“I don’t know.” She felt a rise in his breath as she made the statement.
“I am not good at sharing what I hold dear.”
All pretense fell away from her. With a smile, she said, “You are the only man in my thoughts. Do you think you can keep me interested in only you?”
“I’ll do my damnedest to see that I do.”
“I love you, Garrett,” she whispered softly as she laid her cheek against his chest. “I don’t want other gentlemen to call on me. I only want to have some time to be free to enjoy my son and live on my own.”
He kissed the top of her head and hugged her close. “You know I understand that feeling and accept it. I want you to know that I’m not going anywhere. I’m not going to leave you. I’ll be here waiting for when you are ready for us to make a home together.”
“Thank you for that.”
Garrett’s lips covered hers swiftly, fiercely, and possessively. She had no doubt he was settling his claim on her and leaving no room for anyone else.
Julia knew he was the only man she wanted today, tomorrow, and forever. She wanted to be his wife. And she’d let him know that.
Very soon.
Epilogue
Julia kept watching out the front window for Garrett. It was Christmas eve and she and Garrett were hosting their first dinner party as man and wife in the house at the Seafarer’s School. The house on Poppinbrook Street was being renovated and should be ready for them to move into by spring. Garrett had decided it didn’t need to be torn down. It needed to be lived in.
It was a bitter cold day but fires had warmed the room and the pleasing aroma of fresh-baked fruit pies filled the air. The staircase, the doorways, and all the tables had been decorated with greenery, berries, and ribbons that had been made into bows. From the far corner of the drawing room, Julia heard the violinist and cellist tuning their instruments. In keeping with the Christmas spirit of mistletoe and holly, and in celebration that she no longer had to wear a widow’s garb, Julia had chosen a candlelight-colored gown with garnet-colored ribbons accenting the waist, sleeves, and hem of her skirt. Nestled around her neck were the three strands of pearls held together with a ruby clasp Garrett had given her the day they married.
He was late returning home. If only he would take a carriage to White’s or wherever he was going as did most gentlemen, he’d be home by now. But no, the rogue preferred to walk everywhere he went. Julia didn’t mind, most of the time, but their guests were due to arrive soon.
“Can we come out now?” Chatwyn called from the drawing room.
“No,” Julia answered, turning her head toward the corridor. “Stay where you are. You must not spoil the surprise. I will let you know when you can come out.”
When she glanced out the window again, she smiled. Garrett was striding up the walkway, the winter wind causing the tail of his cloak to fly out majestically behind him. She would never get tired of seeing him come home to her.
Unable to contain her happiness and wait, she rushed to the door and opened it. “You are late,” she admonished, with no real irritation in her voice or expression.
He took off his hat and replied, “You are beautiful.”
Garrett laid his hat, packages, and gloves on the table. He threw off his cloak and swung Julia into his arms and kissed her sweetly, before looking deeply into her eyes and saying, “Can we change the date of the party so I can have you all to myself tonight? You are so ravishing l don’t want to share you with anyone.”
She laughed. “I will be all yours after everyone has left for the evening. Now we must hurry.” She pushed out of his arms. “Our guests will be arriving in less than half an hour, and you have to change, but first, Chatwyn and I have a surprise for you.”
His expression softened and he pulled her back into his arms once again. “Are you?” His eyes questioned her. “Are you with child?”
“No,” she gasped. “Oh, no. I’m sorry, my darling. I didn’t mean for you to think that. That would be a surprise to both of us. It never crossed my mind you might guess I’m in the family way. Not only that but we haven’t been married long enough for me to be with child.”
His eyes narrowed and he quirked his head a little, looking doubtfully at her.
“Well, I suppose I could be, but never you mind about that right now—I’m not with child.” She looked behind her. “Chatwyn, you can come out now.”
Garrett reached down and kissed her lips, her cheeks, and down her neck. “You look delicious and you smell heavenly,” he whispered.
“And you are misbehaving.” She gently pushed out of his arms again. “Chatwyn, where are you?”
From down the corridor her son came walking out of the drawing room, leading an old gray Irish wolfhound behind him. The top of the tall, lanky dog’s head reached above Chatwyn’s shoulder. His shaggy hair was thinning, and missing in some places. His big body was emaciated and his limp pronounced.
Julia’s heart melted all over again as she watched the old dog. “We found him in the park today. He clearly doesn’t belong to anyone so we brought him home for you. I know he looks shabby, but you can see he must have been a magnificent dog at one time.”
“He still is.”
Garrett couldn’t have said anything that would have pleased Julia more. “You have a new family, and now you have a new dog, too.”
Garrett laughed and dropped to his knees as Chatwyn and the dog stopped in front of him. He first rubbed Chatwyn’s head and said, “Thank you,” and then he patted the dog.
“Do you like him?” Chatwyn asked.
“He’s perfect. This hound might be old but he hasn’t lost his noble posture, has he?”
“No,” Chatwyn said, “but he can’t see well. He keeps bumping into walls and furniture.”
Garrett looked up at Julia as he cupped the dog’s gray muzzle with one hand and rubbed his ears with the other. “He has soulful eyes, and he’s just the kind of dog I need.”
Julia’s chest heaved. “I’m so glad you like him, too. He may not see well but he’s gentle. I thought he’d look grand lying by your feet in the evenings when you sit down to read and have a brandy.”
“All gentlemen should have a dog as grand, Julia. Thank you.” Garrett glanced back to Chatwyn as York moseyed up and nudged his shoulder. He patted York with one hand and the wolfhound with the other. The two old dogs were already friends. “It’s a good thing you found him when you did. He’s skin and bones.”
“I helped Mama get him home.”
“I’m glad you did. What’s his name?”
Chatwyn shrugged and looked up at Julia. “We don’t know. Mama said he’s your dog. You should be the one to name him.”
“All right. That seems fair. What’s your favorite name for a dog?” he asked Chatwyn.
“Bear because bears are strong and fierce like me.” Chatwyn puffed out his chest and made a growling noise.
“It just so happens that Bear’s my favorite name, too. So his name is Bear.”
“I’ve never had a dog by that name, but it is a fine name for him,” Julia said to her son. “You can take him back to the book room now,” she said to her son.