Page 122 of In Search of a Husband
“Kate?”
She stopped humming as she uncurled wet scarves. “Hmm?”
“What’s that?”
She hung up the snow-wet scarves, then held up her hand, retreating to the corner for a moment before she turned, revealing a small gray cat snuggled in her arms.
“Katherine?”
She laughed. “The poor dear found us. I swear it.” She swayed over to him, leaning up to drop a kiss on his cheek. “Can’t turn away the little puffball in a snowstorm, now can I?”
“A kitten!” the girls chorused, swooping over to see.
“Ye’re a menace, Kate MacInnes.”
“And isn’t that the best?”
He scratched the kitten’s head and was rewarded with a warm purr. “I’m thankful every day.”
EPILOGUE
April1825
Kate sipped on champagne, sinking a little lower into the warm, sudsy water in the most gorgeous washroom she had ever set eyes upon. It sparkled with a beautiful chandelier and a large, gilded mirror. The small mosaic tilework must have taken months to install alone.
It was beautiful.
But so was the rest of Paris. Kate had never traveled much except for Cumbria or to her aunt’s estate near Bath.
Every detail was perfect in his home, every surface lush and expensive. There were rich silks and smooth velvets, tapestries, and old vases from the Ming dynasty. And as much as she loved the comfortable sofas and throws in his library, the kitchen stole her heart.
She giggled to herself, sinking down to the waterline. She loved the way the crisp champagne bubbles played upon her tongue.
Gabriel had mentioned his shipping business before, but this? This was beyond dreams. Her mother would surely faint if ever she stepped foot into the magnificent home. Perhaps she would forgive Kate for not marrying the marquess.
Her husband casually leaned against the doorway, resting his head against the doorframe with nothing but love in his eyes.
“What’s so funny,mo leannan?”
She clamped her hands over her eyes and grinned. “I must be dreaming.”
“I love hearing ye say that so I can remind ye this is ours.”
Ours.
They both had feared needing one another for so long, but facing that fear had been worth it. She enjoyed working with Gabriel, managing the estate as well as the inn and the distillery. She often found herself wondering what would have happened if she hadn’t accepted the governess position.
“But do you like it as much as I enjoy hearing you call me your wife?”
“Hmm. I love that as well.” Gabriel strolled in and shut the door behind him, then rolled up his shirtsleeves slowly, revealing his toned forearms.
“Mr. MacInnes, are you flirting with me?”
Her body thrummed with want almost instantly. Two weeks into their month-long honeymoon, and she was certain they had done things that would make most everyone in a London ballroom in desperate need of smelling salts.
“Aye, lass.” He bent down and kissed her, his voice low and rough and full of promises. “Most definitely.”
And if she had learned anything in the past few months of their marriage, Gabriel was a man of his word. A quality she greatly admired, especially when it came to bed sport.
