hand went to his shoulder, his arms encircling her as they shared a moment of love and promise, holding fast to each other as they had desired to do for so long.
When he finally released her, Nora did not step back. Instead, she lingered there, her head going to rest on his shoulder as he held her in his arms.
“I have waited for that moment for so long,” she whispered, her eyes still closed. “There were so many times when I did not know if it would ever be fulfilled. Times when I thought my heart would tear from my chest, such was my agony.”
“An agony now forgotten,” he answered, his fingers smoothing lightly down her cheek again as her eyes opened to look up into his face. “There is nothing to separate us any longer, Nora. We have a shared life waiting for us – and we need only wait a few months longer.”