Abbie lay across his chest, and playfully nibbled on his lower lip. “Neither would I.” She then gazed into his eyes. “I love the way that you are looking at me. You had the exact expression on your face years ago, the one evening we’d met in the shed.”
“In what way?” Garrett asked, kissing the tip of her nose.
“As if there was no one in the entire world but the two of us. It was as if you wanted nothing else but to possess me.” Abbie paused, and sadness glittered in her eyes. “You savored the love and desire, then, the look was gone. As if you had placed the emotions in a dusty attic. To be forgotten.”
“It is true what you say. For a brief moment, I knew that it was love. Then I immediately dismissed it and refused to acknowledge it. And we have suffered for it ever since.”
“We will suffer no more, my dearest,” Abbie whispered. They kissed, and when they broke apart, Abbie curled up in his arms.
After many minutes passed, Garrett said, “I believe we will have a proper winter wedding. Remember? The one you’d spoke of all those years ago. The one you longed for.”
“Oh, I do remember. How surprising to find you recall it.”
“I recall everything that you’ve ever said to me.” Garrett caressed her arm as he spoke. “Every kiss. Every touch. Every time we joined as one.” Abbie’s eyes glistened with emotion at his words. “A small ceremony at Wollstonecraft Hall, you wearing a white cape with silk snowflakes…” Abbie kissed him fiercely. Already he was becoming aroused again. It would be a long, passionate night.
Abbie ended the kiss, then held up the gold ribbon. “At least we will manage to keep the curse from our door.” He smiled in response. “Speaking of curses, I meant to ask, what did Riordan discover about breaking the Wollstonecraft curse?”
“When he was a young lad, he’d discovered ancient papers belonging to the sixteenth century Earl of Carnstone. The man sought out a Scottish sorceress and begged her to break the curse. Her response was that it could only be broken when all the men living formed a love bond within a lunar year, any twelve-month period, I imagine.”
“How fascinating. So, you and Riordan have found love, and if your father and brother accept their growing feelings toward Alberta and Mary Tuttle, that would leave…”
“Aidan.”
Both remained quiet for several moments, lost in their thoughts.
“I believe Cristyn Bevan has feelings for Aidan,” Abbie stated.
“Truly? What makes you believe that?”
“I’ve observed their interactions, before leaving Standon in January, and again recently.” Abbie played with his chest hair, twirling it about the tip of her finger as she spoke. “I’ve never seen Cristyn give such focused attention to any other patient before. But it was more the way she spoke to him, gazed longingly at him. It’s hard to describe. I thought when I first met Bastian that Cristyn would be a good match for him, considering their mutual interest in the medical field.” She shrugged. “Fate has other plans, for I caught Aidan staring at Cristyn with a stark yearning. Perhaps nothing will come of it.”
Fascinating. Could Aidan find it deep within himself to forego his vices and disreputable past and accept love? It remained to be seen.
However, his and Abbie’s story was not over, nor was it for the rest of the men of Wollstonecraft Hall. Garrett had his soul mate, the lady of his heart. Hell, he always had her, though he’d stupidly denied it for years. All because of the curse. Well, curse be damned.
Now if only the remaining men of his family could embrace love. As he pulled Abbie closer, he silently wished for all of them to find love and discover true happiness.
If anyone deserved and needed to be loved, it was Aidan.