“Are you sure?” he whispered against her skin.
“Aye,” she sighed as he worked on the buttons, “I have grown weary of waiting for you.”
He chuckled and eased the gown down to kiss her shoulder. Impatient, she tugged the gown down to her waist.
No more hesitation, no more light humor. His passion exploded. He pulled her hard against him, his mouth hot and wet on her neck, his hands cupping her breasts. She closed her eyes and dropped her head back to rest against his shoulder. This is what she needed to wipe away the memory of Edmund’s touch.
William scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the bedchamber. Again and again through the night he told her he loved her.
And now, Catherine believed him.
Epilogue
1417
William ran his finger up her arm. “We have the afternoon without the children underfoot. Do you wish to spend italldiscussing them?”
Catherine laughed and squeezed his hand. After a dozen years, their love and their passion for each other remained strong.
“God has truly blessed us,” she said.
“His blessing today is that the children are gone,” he said as he pulled her to her feet.
Before they reached the stairs, Catherine heard male laughter behind them, and Stephen and Jamie burst into the hall.
“This is a happy surprise!” she said as she crossed the room to greet them. “We did not expect you for another fortnight.”
“We missed you too much to wait,” Stephen said as he leaned down to kiss her cheek.
“I suppose the ladies at court believe all your lies,” she chided. “You must tell me later what truly brought you home early.”
She settled the men by the hearth and sent for wine.
“I am certain the king intends to return the Carleton family lands to you,” William said, “so there is no reason to delay arranging a betrothal for you.”
She sighed. Did William have to raise the subject even before the wine was poured? She and William were in perfect accord on the need for Stephen to be settled, but she would have waited for a quiet moment to speak with Stephen alone.
“There is no cause to hurry either,” Stephen said. His tone was light, but she caught the obstinate look in his eyes.
“Still,” she put in, “there can be no harm in discussing it.”
“I have presents for the little ones,” Stephen said in a blatant attempt to divert her. “Where have you hidden them?”
“They are visiting the abbess.” She folded her arms. “Now Stephen—”
“Truly, Catherine, every young lady you’ve asked me to consider is exceedingly dull.” To annoy her, he turned to Jamie and said in a loud whisper, “And pliant in all the wrong ways.”
“You should have let us arrange this betrothal long ago,” William said. “Now Mother and Abbess Talcott have put their minds to it.”
“I thought Mother’s new husband would keep her better occupied,” Stephen grumbled. Lady Eleanor had married a man a dozen years her junior after the death of Stephen’s father.
William’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “I suggest you settle the matter soon, or those two are sure to trap you in some scheme of their own.”
“I told you a long time ago,” Stephen said, winking at Catherine, “if you can find me a woman like yours, I’ll be wed as soon as the banns can be posted.”
Catherine rolled her eyes and waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “Save your false flattery for the foolish women I hear you spend your time with.”
As the men continued talking, she bit her lip and stared into the fire. She should have known the young girls of marriageable age would bore him. Perhaps a foreign bride would pique Stephen’s interest. Or a young widow…