Please wait, Elliot.
Despite the fact time was against her, she refused to accept all was lost. But as she came upon the church, relief turned to gut-wrenching anguish.
The lane was empty.
She was too late.
It took all her effort not to sag to the floor in a heap and sob.
In despair, she glanced to the heavens and cried, "Please, Elliot. Please don't leave without me." She hugged her stomach to ease the pain, closed her eyes and repeated the sorrowful words. "I know I don't deserve you. I know I've been such a fool. But I love you. I know you can hear me."
"I can hear you, Grace. There's no need to shout."
Her frantic gaze searched the darkness, falling to the figure leaning against a tree just inside the churchyard.
"Elliot?"
He straightened and sauntered towards her wearing an arrogant grin. "I'm pleased to see my presence still leaves you breathless."
He'd waited.
Her heart swelled so full she thought she might burst. The weeks of separation had been unbearable, and she ran into his open arms.
The kiss was long, slow, a melding of mouths, of hearts and souls.
"You waited," she whispered as she broke away.
"I couldn't leave without you." He brushed the hair from her face. "Had you not come by sunrise I fear I would have been burned to a cinder."
"Don't say that." She hugged him just to prove she wasn't dreaming. "Where's your carriage?"
"A little further along the lane. It's far too muddy along here, and Gibbs was worried about getting stuck in the ditch. I felt a few drops of rain and decided to shelter under the tree."
Tears welled in her eyes, a mixture of joy and fear for the thought of how close she'd come to losing him. "I love you," she said softly. "I want to be with you always. I don't care about anything else."
He ran his thumbs beneath her lids, wiping away her tears as he cupped her face. "Don't cry. You should be happy to know that you're loved. I am so in love with you, it hurts. Can you forgive me for being such a stubborn fool?"
"I would forgive you anything."
He took her hand, threaded it through his arm and led her down the lane. "Come," he said opening the door to his carriage and helping her inside. "I need to get you out of Cobham before you change your mind."
"I'll never change my mind. I'm afraid you're stuck with me now."
He climbed inside. "That's a prospect I'm looking forward to tremendously," he said with a sinful grin as he closed the door and the carriage lurched forward.
"Where are we going?" she asked settling back into the seat.
"Sco
tland."
"Scotland?"
"I know it will take more than a week, but it's still the quickest and safest way of making you my wife."
Grace chuckled. "Couldn't you have just petitioned for a special licence?"
"What and risk your sister turning up and dragging you back to Cobham? No. Scotland it is."