Puzzled, he advanced on the door. “Hello,” he called out, expecting a servant to appear. “Is anyone at home?”
There was a rush of footsteps inside, then all was quiet.
He let himself in, allowing the cat to wander where he would. To the left was a quaint little sitting room, decorated in rich hues of blue with white piping on the cushions. To the right was a dining table, and to his surprise it was set for two.
He smiled. “Sally?”
She peeked around the doorframe, smiling broadly and with tears in her eyes. She was a vision in blue. His favorite color. She was so beautiful his heart skipped a beat.
“You came back to me,” she murmured, a broad smile spreading over her face.
He hurried down the hall and embraced her. “For you. Only for you. I am home to stay if you will have me.”
She shrieked and her arms tightened around him. “Yes, Felix. I will have you.”
He spun her around and then set her on her feet. He touched her face, her lower lip, and then kissed her brow. “I thought you would not be here.”
“I knew I could not marry Ellicott even before you left.” She brushed the corner of her eye, wiping away a tear. “But I did not want to say anything and make you change your plans.”
“I missed you.”
“Felix, you were only gone a month.”
“An eternity.
“I have been too busy to miss you,” she confessed, wincing.
“So I see.” He laughed and glanced around, approving of everything he saw, comforts that would make Torre Cottage their home when they wed. “I had thought this house had been left empty, but you have achieved so much.”
“It took three weeks to refurnish the house to my satisfaction.” Sally smiled as she glanced around proudly. “I have moved heaven and earth so you would have somewhere to lay your head on the night you came home.”
“For us both to lay our heads.” He took her hand in his. “Marry me, Sally. Marry me and this time do not leave me at the altar no matter what your father says.”
“I could never be so foolish again.” She leaned close. “I cannot live without you in my life.”
They kissed, and it was everything he needed in life. She was the star upon which his world turned. He cupped her face. “Where are the bedrooms?”
Her eyes danced. “Upstairs and to the right.”
“Want to show me where to find our bed?”
“Oh, Felix. That is all I want to do, but I might not let you out of my sight again.”
He shook his head, and winced. “I promised to have breakfast with Rutherford in the morning, but since his last words to me had something to do with bouncing and great-grandchildren, he might forgive me if you were the reason who made me late.”
Sally caught his hand and tugged him toward the stairs and the main bedchamber. “He might, but I would not count on it unless you plan to marry me tomorrow.”
Felix thought a moment, then dug inside his coat and extracted the paper Rutherford had handed him outside. He quickly flicked it open, laughed, and then showed Sally. “Well now. Is this not convenient? We appear to have a special license to marry, courtesy of your grandfather. He thinks of everything.”
Sally pushed Felix toward the stairs. “He certainly tries, but I think we can handle the rest of our lives without family interference.”
“I certainly plan to.” He swept her up in his arms and hurried upstairs. “Let’s go make some new memories, sweetheart, and then you and I have some work to do.”
“We do indeed.” Her smile was blinding. “Together.”