Page 89 of An Earl's Christmas Seduction

“Even Lord O’Neil? Do you think he’ll ever go back to Ireland?” he said, and Amelia shook her head.

“I doubt it. He’s having far too much fun in the company of Edgar and Hugh in London. I can’t imagine any woman ever falling for any of them, but perhaps that’s mean spirited,” Amelia said, and Nicholas smiled.

“I don’t think it is. It’s the truth. But I wouldn’t have him any other way. I wouldn’t have any of it any other way. I think… sometimes, it takes a trial to realize what one has to count one’s blessings, so to speak,” he said, and Amelia nodded.

“You’re right. If we always knew happiness, we’d never learn to appreciate it, would we? A year ago, I couldn’t have imagined…” she said, her words trailing off.

“Come on, let’s slip away for a few moments. They won’t miss us,” Nicholas said, and taking Amelia by the hand, he led her out onto the terrace, and down the steps across the garden.

They did not stop until they had reached the end of the lawn, where the neatly cut grass gave way to the cliff top, from which was visible the crashing waves on the beach below. The air was salty, the sky bright blue, and the sun warm with the promise of the spring and summer months to come. Amelia took a deep breath, holding out her arms, the breeze catching the sleeves of her dress, as Nicholas slipped his arms around her waist.

“Isn’t it wonderful?” she said, and he kissed her on the neck.

“It’s my favorite place to stand, the tumult of the winter storms, the calm seas of a summer’s day, the waters ebb and flow somehow it reminds me of life sometimes we sail on the calm, sometimes we weather the storm. You know that better than I do, Amelia. But standing here now, with you, on our wedding day, it seems as though we’re setting sail on a great adventure together,” he said, and Amelia smiled.

“And on calm seas, I think,” she replied.

“Absolutely, though that doesn’t mean the water might not be choppy at times. We’ve a steady craft, though, and I know we’ll sail her well,” he said.

Amelia turned to him, slipping her arms around him and resting her head on his chest. He was right, there had been storms in the past. Storms make her believe the calm would never come. But life was different now, and the memories of the past were as nothing to the future lying ahead of them.

“Should we go back?” she asked, and he smiled.

“What? And has the viscount direct us in yet another dance? No, let’s stay here and enjoy this moment together. I want it to last forever, Amelia. I know it won’t, but I know our love will, and for every moment to come that’s all that matters,” he said, leaning forward to kiss her.

Their lips met, and Amelia closed her eyes, his arms around her, the waves crashing on the rocks below. The storms of life were calmed, and their future was surely as he said it would be.

“I love you,” she whispered, as their lips parted, he said the same the only words that mattered.

THE END?