Page 96 of Love Abandoned

“We’ll tell William his pony was aptly named and that he can name all the horses from now on. The child obviously has some power with the gods.”

She smiled. William would be over the moon.

“And our friends?” She was struggling to reconcile the new with the old. “We let down the facade, I’m afraid, and they saw the disaster we’d become. What will we tell them?”

“We will tell them nothing. They will see for themselves and draw their own conclusions.” He cleared a few stray strands from her cheek. “There will still be gossip, my love. There is nothing I can do to prevent it, as I cannot make anything I have told you public.”

Elizabeth rose onto her elbow and kissed him. “I don’t care. I know the truth. They’ll not be able to keep it interesting for long if…”

“If?” he prompted, running a finger between her breasts and looking back at her, his eyes warm with affection.

“If we return to society behaving as a couple…in love.” She pulled her lip in and scrunched her nose. It was hard to believe her world had unexpectedly tipped upright in one morning.

“In love,” he repeated. He lifted his head and kissed her nose before resting back. “You can say it with ease, for it’s true.”

She put her hand against his chest. His heart beat firm and steady.

“Our friends. The children. And the gossips. That only leaves Sophia.” The corner of Richard’s lips quirked.

“Sophia? What do you mean?”

Richard shifted unexpectedly and rolled her onto her back, covering her body with his.

“I owe Sophia a great deal,” he said, his gaze dark with need.

She smiled. “I will be sure to tell her,” she replied, teasing him. “Beware. She might cash in on that debt someday.”

“Thanks to her, tonight I reclaimed my life. Our lives. She can name her price. You are worth it.”

Elizabeth grinned. “I do believe I would like you to prove that.”

Richard did.

Again.

And again.

And again.

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