Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

W oolwich Harbor

"I cannot believe you would marry me one day and leave me the next." Lovie couldn't stop the tears while she stood on the dock doing her best to say goodbye. "What if we never see you again."

"Lovie, I'm coming back before the babe is born. I promised." Hawke held her by the shoulders, bending his head to see her beneath her bonnet, a strand of auburn hair snapping in the wind.

"You cannot promise what the weather will be, and I'm not simply suggesting a storm or a terrible accident because the thought is too much to consider. But what if you can't find passage back in time? Is that something you considered?"

"I've considered everything. Twice. I need the funds to start a family. Maple Ridge Manor will be successful someday, but it will take time and money to accomplish that.

"So, we'll live with Rochester." She glanced at him, pouting a little. When they locked eyes, and she saw the telltale signs of crinkles at the corners of his, they both burst into a rolling chuckle.

"Oh, he'll just love that."

"In truth, he would do anything for me. And Hudson and I would do anything for him."

"Did you know that they both offered to help with cash flow? Even your brother, who threatened to throttle me three days ago."

She shook her head. "Why not accept their help? We've all been flat, Remi. They understand." She hugged him around the middle. "After all, they're your family now, too." She stayed in his embrace, silence lengthening while neither wished to put a period at the end of the feeble argument.

He rubbed her back and kissed her head. "Thank you for marrying me, Lovie."

"Did I have a choice?" She turned her face up to him.

"You always have a choice. I robbed you of an extravagant wedding."

"How did you manage St. George's? I counted four weddings on the register that day alone."

"I'm persuasive. Did you have any doubt?" He teased her. "And believe it or not, Hudson jumped in and created room. He's very good at what he does."

"He's charming."

"I'm not certain I agree. Not yet." He smiled, then turned serious. "I love you, Mrs. Remington Hawke."

Tears flowed down her cheeks, hot streaks of salt and pain. "I love you too." She kissed him softly on the lips. "Please come back. I need you."

* * *

Her heart had exploded into a million pieces watching him board that ship. The tears were a flood that could have filled the Thames.

It was the first week of March, and she prayed for good weather.

"And today?" Lovie asked Hudson at the breakfast table.

"Weather looks good."

"Did you go to the docks and ask?"

"We can't travel there every day, Lovie. I know you're worried, but he's only been gone a week. Take a deep breath for the baby's sake if not yours."

"You don't have a romantic bone in your body, do you, Hud?"

He cocked a brow at her. "I'm refraining from commenting because you're not speaking with clarity." He reached across the little table and took her hand. "Please eat something. I'll go this afternoon and check the reports if it will make you happy."

She nodded with relief. "Thank you."

No one had to tell her that it was raining. That much she could see, and her imagination ran wild, wondering where his ship was. From the foyer of Rochester's Mayfair home, she heard the banging echo of the front door blowing open and slamming into the wall. Rochester's voice blustered a curse. She and Hudson exchanged a look when the sound of boots stomping over the marble floor reached their ears next.

"Do you think he needs help?" Lovie asked Hudson.

"I think he's angry because that door latch is heavy enough to have damaged the wall if it hit hard enough."

"Nothing a little putty can't fix," came Rochester's voice. He didn't look overly upset as he stepped into the breakfast room, brushing down his jacket and waistcoat.

Lovie looked at his boots, wet and shiny from the rain. "You should take those off and tend them before the water damages the leather."

"They're rather made for that, I think."

Lovie's head snapped up, and Hudson pivoted fiercely in his chair.

"I've been soaked for nearly a week. I think I'll change my clothes. Would you like to help, Mrs. Hawke?" It was Remington's achingly familiar baritone. He stood directly behind Rochester, his hair damp, his boots glossy, and his brows pressed together in a little vee.

Lovie almost could not find her feet. "What… what happened?"

While she stood there frozen to the spot, Remington strolled forward, and when he was within arm's length, he reached for her, grabbing her in a hug that drove the breath from her lungs. Ignoring everyone else in the room, he took her cheeks between his hands and kissed her hard. His lips were cold from the wind, water dripped from his hair onto her shoulder, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, clutching him like a lifeline. She heard the scrape of a chair, and then the door close after her brother and cousin left them alone.

"You didn't go," she said, amazed. "Where have you been for a week?"

"I made it to Cornwall, where we stopped for supplies, and I couldn't wait to get off that blasted ship. From there, I found a post coach, where I spent the next four days and nights. I don't know which was worse, the ship or the coach."

"Why did you come back?"

He leaned in and bit her ear. "Why do you think, Lovie Hawke?"

"Because you're afraid of me," she said blandly, without a hint of a smile until he looked at her with startled confusion, at which point she broke into a grin.

"You terrify me." Suddenly he pulled back and reached into his pocket. "I almost forgot." He grinned nervously. "Wrong pocket." He slid his hand into his watch pocket and pulled out something. Kneeling before her, he gazed up, holding out an emerald ring encircled with winking diamonds. "Will you be my wife for always, Lovie Wright?"

She laughed. "You're silly."

He slid the ring on her finger. "Well, we've done everything backward. Why not this?"

"Everything?" she asked wickedly.

He raised a brow. "Wherever your imagination takes us, I will go."

She bit her lip. "I'm thinking upstairs. You in a hot bath, and me bathing you as your devoted maidservant who happens to be ridiculously in love with you."

"Agreed."

They headed to her room, smiles beaming.

"Should I pay you?" he teased.

"Whatever you'd like, darling. But I warn you. My imagination is very expensive."

"I'll sell the Manor."

"We can live with Rochester," she said without missing a step.

Laughter echoed down the stairs, and Lovie didn't care who heard. Not this time.