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“I am glad you came back for me,” Catherine said, sounding sleepy. “I was so worried that you might hate me.”

“I could never hate you,” William said.

He caressed her waist and traced the lines of her hips. His hands swept over her ribs and up once more to her breasts. He kissed her cheek and her neck, while she remained pliant in his arms. William decided that this was his favorite version of Catherine, where she was pleasured and dazed from his amorous attentions.

“I love you more than anyone,” he said.

“And I love you.” She paused. “What happens next?”

He laughed. “I suppose we learn what it really means to be married, Catherine.”

“We do not already know that?”

“I am not certain if we do or not,” William replied. “I thought I understood what marriage is, but the longer I am wed to you, the less certain I am that I understand.”

“I suppose I feel similarly,” Catherine replied.

He held her through the rest of the journey. Only once they neared the estate did William reluctantly relinquish her. She climbed back into her seat and smoothed over the wrinkles of her dress, smiling mischievously at him. “I hope no one heard us,” she said.

“I doubt it,” he replied, “over the sound of the horses and the road. But if anyone did, I promise that my footman would have chosen to ignore it.”

“How generous of him.”

“Generous, indeed.”

William kissed her once again and squeezed her hand. His throat was tight, and his body surged with joy. He was with Catherine once again. He had admitted that he loved her, and even better, she loved him.

Everything was just perfect.

EPILOGUE

“It is well past time for us to retire,” Elias said, gesturing for a hug.

Catherine grinned and embraced her brother. His familiar Albany cologne mingled with the scent of Negus and pine.

“Good night,” Catherine said.

“Good night.”

Dorothy, clad in a beautiful white gown embellished with embroidered leaves of holly and red ribbons, hugged her next. “Good night, kitty cat,” she said. “Merry Christmas.”

Catherine hugged her sister tightly. “Merry Christmas.”

It was the first holiday event she had hosted on the estate with William, an intimate Christmas party that would last three days. Her family had arrived on the first day, and it had been a marvelous time. There was joy, games, and laughter. It was almost like the old days, when it had just been her and her siblings. This was better, though. William and the girls had been welcome additions.

It was also very tiring, and as the clock neared midnight, Catherine was grateful to see that her siblings were ready to retire for the night. Hannah and Hester had already fallen asleep, and Bridget had looked tired for the past hour. Catherine had worried that Elias and his seemingly inexhaustible energy might never find sleep, though.

“I love you,” Dorothy said.

“I love you, too.”

Catherine smiled as the butler escorted her brother and sister to their rooms. The space, once cold and forbidding, had been transformed in anticipation of guests. The entire house was decked with holly and ivy in honor of the season.

A pair of arms wrapped around her from behind, and Catherine laughed. She sank back into William’s warm embrace. Her back pressed against his broad, muscular chest. “Tired?” William asked.

“What makes you think that?” Catherine inquired.

“You keep yawning,” William replied, placing a light kiss at the base of her neck.