CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Southampton, Three Weeks Later
Emma could hardly contain her excitement as she waited at the crowded docks. There was a stiff breeze coming in off the water and she was grateful that Audsley was holding her close. Not just for the warmth, though it was most appreciated, but because of his strength and, most importantly, his love.
How could she have ever doubted his love for her? It was in his every movement, his every glance, his every word. And now he was bringing her parents home.
Grace and Carter were next to them and Emma could tell her sister was just as anxious as she was.
“Are you cold, my love?” Audsley asked her. “You’re shaking.”
Emma shook her head. “How can I be cold when you are here to warm me?” she asked, as she kissed him. “I believe I’m just unsettled about seeing my parents again. I can’t wait to see them and I love them, of course, but there are other emotions, as well.”
Audsley nodded. “I’m certain there are. The good news is you don’t have to sort all of them out right now. Take today as it comes and do not forget that I’m at your side ready to assist in any way I can.”
“I could never forget that, my love. Ever.”
The ship was nearing the harbor and the next half hour was taken up by getting it moored. Then the passengers finally began to disembark. Emma took Grace’s hand and found her sister was shaking, as well. “Don’t worry, Grace. Everything will be all right.”
They finally had the sighting they’d been waiting for. Their mother was on deck looking around. She was just as beautiful as Emma remembered, though a bit grayer, which was not a surprise for a woman who was two and fifty. She broke out into a glorious smile when she saw her daughters. She turned to call out to someone behind her and soon their father was next to her, and both were waving. He was much thinner than when they’d seen him last and even from a distance they could tell he had been unwell. But Emma would do whatever she could to make him whole again. Best of all, she could count on Audsley to help her.
The dock was teeming with people rushing in all different directions and stevedores unloading freight. Emma wanted to run across the dock to the ship, but Audsley had already said in no uncertain terms that it was no place for a pregnant woman. She had to admit he was right. So, she stayed where she was, only grumbling enough so he knew she still had a mind of her own, though he was quick to point out he was very aware of the fact.
Her parents’ progress across the dock was lamentably slow, not just because of the many people, but because her father was rather frail. Emma couldn’t resist running the final ten yards to greet them, with Grace close behind.
The two sisters were soon in their mother’s arms. She still smelled like the lemon verbena of their youth and while so much had changed in their lives, their love for her had not. All three of them were crying and they were soon joined by their father, who hugged all three of the women to him.
“I love you girls so much,” said their mother. “We’ve missed you so very much.”
“We have,” said their father, whose voice cracked from emotion. “I love you girls.”
Emma wasn’t sure how long the four of them held onto each other, until her father said, “Audsley, Wainwright, we can never thank you enough.” He broke his hold on his family just long enough to shake the hands of his two sons-in-law.
“Thank you so much, boys,” said Emma’s mother, as she impulsively hugged Carter, then more tentatively approached Audsley.
Emma hated to see that she wasn’t as effusive with Audsley as she had been with Carter. But the Audsley she knew from the past had been a reserved, proud man. He was still proud and more than a little reserved. But there was so much more to him than that. “Mama, in addition to doing so much to bring you home, Audsley also allowed us to remain at Jasmine Cottage long after the rent money was exhausted.” She didn’t want to rebuke her parents, but she wanted to give Audsley his due. And she was long overdue in doing so.
“We cannot thank you enough, son,” said Emma’s mother as she reached out to hug Audsley, who received her embrace with grace.
They continued their celebration at a nearby inn where Audsley had rented rooms, thinking the Moores would be tired after their journey and might need to rest before continuing on to Tidworth. He’d also arranged for a physician to examine both of the Moores to assess their health.
Audsley discussed the findings with Emma, Grace and Carter after the Moores had retired for the evening. “The report was quite favorable,” said Audsley with some surprise. “They were treated fairly well in China and received care in France. The physician believes your father will recover all his strength once he resumes a schedule of good food and rest.”
“All I know is that Grace and I are most fortunate in our choice of husbands,” said Emma, as she squeezed Audsley’s hand. “And I’m glad our parents are home safe, if not quite as well as they could be, just in time for them to meet their grandchildren.”
* * *
It had been a long, emotional day and Audsley was happy it was drawing to an end. They would set off for Tidworth in the morning, where Audsley and Carter had rented a house for the Moores, who’d expressed a desire to stay in one place for many years to come. Audsley just hoped that meant they would be more attentive to their children, as well.
He was lying on the bed in his dressing gown, watching his wife putter about. Her figure was more rounded now with their growing child. As she padded about he admired the grace of how she carried herself and marveled at how she was nurturing their babe.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, as she brushed her hair.
“Can I not admire my wife?”
“I believe you’ll find I’m the last person to stop you from doing such a thing, but I still get the feeling I spilled something on myself. I can’t always see, you know. My feet could very well be purple and I would have no idea. You would tell me, wouldn’t you? If my feet were purple?”
“How much would it be worth to you?” he asked with a smile.
That made her put down her brush. “Christopher Aston, are you flirting with your wife?”
“Absolutely. You called me by my Christian name. You never do that.”
“Would you like me to?”
He considered it. “I’m rather used to you calling me Audsley. But you may call me anything you’d like.”
“You’re just being kind to me because I’m carrying our child,” she said as she walked toward the bed.
“It’s true that I’d probably agree to just about anything you wanted, but it’s not because you’re carrying our child – though you’ll have my lifelong gratitude for that. I love you, Emma. Despite your purple feet.”
“Oh, Audsley, I love you so much,” she said as she lay on the bed beside him. “Though I’m ignoring your comment about my feet. I wish we’d known this all sooner. I hate thinking of our wasted years.”
“Do not think of them as wasted years. I cannot imagine you regret your friendships with the ladies of Jasmine Cottage and they would not have come to pass if you and I had married. Don’t regret the past. It taught us lessons we needed and provided us experiences which shaped our lives. Let’s just look forward to the future.”
“You have become a philosopher,” she said, as she kissed him.
“I always have been,” he said as he moved his hand over her gently curved belly. “I just needed you to let me express myself.”
He lay on his back, then pulled her over him so she was straddling him.
“I believe you enjoy having me do most of the work,” she said as she pulled her nightgown over her head.
“I enjoy anything having to do with you in our bed. Now, will you love me?”
“Always,” she said, as she opened his dressing gown, then lowered herself upon him.
He looked up at her, entranced as always. It was a miracle that they’d not only found each other but loved each other. He had searched his whole life for not just love, but contentment. He finally had the ability to love and be loved and to know he had everything he needed for a happy life. And as she rode him, he vowed he would always make her happy.
Then he lost all ability to think or do anything other than feel Emma and know this was where they were both supposed to be.
As she moved faster and faster she grasped his hands. She looked down at him and Audsley knew nothing other than the pleasure they shared. Just as he was about to lose control, she climaxed, squeezing him and calling out his name. A moment later, he found his release inside her. “I love you,” he said, looking up at her.
“I love you, too,” said Emma, his love, his wife.
Now it all made sense. Now his life was complete.