Tears stung Helena’s eyes. She sank down and gathered them close. “Oh, my girls,” she whispered. “What a gift you are.”
They hugged for a long, tender moment, then the girls swung to their father and latched on to him. “Thank you, Papa!” they cried in overlapping voices.
Ash held Evie and Lily in turn, closing his eyes. Helena hadn’t been wrong when she’d told him she knew he loved his children.
There was a jostle, and Lewis flung himself into the pile, abandoning dignity to share the embraces.
At last all three untangled themselves and dashed for the house, Evie and Lily swinging their twined hands. Guy herded them along, his rumbling voice echoing back to them.
Helena and Ash were left alone ... awkwardly. They faced each other a few feet apart, both breathing hard. Ash’s cheekbones were flushed, but his eyes held determination.
“You won’t take it back?” Helena ventured once all was quiet. “You did not ask me simply to make Mr. Lovell go away?”
“No, I do not want to take it back.” Ash’s answer was fierce, and Helena’s heart turned over. Things would never be dull between her and Ash. “Damnation, I need you to marry me.”
“Good.” Helena tentatively reached out and took his hands, her body heating when he caught hers in a firm grip. “My dear, Ash—”
She broke off as Ash dragged her to him, cupped her head in his strong hand, and kissed her.
The kiss was slow but fervent, Ash taking his time. It promised things to come, nights of passion, his hard body over hers, the two of them holding each other in the dark, staving off the autumn chill.
Ash caressed her lips with his thumb as the kiss ended, his breath on her cheek. “Helena. Love.”
Helena melted toward him then she abruptly pulled back, remembering something. “Mr. Lovell said he thought you’d commanded me to return to London.” She frowned. “Not that I would have taken any notice.”
Ash shook his head, his expression softening. “I meant to. I couldn’t bear to see you. My thoughts whenever I was with you ... The way I wanted you ... I knew my family was right that you should be my wife.”
Helena gave him a puzzled look. “Then why didn’t you tell me to leave? You could have sent Edwards with a note.”
“Because you might have gone.” Ash looked at her with his heart in his eyes. “And that would have been worse.”
“Oh,” Helena whispered, every hesitation dissolving. She slid her arms around Ash once more, feeling something complete in her as they came together. She drew him down to her and lost herself in another kiss.
This one lasted longer, roses scenting it, the sounds of laughter and the guests a long way off.
When the kiss eased to its close, Ash held Helena in a warm embrace, her head on his shoulder. She could reach up and kiss his chin whenever she wanted, feeling the brush of dark whiskers his razor could never quite take away.
“A moment.” Helena raised her head. “If I marry you, that means a wedding, which means months of planning. Weeks at the very least. We’ll both have to keep to a timetable. I believe the idea of this marriage was to dispense with schedules.”
Ash chuckled. “That is easily solved. We’ll take my coach to Gretna in the morning.”
Helena blinked. “Goodness, Ash, are you certain? An elopement? How impetuous of you.”
His smile radiated heat. “You make me impetuous, Helena. And impatient. I do not want to wait weeks or months and wade through incessant plans before I can have you.”
Helena’s body thrummed pleasantly. “I do not want to wait either.”
“Then we will go?”
“I will have to pack, of course,” she said. “But I believe I can agree to that—impetuously.”
Ash pulled her close, his arms strong, his body powerful. His next kiss stole her breath, and Helena clung to him and enjoyed it.
“I love you, Your Grace,” she whispered.
“I love you, Mrs. Courtland,” Ash said in his low rumble. “Helena. My fine lady. Thank you.”
He did not say for what, but Helena understood. Her loneliness fled in a wash of joy, and she knew his shattered as well.
More yells pulled their attention toward the house. Lewis and his sisters were leaping into the air, waving, laughing. They’d seen the kissing. Guy looked on, arms folded, appearing very pleased with himself.
Ash laughed. Helena hadn’t heard such a jubilant sound in a long time. He waved at his family, then caught Helena around the waist as the two of them headed for the waiting children, and home.