Samantha James (23 page)

Over a year later, much had changed.

While Aidan longed to insist they wed immediately—why, the very instant he discovered Fionna loved him—of course such a thing was not possible.

Even if it had been, Fionna had longingly expressed her wish that they wait until her mother had recovered sufficiently to attend their wedding.

Aidan gave thanks that her recovery was swift—within the month, in fact. So it was that on a glorious spring day in March, Aidan and Fionna were married in the tiny church in Southbourne by Vicar Tomlinson. The vicar beamed before the
ceremony. During their loving exchange of vows…and most certainly thereafter as the vicar sat next to the blushing bride’s mother—

Who was about to become a blushing bride herself, and very soon.

Knowing her mother was in safe hands and back in her beloved village of Southbourne, Aidan and Fionna set off on their honeymoon.

Oh, how Fionna squealed on their wedding night when Aidan finally revealed what he’d managed to hide from his bride…the details of their honeymoon. Fionna had assumed they would go to Gleneden for a week of seclusion.

Not so.

Instead Aidan left his business in the capable hands of his manager, overseen by Alec. Knowing that Fionna had always longed to travel the world, how could he possibly deny her?

And Fionna gave all that was in her heart to give, a heart near to bursting with love for her new husband.

Their honeymoon lasted for months. Their first stay was in Italy, at a villa where warm, azure waters lapped the shore below. In time they moved on to Egypt, where Fionna rode upon the back of a camel and laughed with all the zest of a child.

He took her all the way to India.

And it was there that Aidan finally left behind his demons. It was there that he closed that painful chapter of his life.

And truly began the next.

It was there, too, that each suspected their child had been conceived.

Back in London, given that they’d just learned they were expecting their first child, they decided to buy a bigger home in the country, and the city as well. Fionna had closed the bookshop while they were away, but she’d hired a new manager only today.

Fresh from her bath, Fionna seated herself at the desk in their bedroom, dressed in a sheer white gown and matching robe. The first snowfall of the season had arrived that evening; already the ground below was covered in crisp, glittering white.

A smile played about her lips as she gazed out the window. It reminded her of the night she’d first met Aidan.

Aidan sauntered in and closed the door, stripping off his robe on the way to the bed.

“I am going to write a letter to Mama and William,” she said, “and then I am going to finish up the very last chapter on
The Scourge of Scotland.
” She had worked part of the time while they were away, for it was in her blood. And it was a good thing she had, for apparently her readers were clamoring for more-more-more of Raven and Rowan.

Aidan got up to read over her shoulder.

She turned and gave him a little push. “Stop
that! That is an author’s worst enemy! Perhaps I’ll put a curse on you.”

Aidan chuckled. “What! Remember what my mother said the night of Alec’s dinner party when you first met everyone? It appears the family is already cursed anyway! Besides,” he complained, “I know you’ve kept Raven and Rowan panting after each other throughout yet another novel. I only want to know if those two have finally become lovers.”

“Only the author knows,” he was informed with a severe frown. “You know that. Now back to bed with you.”

A few minutes later she tipped her head to the side, tapping the feathery quill against her lips.

“I’ve a thought,” she mused aloud. “I think I shall write a children’s story next. What do you think? Of course I’d have to assume another pen name. But I think it would be quite fun, don’t you?”

“Aye.” Naked, Aidan watched from the bed with smoldering eyes. He grinned. “But come tame this monster first!”