Velvet Embrace

She had no trouble recognizing his tender words of love, though, when he tilted her chin up so he could see her face. "I love you, Brie," he said hoarsely, his gray eyes reflecting the depth of his feeling for her. "I think I've loved you since that morning in the meadow when you took your crop to me."

Brie regarded him dreamily. "I fell in love when you first smiled at me. You looked like a fallen angel."

"A what?"

"A fallen angel," she repeated, her voice fading. Dominic's lovemaking had drained her of energy, leaving her satisfied but exhausted. Sleepily, she let her head drop to his shoulder and her heavy eyelids close.

Dominic lay there a moment longer, a soft smile curving his lips as he remembered he was soon to be a father. Then gathering his sleeping wife even more closely in his arms, he, too, shut his eyes.

It was much, much later before either of them stirred again. When they finally rose, they dressed slowly amid much laughter and kissing and left the chamber, hand in hand, in search of breakfast.

Farley, Dominic's valet, was in the corridor when the two lovers emerged. Seeing Dominic draw Brie into his arms, then whisper something in her ear that made her laugh and blush, Farley shook his head. The earl's reference to autumn leaves was puzzling since it was only September and the trees had not yet started to turn. But then his odd behavior could be attributed to Cupid's influence. It was obvious that Lord Stanton cherished his beautiful wife, for his face was alive with love and laughter. And there was no doubt that the countess adored him in return, for she was glowing with happiness.

Brie and Dominic descended the grand staircase together and discovered that they had the morning room to themselves. Both Lady Harriet and Sir James had long since given up waiting for them and were each engaged in their favorite pursuits. Dominic sent a footman to the fields with a message for his stepfather, and when he and Brie had finished eating, they went out to the gardens in search of his mother.

They found her kneeling at the base of a giant topiary yew, clipping the ragged edges of a sculpted deer. She looked up at their approach and waved, then began gathering her gardening tools into a basket.

Dominic left the shaded path and strode forward to assist her, but Brie hung back, watching as he helped Lady Harriet to her feet. Seeing him smile so tenderly at his mother, Brie felt a warm glow flow through her. And when Dominic turned to meet her own gaze across a stretch of flowering shrubs, the glow deepened.

Realizing that the shadows of the past had at last been banished, Brie breathed a silent prayer of gratitude. Then returning her husband's loving gaze, she stepped into the sunlight and went to join him.