They were married properly, in the sight of God, her family, and the people of Bocka Morrow on the third Sunday after the banns had been read. Just as they ought—without any unseemly haste.
Harry had no inclination to take her to Suffolk and subject her to his family, so with his leg healed, he did the only sensible thing to do to a tender, newly-wed wife—he took her aboard his ship, the Lively. “As I recall, you wanted at least one grand adventure.”
“Aye.” She took in her new surroundings with wide-eyed enthusiasm. “Indeed, I did. Does this mean that you’re going to take me out to sea and out of sight of the land?”
He tucked his head to whisper against the soft skin beneath her ear. “I’m going to take you every single way I can think of before we even get out upon the deep blue sea. But first, I need to take you out of sight of the crew.” Harry hustled his bride down the companionway and into his private stern cabin, so he could gather her close enough to kiss that particularly soft spot under her ear. “And although you specified only one adventure, I think it only fair to warn you I am bound and determined to give you an entire lifetime of grand adventures, my Lady Beck. Starting now.”
She eyed the hanging bed, suspended from ropes in the ceiling beams. “What kinds of adventures?”
He steered her toward it, discarding her cloak along the way. “The kind that starts with kissing.”
“Oh, I like kissing.” She reached for his uniform coat. “That is, I like kissing you—I’ve never kissed anyone else.”
He let his sword belt fall to the decking. “And I shall work diligently to keep it that way.”
“Oh, I do so like diligence.” Her hands were plucking the laces of her bodice. “It’s so perfectly charming.”
He kissed the corner of her mouth. “I think you’re perfectly charming, Nessa Beck.”
“I ought to be.” She looped her arms around his neck on a sigh. “I paid enough for my charm.”
“Did you?” He gathered her close. “And am I worth it?”
“You, my darling Harry, are my one and only true love, and worth every last penny.”