Chapter 30

Benedict tied Saxon to the gate post outside the vicarage. It had been two days since Caroline had visited him in his bedchamber. Later that same day, his fever had finally broken, and ever since then, he'd been impatiently waiting for the last of his blisters to scab over so he might leave the house and see her again.

With long strides, he started down the garden path toward the front door. He'd almost reached it when he heard a peal of childish laughter. He stopped. The laughter came again, and this time, he identified the direction from which it was coming. Ignoring the door before him, he followed the path around the house.

The large oak tree that marked the entrance to the back garden appeared much as it had the last time he'd stood in this spot. Deep-green leaves hung from the expansive limbs, shading a portion of the lawn beyond. Once again, Caroline and Meg occupied the garden. Today, however, they were not engaged in making daisy crowns. Instead, Meg was chasing after Caroline in what appeared to be a very energetic game of tick.

Caroline darted left. Meg squealed with delight, hurtling after her as fast as her short legs could go. A smile bloomed on Benedict's face. What a difference a couple of months had made. When she'd first arrived in Leyfield, Caroline could no more have raced around the garden than he could have anticipated falling so fully in love with her.

Gratitude for both those miraculous changes—along with his own return to good health—washed over him. It would likely be a few weeks before the scars on his hands faded, but when compared to what he had gained, a few pockmarks were of little consequence.

Caroline rounded the apple tree, but Meg anticipated her move and ran the opposite direction. Moments later, she barreled into Caroline and was temporarily lost from view within the folds of her mother's wide skirts. Laughing, Caroline stumbled back two paces, attempting to untangle her small assailant.

"Tick!" Meg cried, breaking free. "You're it, Mama! You're it!" She pivoted and started running toward the oak tree. And that was when she saw Benedict. Instantly, her face lit up. "Lord Benting!"

Benedict needed no encouragement. He dropped into a crouch and opened his arms. Meg ran directly into them. He lifted her off the ground and spun her in a circle. "Oh, Meggie, how I've missed you!"

"I missed you even more." Meg wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight. "Because I love you so much."

Her innocent blue eyes met his, and his heart seemed to melt.

"And I love you, Margaret Jane Granger."

She wrinkled her nose at him. "I'm not being naughty."

"Are you sure?" He tickled her.

"Yes." She squirmed and giggled. And then before Benedict knew what she was about, she leaned forward and pressed her soft, damp lips to his cheek.

"Thank you, Meg," he said, sincerely touched. "I am honored that you believe me worthy of a kiss."

She nodded solemnly. "Mama told me a kiss is what you do when you love someone."

"Is that so?" Benedict's gaze flew to Caroline, who was now standing not more than six feet away, her cheeks a becoming shade of pink.

"Margaret—" she began.

"I'm not being naughty, Mama," Meg said. "Truly."

Benedict grinned. "Forgive me, Caroline, but in this instance, I completely agree with Meg." He pressed a soft kiss on top of the little girl's head and then lowered her to the ground. She gave a few happy hops, and Benedict reached for Caroline's hand. "Tell me, Meg," he said, his eyes not leaving Caroline's as he drew her nearer. "If I love your mama, too, do you think I should kiss her?"

"Yes." Meg hopped a couple more times. "That's what you're supposed to do."

"That's good," he said, his arms circling Caroline until she was so close that he could feel her rapidly beating heart echoing his. "What do you think, Caroline?"

Her arms snaked around his neck, sending a shiver of anticipation through him. "I think perhaps you were right," she said softly. "Meg was not being naughty. She was simply—"

Benedict did not wait to hear just how correct Meg was. He already knew it. Cupping Caroline's face in his hands, he lowered his lips to hers and kissed her softly, tenderly. She responded instantly, shifting closer as he deepened the kiss. The love he felt for this remarkable woman flowed through him, leaving his knees weak and his heart full.

"Marry me," he murmured. "Please say you'll marry me."

"Yes." She took a breath. "I love you, Benedict."

With barely restrained joy, he gazed into her blue eyes. "Should I speak to your father?"

Her smile was suddenly shy. "I think he would like that."

"Lord Benting." Meg's voice was filled with wonder. "I think you must love my mama an awful lot. That was the biggest kiss of all."

Humor shone in Caroline's eyes, and her enticing lips curved upward.

"I do love your mama an awful lot," Benedict said, "but I do not think that was the biggest kiss of all."

Meg gasped. "Truly?"

Benedict nodded. "I am absolutely sure of it. In fact, if you would like to pick some dandelions for your mama, I will see if I can kiss her a little longer next time."

"All right." With a beautiful guilelessness that was all her own, Meg hopped three times and then scurried off toward the nearest clump of bright-yellow flowers.

Caroline laughed softly. "She will not let you get away with that often."

"Of that, I have no doubt," he said. "But just this once, I hope she takes the time to pick you the largest bouquet ever." And then slowly, deliberately, and knowing he would never have enough of her, he kissed Caroline again.