Iris, you will ride with me this morning.”
When they had both sated their hunger and collapsed in exhaustion, David rubbed her back soothingly.
“Iris,” he said.
“Yes?”
“I don’t want to lose you again.”
“You won’t.”
“Won’t I?”
“Of course not. Neither one of us is bound. We can continue our affair for as long as we like.”
“You want an affair with me?”
“Well…yes.” Her nerves jumped. What if he didn’t? “Don’t you?”
“No,” he said flatly.
Iris’s heart sank. He meant to leave her after this weekend. “All right, David. Forgive me. I just thought—”
“I want to marry you.”
Iris gasped. “You…what?”
“You heard me. I love you, Iris. Marry me. Be my countess.”
Her whole body sizzled. “David, isn’t this a little bit sudden?”
“Not really. It’s been twenty years in the making.”
“Oh, David.”
“Is that a yes?”
How she wanted to pounce on him and accept. But, “Well, there’s just so much to consider. My girls, for one. They’re the most important things in my life, and I couldn’t make this decision without… And I have nothing to offer you, David. Nothing. Longarry left us penniless. If it weren’t for Flora and Crispin, we would be out on the streets.”
“What about your parents?”
“My mother died ten years ago, and my father lives alone in London. Neither Flora nor I see him. I’ll never forgive him for marrying me off to Longarry.”
“So your sister knows the whole situation?”
“Yes, she does now. She knew I wasn’t happy, but she didn’t know the whole truth until Longarry died.”
“When will you tell me the whole truth, my Iris?”
“David… Later, all right?”
He stroked her cheek tenderly. “All right. But it doesn’t matter anyway. I still want you to be my wife.”
“But the girls. Crispin gave them dowries. I don’t know how I will ever repay him for that.”
“I’ll give them dowries. I’ll take care of all of you now.”
“But what of your own children?”
“My children will not suffer, I promise you. We are well off. Jacob and Evan both receive substantial annual allowances, and Miranda married well and is no longer my responsibility. I have plenty, darling, and I want to share it with you.”
Iris sniffed, her eyes misting. “But I have nothing, David.”
“How can you say that? You have yourself. You’re are all I’ve dreamed of for twenty years.”
“I’m afraid I come with a lot of…baggage.”
“I’m not afraid of baggage, my Iris. The only fear I have is losing you again.”
She smiled weakly, her heart pounding. “Oh, David. I do love you.”
“Then you’ll be my wife?”
“Yes. Yes, yes, yes!” She kissed his face, his neck, his chest. “I never thought I’d know true happiness.”
“Nor did I, my love. But we both will. For the rest of our lives.”
Iris leaped out of bed. “I want to bathe and dress. I want to go downstairs and tell everyone our news.”
David chuckled softly. “Whatever you wish.”
* * * *
Cameron busily scraped his quill on parchment, putting the last notation on his ballad for Rose. He titled it Wandering Rose, in memory of how she had danced before him in her sheer pink veiling in his dream. Dawn had broken several hours before, and he heard Tricia stirring in her chamber. He had been up for hours, working through the tune on the pianoforte and scribbling notes and chords. The work was nearly complete. It was both the easiest and the most difficult piece he’d ever written.
“Do you want some tea, Cam?” Tricia asked, padding out into the sitting room in her nightdress.
“Yes, thank you.”
“What are you doing?”
“Working on a composition. I’m sorry if I disturbed you last night.”
“I heard the pianoforte now and then, but you didn’t disturb me. I haven’t been sleeping all that well anyway.”
“Neither have I.”
“Cam, do you think we could ride into Bath and see Kat today?”
He smiled at his sister. “You know, I had a very productive night. I think there is time to go see Kat today.”
Tricia gave him a quick hug. “That’s wonderful. I do miss her. I know she’s in good hands, but it’s frightening, not knowing what is wrong with her.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Cam…”
“Hmm?”
“How are we going to…? That is, where will the money come from for Kat’s care?”
Cameron took a breath before answering. “Don’t worry about it. I have it under control.”
“How?”
“I got another commission, and I just completed it.” He set down the parchment. “I need to go to Bath anyway to get some new quills and parchment so I can make my final copy.” He sighed. “This is my best work ever,” he said, more to himself than