“Where are you?”

Rupert chuckled to himself as he hid behind a tree, peeking out from behind it to see Marie and their eldest son, William, walking together hand in hand. 

“There he is!” he heard Marie exclaim, as William let out a squeal of delight. “Go and find him!”

Rupert stayed where he was, only to let out a cry of feigned exasperation as his son found him, making William laugh aloud. Catching his son up in his arms, he whirled him around lightly, then held him tight, tickling him under his chin. 

“You found me after all, then,” he said, setting his son down and taking Marie in his arms instead. “I think I should always let you find me.” He gently took her hand, offering her a soft kiss. She responded with a soft blush, and they shared a quiet moment of understanding. As they strolled through the garden, thoughts of the day’s obligations drifted away, replaced by the simple pleasure of each other’s company. Perhaps, he thought, he might find a way to have the nursemaid look after William and little Francis for a short while, so they could enjoy a peaceful walk together. 

 “I know exactly what you are thinking and the answer to that is no, we cannot,” Marie laughed. “The nursemaid is having her afternoon off, as well you know and the maid is already watching Francis for when he wakes. Then he will be brought back to you and I so we might be together as a family. Besides,” she said, with a twinkle in her eye, “I have a surprise for you.”

“Oh?” Grinning at her, he turned to look at William who was busy chasing a butterfly. “Does it involve handing the children to another of the servants?”

She laughed and leaned into him. “No, it does not,” she said, with a smile, her arm about his waist as they began to walk back towards the front of the house, William running to a waiting maid who had set out tea and cakes on the lawn for them all. “Come, it will be arriving very soon.”

“Arriving?”

Marie said nothing, though the knowing smile on her lips made Rupert’s heart warm all the more. She was the most beautiful, magnificent lady in the world, he thought, still hardly able to believe, some three years later, that she had ever consented to marry him. How much his world had changed because of her! How much joy and happiness was his, now that she belonged to him and he to her! Rupert dared not think about what his life might be like had she not married him. No doubt he would still be consumed with darkness and shadow and that thought terrified him.

“You are frowning.”

“Only because I was thinking of what I would be like without you,” he said, leaning over and pressing a kiss to her temple. “You know just how much I love you, do you not?”

She turned to look up at him, her eyes holding his. “You tell me so every day,” she said, gently. “You show me how much you love me with all that you do. I am the fortunate one, Rupert. I am the one who has been blessed with so much and for that, I shall always be grateful.”

“I am afraid I shall heartily disagree with you in that,” he said, with a smile on his lips before he bent his head to kiss her again. “Be assured I always shall.” This time, the kiss lingered, the world seeming to fade away. It was only when a distant sound caught his attention that he broke the kiss, his breathing a little ragged as he tried to make out what it was. 

“They are here!” Marie’s hand settled against his heart, a bright smile on her face. “My love, I have invited Lord and Lady Chesterton to stay for a few days. I thought… well, it has been some time since we have seen them all since I was in confinement and I know how much this friendship means to you.”

Rupert’s heart ricocheted in his chest, not looking at the approaching carriage but down into his wife’s face. Her love for him touched everything in his world, made it all brighter, warmer and more beautiful. “You are my sole delight,” he said, framing her face with his hands. “Thank you for this, Marie.”

She smiled and kissed him again, just as the carriage drew near. With a broad smile on his face and joy in his heart, Rupert beckoned William closer and stood, one arm around his wife and his hand holding his son’s tiny one. This was such a happy moment, he thought, as Lord Chesterton beamed at him from the carriage, all brought about by his wife. 

“How delightful it is to see you all!” Lord Chesterton exclaimed, as the door was opened by the footman, though Lady Chesterton descended first, followed by their own two children both around William’s age. “Thank you for the invitation, Marie.”

“Yes, thank you,” Lady Chesterton said, greeting Marie warmly and then smiling at Rupert. “We have missed being in your company! Although I must say, I am very eager indeed to meet the new arrival!”

Rupert watched with a smile as his wife took Lady Chesterton’s arm and led her into the house, clearly more than ready to show off little Francis. William took Lord Chesterton’s children, Stephen and Emilia, over to the maid with the cakes and within a matter of moments, all three children were sitting and eating contentedly. Rupert chuckled and set one hand on his friend’s shoulder. “We are blessed, are we not?”

“Indeed we are,” Lord Chesterton agreed, watching the children with a smile on his face. “I am truly delighted to be with you all again. It has been far too long, though we would not have intruded on Marie’s confinement. I assume she is well recovered after the birth?”

Rupert nodded. “Indeed so, though I have told her I am contented with two children. I do not want her to endure any more pain.”

“Just as I have said to Prudence,” Lord Chesterton remarked, with a nod of understanding. “You clearly love her, my friend. I am very glad of that.”

“I adore her,” Rupert answered, his heart filled with happiness. “My life would not be the same without her, I know that for certain.” Thinking of all she had given him, Rupert let out a long and contented sigh. “Indeed, I love her and she loves me. And that truly is the most wonderful thing.”

THE END