Page 27 of The Dream of Love
“Let’s wash up and return downstairs. Your father referred to me as his daughter.His daughter.You have no idea how good that made me feel. I have never belonged to my own flesh and blood. Neither one of my parents ever bothered with me, nor did my mother send word to me about our marriage. But it is all right. I no longer care if they ignore me. I belong to you and that is everything. It feels good to be a Carstairs.”
“We’ll protect ye, Remi. Never worry that you will be alone again. You have us as your family now. But I see we will need to work on Gavin next.”
“What do you mean?”
“His first marriage was one of duty. It was not a love match. However, he was always a good and loyal husband. Having found my happiness, I wish it for him as well.”
“A good father, too. It is obvious how much he loves his son. And I doubt he needs our help in finding him a wife. He will know it when he meets her. Let’s hope he will not be as dense as you in admitting his feelings.”
“Dense, am I?” He moved to the door and bolted it, then returned with a wicked smile on his face. He glanced toward the bed. “What do ye say, lass?”
“I say you are a very naughty vicar.” She kissed him lightly on the lips and then turned her back to him so he could more easily unlace her. “And you have a very wanton wife.”
“All the encouragement I need.” He swept her into his arms and carried her to bed. “My family will not expect us down for another half hour yet.”
Remi threw her arms around him as a burst of thunder roiled the air. The rain suddenly came down harder than she had ever seen rain fall before.
“Scared, love?”
“Terrified,” she said in a seductive whisper. “Good thing I have a big, handsome vicar to protect me.”
“Och, ye wicked woman. Dinna give me that breathy encouragement, or I’ll never let ye out of my bed.”
She giggled. “Half an hour is all you get, Vicar. You had better get busy.”
“Ever your obedient servant,” he said, because finding each other was a dream come true for both of them.
A dream of love.
