Eleanor smiled with happiness. “Fanny will be pleased to know her advice succeeded.”
“Fanny?”
Realizing her slip, Eleanor hesitated, debating how much she could honorably reveal about Fanny. But she wanted Damon to know about their friendship since she had every intention of continuing it. Besides, Damon could be trusted to keep Fanny's identity a secret.
“Fanny Irwin wrote the book on capturing a husband, in addition to offering me private counsel on how to win your heart.”
Damon's eyebrows shot up. “A notorious Cyprian is the anonymous lady author?”
“Yes. She obviously could not publish it under her own name, but who better to advise women on how to deal with men than a noted expert? She also penned the manuscript I have been reading. Fanny is attempting to turn over a new leaf by entering a less disreputable profession. There is a certain gentleman she hopes to marry, so she is aspiring to earn her living as a novelist.” Eleanor sighed again, this time with fondness. “I am exceedingly grateful to Fanny. She helped me capture the husband of my dreams.”
“I am not so grateful to her,” Damon remarked. “Because of her book, you nearly landed Lazzara.”
Eleanor shook her head. “I don't believe there was ever any real danger of that. I could never have loved Prince Lazzara because I had already given my heart to you.” Raising Damon's hand, she held it against her cheek. “I love you, Damon. I love you so much that it frightens me.”
“Then we are well matched.”
Staring back into his eyes, she saw her own love reflected there-and heard it in Damon's tone when he added in a low voice, “I know Joshua would be happy for us.”
She smiled mistily, acknowledging his concession. “I hope with all my heart that he would be.” She paused. “Marcus will certainly be happy for us.”
&
nbsp; “I trust so,” Damon said, his tone turning dry. “Perhaps now he won't cut out my liver as he threatened.”
“Marcus threatened you?”
“Yes, but his protectiveness of you is one of his most sterling qualities.”
Suddenly Eleanor found herself being drawn into Damon's arms. “Enough talking, wife. We should be kissing instead. I expect you to show me your love with deeds, not words.”
“You realize that we could be seen by the gardeners?” she asked, amused.
His smile pierced her heart. “Do you want to stop?”
“Certainly not.”
His eyes, bright with laughter, gazed into hers. Then his lips came down to meet hers with a poignant passion.
His kiss was tender, ardent, yet it felt different somehow. This kiss was richer, deeper, sweeter because they loved.
It was a good beginning, Eleanor thought as she wrapped her arms tightly around Damon and surrendered fully to his embrace. Together they would vanquish the fears and doubts and pain and instead forge a bond built on trust and love and devotion that would last the rest of their lives.
If you find true love with your gentleman, count yourself blessed. Shared love is the rarest of treasures. -An Anonymous Lady, Advice…
Damon woke slowly, the remnants of a dream teasing his consciousness. Early morning sunlight streamed into the bedchamber he shared with Elle, warming him just as his dream had done.
The dream had centered around a fond memory from his childhood when his twin brother was still alive: he and Joshua watching a foal being born, experiencing the awe of a new life coming into the world, laughing together as the spindly legged colt struggled to stand and root for its mother's nourishing milk.
Eleanor had been right, Damon reflected drowsily. Coming home to Oak Hill had finally allowed him to lay his grief to rest. After a fortnight here, the pain had lessened to a faint, bittersweet ache, and so had his regrets, while his nightmares had disappeared entirely.
And yet Eleanor was the chief reason he felt a sense of peace. She had wrapped him in her caring embrace, giving him solace with her love.
She had set his heart free so that she could claim it.
Damon lay there with her sweet body curled against him, savoring his contentment as fragmented thoughts mingled with the lingering images from his dream.
His cousin Tess had also been right. He needed to live life for the moment, to make the most of his time on earth. The whims of Fate were so uncertain, he could not entirely control his future. He could lose Eleanor the way he'd lost his brother, his parents. Yet he would not have given up this chance to be with her for all the world.