The Most Marvelous Summer Page 17

  `My dear life, I can see that you know nothing about me at all. You will have years in which to discover just what kind of man I am.' He plucked her close and wrapped her in his great arms. `There is one thing you must learn immediately. I do not care to waste time.' He kissed her then, and there was nothing gentle about it this time.

  `Oh, my goodness,' whispered Matilda when she had her breath again. `What-?"

  'Marry me, Matilda. You can ask me anything you want once we are married, but there is one question. Do you love me?"

  'Yes, oh, dear James, you have no idea how much.'

  `I shall enjoy finding out, my darling heart. We had better tell your family, had we not? But first...'

  He pulled her close to kiss her soundly and the ffinch family, watching unashamedly from a variety of windows, sighed their satisfaction. Her father went down to the cellar to fetch up a bottle of champagne he had been saving for some special occasion; her mother, arranging glasses on a tray, reflected with guilty satisfaction that Lady Fox was going to be put out and, as for Esme, she was dreaming up her bridesmaid's dress.

  Not that any of these things mattered to the two people standing so close together in the drive; they had found their heaven and they were content.