Page 63 of Hold Me Fast
A march! In her little parlor! In moments, Tam was pounding out a march on the square piano that had once graced her cottage, and even the adults were on their feet, miming instruments or swinging their arms like soldiers as they marched in and out of furniture, shouting “Hurrah,” in response to Tom’s “Hip, hip,” and in time to the music.
The celebration spilled over to the servants and spread through the house, and cake and cider appeared to fuel the festivities, as all of Tamsyn’s nearest and dearest took their turn to peer at the letter and admire the contract.
The visitors ended up staying for dinner, which was early in the Trethewey house so that Janet could be included. Afterward, Patricia had to go home. “I have books to mark before the morning,” she insisted.
Patricia still lived in Tamsyn’s cottage. Tamsyn had given her a life tenancy when Patricia agreed to take over from the innkeeper’s wife as a permanent teacher. A much younger assistant teacher had moved in five years ago, and Patricia was talking about cutting back her hours, but Tamsyn would believe it when she saw it.
“I’ll send you down in the gig, Patricia,” Jowan said. “You shouldn’t be walking in the dark.” He had a word with Tom, who rushed away with Joe to organize it.
“It is time for us to be off home, too,” said Evangeline. “I am so proud of you, Tamsyn, I could burst.” She gave Tamsyn a hug. “Tell Joe to head home when he gets back from taking his Auntie Patricia back to Apple Cottage.”
“Time for bed for you, Janet my love,” Tamsyn told her youngest. “I shall be up in a few minutes to give you a kiss.
The large entry hall at Inneford House rapidly emptied, until only Tamsyn stood there, Jowan having escorted Patricia to the gig. She turned in a circle, her arms out and her head back, and so Jowan found her when he stepped back inside.
“Happy, darling?” he asked, kissing her fingers where her wedding ring nestled next to the signet ring he had given her so long ago.
“Happy. I am the most fortunate of women, beloved, and that is even without contracts from America. You, our two beautiful children. Work that I love. Wonderful friends. A village full of neighbors.”
“We have been greatly blessed,” Jowan agreed. “Tamsyn, Tom asked if he could stay with Joe tonight, and I said he could go straight there after they return the gig to the stable.”
“Let us say goodnight to Janet and go to bed ourselves,” Tamsyn suggested.
As always, her husband’s gaze heated. “Two minds with but a single thought,” he said.
Sometime later they lay, as they often did after physical loving, in one another’s arms. “I am,” said Tamsyn, “perfectly happy.” Even as she said it, she realized she had given her husband the opening line for one of his favorite jokes, and sure enough, he pasted on a mournful look.
“I have just one niggling fly in the perfect ointment of my bliss,” he told her, sadly.
She rolled her eyes, but said, “And what was that, my love?”
“Who is Mac?” Jowan asked. “And what does he know?”
THE END
