Vanessa stroked his cheek tenderly. "I'm glad we are in full accord then."
His blue eyes twinkled. "What, even about the death and children remark?"
"Especially about that," she whispered shyly.
He threw his head back and laughed, and then lifted her by the waist and spun her around once
She squealed in delight, and laughed as she had not done in more years than she could count.
He set her back down on her feet gently with a single heated kiss. "I'm sorry. There I go again, getting carried away. I hope I have not hurt you. Pray be seated and rest, my dear. My only excuse for my rambunctious behavior is you've made me feel like a schoolboy all over again.
"I shall just fetch pen and paper so you can dash off a letter to your solicitors to come when they can, in a few days when you are fully recovered and appropriately settled at the Jeromes' home. Then we shall go have that cup of tea I promised you, and tell everyone the marvelous news. That you have consented to make me the happiest of men."
Vanessa searched his face for any sign of insincerity, but found only a glowing pleasure and contentment. She stretched up on tiptoe to kiss him once again, and gauged his passion by the ardor of his kiss.
She was nearly scorched by the heat which emanated from him as they clung together, pressing more and more tightly against one another, hands seeking, searching, thrilling. Only the sound of a throat clearing in the doorway brought them to their senses. Vanessa almost didn't hear it, so loud was the pounding of her heart as she lost herself in Clifford's embrace.
Henry grinned from ear to ear. "Let me guess. I can now officially have the pleasure of welcoming you to the family, Vanessa."
"She has consented to share her life with me, yes."
"How wonderful. I might have known you would steal the march on me and marry first. But I don't mind. It will take the pressure off Josephine and I now, since there has not been a huge wedding in the district for some time, and ours would have been the first."
"I had always imagined a quiet one, myself, but I suppose given the situation, the last thing we want is a hole-in-the-corner affair."
"But Clifford, I'm still in mourning," Vanessa pointed out gently.
"That's true, of course, my dear. We shall have to err on the side of respectability and arrange a quiet, sober and small-ish affair. And while I am dying to get started on our family, I think ensuring our first child is born at least a year after we wed will stop any future tongue-wagging."
Vanessa flushed red as a peony. "But I thought--"
"I'm more than delighted to take whatever the Lord gives us, but there are ways of preventing conception, as the good doctor will tell you. Abstinence of course is the most effective method of all."
"Then you might as well not even be married," Henry said with a shake of his head.
"Not that we should be discussing this in front of you, little brother, but I am not a satyr, for Heaven's sake. Moreover, there will be certain times each month, and then during pregnancy, when a wife will require our forbearance, as you well know. To give any woman less than the appropriate consideration for her welfare is most ungentlemanly."
"I defer to your superior experience, then." Henry's face fell. "Oh, er, I didn't mean-"
Vanessa gave a timid smile. "It's all right, Henry. Clifford has told me all I need to know of his past."
Henry shook his head. "I shouldn't have started this conversation."
She smiled slightly. "No, I'm glad you did. It has put my mind at ease on quite a number of points. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a letter to write."
Clifford checked the top of the desk for ink and a quill, and some clean paper. "We will be in presently, Henry. Please ask Josephine if she will be so kind as to pour for us."
"I shall. And once again, many congratulations, and so sorry for the, well, you know what I said."
"All is forgiven. Now shoo, little brother."
"Vanessa Stone," she said musingly.
"My only wife, my only love," he declared softly, putting his arm around her shoulders with easy affection.
She pulled away from him. "You don't have to say that. It can't possibly be true."
He stroked her cheek lightly. "You ought to know by now, I don't say what I don't mean. I was fascinated by your beauty as a young lady, but never did I imagine we would be destined for one another."
"Nor did I, but in your arms, it feels so, so perfect. Like nothing can ever harm me."
"Yes, it does, doesn't it?" he said with a grin, as she returned once more to his embrace, nestling full against him perfectly, as though they were designed to fit together in every respect.