Page 169 of Snowbound Surrender

“No one sent for me,” he said, astonishment crossing his face. “You don’t remember, then, much of yesterday?”

“I remember falling from my horse, seeing Stone. I remember finally managing to lift myself up on Star. It took forever and it hurt, oh so much. But I knew if I didn’t, I could freeze to death out there, and the storm was getting worse. But then I was tired, and cold and … I don’t know, I must have made it home, or I wouldn’t be here.”

“What do you mean, you saw Stone?” his eyes narrowed, taking on a suspicious gleam.

“Oh Hunter, that man is evil,” she said recounting to him the story. By the time she had finished, Hunter was pacing the room, his features hardened into a countenance so grim she would have been scared had she not known him so well.

“I will kill him!” he ground out.

“You can’t kill him.”

“He will pay.” He stopped pacing then, turning to look at her. “Those words … that’s exactly what he said to me — that I would pay for getting rid of him. Apparently, he thought this was the way to make it happen.”

Scarlett shook her head in wonderment at how far some people were willing to go to get what they wanted, even if it meant hurting others.

“We mustn’t stoop to his level, Hunter,” she said. “Tell the appropriate authorities and hopefully they can find him and punish him accordingly. Promise me?”

After a few moments, he nodded, though reluctantly. “Now, Hunter, I must apologize. I did not mean to pull you from London. I know you had a very important meeting tomorrow — today? Anyway, I’m fine, you can return whenever you?—”

“Scarlett.” He strode over and put a finger to her lips. “I didn’t return today. I never even made it to London. I had turned around toward Wintervale and found you on the drive. You are incredible, that is for certain, to have had the strength to make it back. And I am so very glad you did.”

“What do you mean you didn’t make it to London?”

“I realized I had forgotten something more important than anything else in my life — you.”

“Hunter,” she said, not able to look into the ocean of his eyes, for then she would be lost and would forget all that she had to say. “I am sorry I was such a coward. Iwillreturn to London with you. I will be by your side, I promise. I was a fool, letting my own fears, my memories, myparents’ life keep me from living my own. Forgive me, please?”

“No, love,” Hunter said softly, sitting next to her now, his weight on the mattress causing her to roll toward him slightly. “I thought that I could bring you with me, to turn my life into our life, but I failed to realize that we must live together in what is best for both of us, not just for me. I love what I do in the House of Lords, I do, but I must admit that I become rather preoccupied with it, so much so that I often forgot to simply live. I will go once Session begins, and I would love to have you with me, but until then, here we will remain, enjoying life with one another. How does that sound?”

“But the work you are doing — it’s important. Do you not need to be there?” she asked, her eyes round.

“I can speak with others through correspondence or with the odd visit to London. Thankfully Wintervale is not overly far,” he said with a shrug, “But you — you I do need, Scarlett, and I have been a fool not to realize that until now.”

She tried to throw herself in his arms but cringed when her chest tightened, and she sat back, gasping.

“Ah, yes,” he said, wrinkling his nose. “The physician managed a visit yesterday, and he suspects you have bruised your chest, in addition to a sprained ankle. Both will heal quickly, mercifully, but you’re going to have to be careful for a while. No riding. No activities that require any exertion.”

“None?” she asked with a squeak.

He shook his head regretfully. “None, I’m afraid — for a few days at least.”

“Ah, you had me worried there for a moment,” she said with a wink, and he laughed, though he sobered when he saw the serious expression on her face.

“Are you in pain?” he asked, but she shook her head.

“No, it’s simply that I have to tell you something, something that I should have quite some time ago. I love you, Hunter, with all of my heart,” she said, having to clear her throat when she heard her voice begin to waver. “Since the day we were married, you have been nothing but kind and patient with me. I mistrusted you for no fault of your own and allowed fear to get the better of me. Which is silly, really, as I am fearful of nearly nothing else but losing my heart. Until I sat there in a snowbank, freezing down to my very bones, and I realized that what was even worse than my love going unrequited was not even giving it a chance.”

He cupped her face in his hands, trailing his finger over the pattern of freckles on her nose and cheeks.

“I love you too, Scarlett,” he said in nearly a whisper. “I’ve told you that many times before, but never did I realize howmuch until I saw you so numb with cold, looking as though blood could hardly be pumping through your veins any longer. I cannot lose you — I will not. You are my wife, Scarlett, and from now on, I am going to spend every day reminding you of the fact.”

She began to smile, then, until tears began to flow down her face as her heart filled with all the love that was possible. Her smile stretched so wide that her cheeks ached, as he grinned back at her in return, reaching out to wipe away her tears. This was her husband, who loved her despite all that she had put him through.

“I was thinking,” he said, picking up her hand once more, playing with her fingers. “If I need to return to London now and again, it is not far — only a few hours. I can go for a day or so at a time. Then I will return here, to you. When Session begins once more, however, then?—”

“Then I will return with you,” she said, holding up a hand when he made to argue. “I’ve decided this, and I will be fine with it. I have purpose — you’ve given me that with my charity work and foundation. And I am not returning alone. I am not returning to a man like my father, but to you, Hunter Tannon. All you have to do is be yourself, and I shall be fine.”

He leaned down then, and ever so gently brought his hands to either side of her head on the pillow, setting his lips against hers. He kissed her softly, a kiss full of promise of a life to come — together.