Patience nodded. "I'll go there immediately and explain it all."
"She's a level-headed woman for all her once-wild ways. She'll see quick enough how we mean to go about it and know just how to have her girls behave." Lady Osbaldestone nodded. "Right, then! We'd best set to."
She stumped toward the door. Everyone else sprang into action.
Martin rang for Jules; Jules summoned Joseph who with Devil helped Lady Osbaldestone out to her carriage, left waiting in the mews.
A quick discussion decided that Luc and Jules would escort Edward to Dover and put him on the packet. Vane, parting from Patience, who left with Honoria to spread the social word, returned as Edward started a moaning, carping monologue; Vane leaned down and said something-Edward shut up.
Straightening, Vane regarded Edward through narrowed eyes. "I'll come with you. You might just need an extra-totally disinterested-hand."
With that settled, Jules and Luc hauled Edward, growing more vocal by the minute, to his feet. One look from Vane and he shut up again.
Joseph arrived somewhat belatedly with an icepack. Amelia grabbed it and raced after Luc.
"Here." She caught him at the door and hauled him back. Vane took his place and bundled Edward on. Amelia framed Luc's face with one hand; with the other, she molded the icepack to his injured jaw. He winced, but she held him still. "There! Now hold it in place until the ice melts. The others can manage Edward until then."
Luc took the icepack, held it in place. His eyes touched hers.
Amelia smiled, turned him to the door and pushed. He went, pausing in the corridor to glance back at her, nod his thanks, before following the others away.
Amelia sighed, then returned to the chaise as Amanda reappeared after seeing Honoria and Patience out. Amelia glanced at her, then slipped her arm under Reggie's and helped him to his feet. "Come on. I'll have them find a hackney and you can tell me all about your head on the way home."
"Like how much it hurts?" Reggie managed a weak smile for Amanda and Martin, then let Amelia lead him away.
"You haven't even told me how you got hurt. I haven't heard all the details."
Their voices faded as they headed down the corridor. Joseph looked in and raised a brow. Martin waved him away; Joseph closed the door after him.
Martin looked at Amanda, then opened his arms. She walked into them; he closed them about her and buried his face in her hair.
Later, when night had claimed the courtyard beyond the library windows, they lay on the daybed, skin to naked skin, the fire roaring in the hearth, the platters of delicacies Joseph had brought hours before on a low table before them.
Replete, at peace, sated to their bones, they simply lay and savoured the sweet taste of happiness.
Dreamed of the future.
Martin glanced down at Amanda. She was lying on her side, facing the fire, her back to his chest, her bottom fitted snugly to his loins. He'd draped a translucent silk shawl over her naked limbs, not to conceal them but to shield her from drafts. She shifted, reaching for a canape; the silk shimmered over milk-white skin, fine-textured, sheening like satin. He'd spent the last hours gorging his rapacious senses, filling his mind with the wondrous sensation of touching her-all of her, every last inch.
Filling his soul with the bone-deep knowledge that she was his, now and forever. Filling his heart with the wonder of it all.
Bending his head, he pressed a kiss to the sensitive spot behind her ear. "Never, ever, did I believe I would have all this."
Not even prior to that day ten years ago. This, this wondrous emotion that had somehow taken over his life, had never been a part of his dreams, his expectations. Now he couldn't imagine life without it.
Her lips curved, her smile serene, mysterious, elementally feminine, but she only leaned back against him, letting her body sink against his-a wordless acceptance of what was.
He knew it, but yet… it was now he who needed more.
He nuzzled her ear. "You haven't given me your answer."
She glanced at him, met his gaze. Smiled. Lifted a hand and lovingly traced his cheek. "Do you really need to hear it in words?"
"Just once."
"Then yes-I'll be yours. I'll marry you and be your countess, and bear your children and redecorate your house. Although apparently Honoria thinks the order should be reversed."
She turned onto her back, wound her arms about his neck and drew him down for a kiss-a kiss that lengthened, deepened, opened the door to desire again, but Martin held it back, kept the fires at bay.