Gabriel was nearly at the house when he saw Kittie just within the tree line. Relieved that she was there, and they would have a moment to speak, he hurried over and took her hands in his.
“Kittie, you are here. Oh, I am so happy to see you. I must tell you at once that I have good news. Well, it is the beginning of good news, anyway. It would seem that I might have another position soon. At the university. I know that it is not as much money and that it will be difficult for us if we try to make a brand-new start, but it is all I can do to ensure that I still have work, but we may be together,” he said.
“That is wonderful news, Gabriel. I am so happy,” she said, throwing her arms around him. Gabriel was overcome by the warmth of her affection.
“Yes, it is. I know it will be difficult, but I trust that we can make it all come together. Please, Kittie, know that I am doing everything I possibly can to ensure that we have a happy life together,” he said.
“I know. I truly do,” she said.
Gabriel realised that the time had come for him to tell her his plan. He had been working through it as best he could for the past few days and now, more than ever, he needed her to know what he wanted. This was the only way to move forward as far as he could tell, and it was important that she know what he was thinking.
“Very well. I wish for you to know my thoughts. You see, I know that it will be difficult for us in London at first. I will begin my new employment at the university in around a months’ time. I thought we could meet here, in three nights. We may run away together, Kittie. You can come to my home and stay with my mother and sister. The next day, we will marry. It is the best thing we can do,” he said.
“Marry?” she asked, her eyes bright with joy.
“Yes, my dear. We will marry,” he confirmed. “And then, we may go off and away, travelling for a week. It will need to be nearby, of course. I fear that I do not have enough money to take you on a grand adventure.”
“I need nothing more than your hand for my adventure, Gabriel. I will be happy just knowing that you are my husband,” she said.
“I am glad to hear it. And, if that is so, we will be perfectly all right to then come back in time for me to begin my new employment. I will do my best at this position to ensure that you are well cared for. I know that I can do an excellent job there, that I will be able to perform my duties to the best of my ability. I trust that we will have a future we may enjoy,” he said.
“I trust you,” Kittie said, leaned towards him.
There was a mere breath between them, and Gabriel knew that he could finally kiss her. He hesitated for a moment, not wishing to take advantage of this chance too quickly. He wished to savour it. He wished to enjoy it. And, at last, he leaned in and gave Kittie the kiss he had dreamt of so many times before.
Her lips were full and warm and delightful. He could hardly believe this opportunity, this moment to indulge in the very thing he most wanted. There was no one around to ruin the moment, no one to catch them. It was perfectly ideal, and they were happy. When he pulled away, not wanting to let go, he looked at the dreamy expression in Kittie’s eyes.
“I hope you do not think me too forward,” he said with a laugh.
“It was exactly what I had hoped for,” she replied.
“I love you, Katherine Montague,” Gabriel said, without another thought.
“And I love you, Gabriel Whitman,” she replied.
He couldn’t believe that he had finally heard those words from Kittie, but alas, she had spoken them. They were in love and it meant that everything was precisely as it ought to be. He could be happy. She could be happy. Together, they would live the life they were destined for.
Yes, there were still many things to figure out. He would need to ensure that he did his best to maintain a good work ethic at the university and try to impress them enough to give him the credentials to be a professor. He would need to push his way into the halls of society for the sake of his family’s benefit and for Kittie’s as well. But all of this was only a fraction of the joy he would feel, knowing that he was with the woman he loved and that he had managed to do so while still ensuring the wellbeing of his family as his father would have wanted.
“Three nights hence, Kittie,” he said to her. “I will meet you here at midnight. We will be together at last and I know that we are going to be happy.”
“Yes, Gabriel, we will be. The world will be ours, and everything in it,” she said, dreamily.
He kissed her once more, this time on the forehead, and rushed towards the house. He needed to get inside and teach Henry the day’s lesson. But all he could think about as he sat there giving the lecture was the fact that, soon enough, Kittie Montague would be his wife.