Chapter Sixteen

Edward’s eyes flew open as a large raindrop splashed onto his face. It took him a moment to regain his bearings. He was not in his bunk on Johnson’s Island, contemplating escape. He was in Scotland with Anna, who was curled against him, sound asleep. Her hair was dotted with droplets of water, making it shimmer in the fading light. He sighed in contentment, settling back into their nest of blankets, willing the rain to stop. As usual, however, the heavens failed to do his bidding and signaled their dramatic disagreement with his plan by pelting them with hail. Anna awoke with a start and blinked, rather like a strange red-headed mouse emerging from its hole in the wall.

“It’s raining,” she said, a touch of wonder in her tone.

“Actually, I think it’s hailing.”

She glared at him, but he laughed and kissed her, then pulled her to her feet. They dressed quickly and ran hand in hand to the carriage. Edward untied the horse and pulled the top of the carriage up as Anna stashed the picnic basket, then clambered into the vehicle behind Edward. The hail had turned back to rain, and it was falling steadily. Anna looked at Edward, a grin on her face.

“What?” Edward said, amused. “You look surprisingly happy.”

“I am. I haven’t been caught in the rain like that, well, since the last time we were here.”

He pulled her close, his lips brushing her forehead. “Neither have I. But I suppose we ought to get back, before we drown the poor horse.”

Anna leaned against him, and he regretted again all the time they had lost. But today had been nearly as perfect a day as he could have wished for when lying in his prison bunk. It was more than enough.

****

They returned to Wallsend well after dark, rumpled and slightly damp, but content. Anna had never imagined such a day when she woke up that morning—to handfast with Edward again, to make love to him, twice, at the top of a cliff in the open air. It was wild and reckless. The best day she’d ever had.

But now it was nearly over, and as they walked back to the pub, she felt an awkwardness settle around her like an ill-fitting dress. She and Edward had handfasted, but it wasn’t legal in England—she rather doubted it was legal in Scotland either. They needed to be wed in the parish church, in which she had not set foot since before Zachary was born. Glancing at Edward, she wondered if he was ready to take that step. Or if she was.

Edward waited patiently while she unlocked the door to the pub. It was dark and quiet downstairs, and as they walked through the bar, Anna stopped so suddenly that Edward ran into her and nearly knocked her down.

“What’s wrong?” He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder to steady her.

Anna turned and practically leapt into his arms, capturing his mouth with her own. He carried her to a table, settling her atop it as she fumbled with his trousers. His hands were on her backside, his lips traveling up and down her neck. His fully erect penis free of his trousers, he pulled her skirts up over her hips. She gasped as he entered her, filling her, hard and fast. Her fingers dug into his shoulders as she climaxed, and he stopped her cry with his mouth. His climax was explosive, the muscles on his neck taut, then relaxed as he spent himself inside her. He pulled her toward him and held her as she began to cry, softly, her emotions so intense she felt as if she would break apart.

“Oh, Anna. That was a surprise.”

“A welcome one?”

“God, yes. I never saw it coming.” He smiled and stroked her cheek. “Not that I’m complaining, but what possessed you?”

“I…I suppose I wasn’t ready for the day to end. I suddenly wanted you so badly I thought I would die if we didn’t…Well, I just needed to be connected to you.” She laughed, without humor. “I suppose that makes me the harlot my father always thought I was.”

He grasped her chin gently in one hand, forced her head up to look at him. “Never say that. We are bound, you and I. Betrothed. Enjoying the act of love with me doesn’t make you wanton, Anna, no matter what anyone says.”

She wanted to believe him; it was certainly preferable to believing her father. The words he had called her when he learned she was pregnant. She shuddered.

“Cold?”

“No. Just shaking off an old memory.”

“We’ve spent the day making new, better ones. And we’ll have many more.” Edward smiled and kissed her, then pulled her off the table. They rearranged their respective clothing, and headed upstairs.

The Grahams were waiting, he in a chair by the fire, softly snoring, and she on the settee with her knitting in her lap, spectacles perched at the end of her nose.

Mrs. Graham looked up when the entered the room and beamed at them. “Did you have a pleasant day, my dears?”

Anna was sorely tempted to blush. Mrs. Graham had to know what they’d been up to. Edward draped his arm over her shoulder. “We had a delightful day, Mrs. Graham. Anna and I are again betrothed.”

Mrs. Graham dropped her knitting and jumped up to hug them both. “I am so pleased. Zachary will be delighted, I’m sure.”

Anna frowned, annoyed with herself for failing to mention Zachary first thing. “I hope he was well behaved for you, Mrs. Graham. He can be a bit…energetic.”

“He’s a lovely boy, Anna, not to worry. His father gave me much worse.” She winked at Edward, who placed his hand on his heart and assumed a hurt expression. Anna laughed, and somehow the tension was broken. Edward was the same boy she’d fallen in love with, with just a few extra scars.

Anna pressed her hand against Edward’s arm. “I’ll just go check on him, shall I?”

“May I come?” Edward’s eyes were slightly pleading, as if after all that transpired today she might still deny him.

She smiled, offering reassurance. “Of course.”

They walked down the corridor to Zachary’s room, where he lay sound asleep, tangled, as usual, in the bedclothes.

“Does he always do that?”

“Every night. I don’t know how he sleeps like that. I hate having the blankets in disarray.”

“I used to do that too, when I was young.” Edward whispered, a certain wonder entering his tone. “It’s kind of a miracle, isn’t it? A child.”

Anna bestowed a kiss on Zachary’s forehead, resisting the urge to straighten his covers, since it would only wake him. She smoothed his hair, sweeping it off his face. “Yes, he is. He is most definitely a miracle.” She looked at Edward. “Our miracle.”

They tiptoed out of the room, and Anna gently closed the door. Edward gazed down at her. “Shall I stay?”

Anna swallowed, giving herself a moment to think. Spending the night together, in her bed, was a pronouncement she wasn’t sure they should make, although she wanted to wake up beside him, more than anything.

Edward correctly interpreted her silence. “Perhaps not yet?”

Anna took a deep breath. “It’s not that I don’t want you to stay, Edward. Please know that. I’m not sure I have ever wanted anything as much. But perhaps we should wait until after we are wed.”

“Very well, I understand. I will accompany the Grahams back to Tynemouth. Tomorrow I will ask the rector to post the banns.” Edward leaned down, kissed her so thoroughly she was gasping for breath.

“Um, you’re leaving?”

Edward chuckled, stroked the line of her jaw. “Yes, I’m leaving. I will see you in the morning.”

Anna watched him walk away, joining the Grahams, who had packed up their belongings and were waiting patiently by the door. “Good night, Anna,” Mrs. Graham called.

“Good night.” As the door closed behind them, her brain began to function, and she realized she’d forgotten to thank them.