Will pushed himself off the ground, his limbs protesting the movement. Ignoring his stiff muscles, he strode toward Emilia and said, "We shall see about acquiring something for you to ride in."

She frowned, a look identical to her brother's a moment ago. She leaned against the windowsill, and a light breeze came in behind her, blowing through her hair.

"That isn't needed. Surely it would be easier to acquire a horse. Or I shall simply ride with one of you. That would make the most sense."

"It is a full day's ride back to London, Emilia," Will said flatly, his whole body reminding him of exactly how long it took to get here. Suffice it to say, he was not looking forward to the return trip. But Emilia only stood up a little straighter at his words."

"Do you mean to imply that I am not capable of spending one lousy day on a horse?"

"No, Emilia," he replied, slightly rankled by her sensitivity. "I know you're an accomplished rider. I merely thought you wouldn't wish to do so after what you've been through."

She softened. "That is sweet, Will. But riding on horseback sounds much better than sitting in a carriage and listening to you and my brother bicker for hours."

"You know..." He came closer, leaning toward her conspiratorially. Will rested his hands on the windowsill, framing the sides of her waist. "We can bicker on horseback, too."

She flashed a rueful grin before swatting playfully at his arm.

"Why don't you get dressed so we can let Theo know you'd like to ride," Will said, pushing off from the sill and moving to where he had deposited the rest of his clothes the night before.

"It will take me a few moments to do so," Emilia replied. "You can go alert him before he makes any arrangements if you'd like. I am not sure what he had in mind when he left."

Will shook his head while unrolling his sleeves and buttoning them around his wrists. "I am not leaving you."

Emilia gave him an exasperated look, and he added, "I will not take that chance. Who knows if Trevor is still lurking around." Will shrugged into his carefully tailored waistcoat and watched as Emilia crossed the room toward her clothes, too.

Luckily, she seemed to acknowledge his point and instead addressed her stays, lacing them tightly over the cotton shift she'd worn to bed.

"Well, this time, I would be prepared for him," she pointed out as her fingers artfully maneuvered the strings. "Unlike when he caught me unawares, putting that awful smelling cloth over my mouth."

"What?" Will's fingers paused from their job of buttoning his waistcoat. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh," she said casually, continuing to tie her stays beneath her bosom. Each pull of the string forced her breasts to rise more prominently past the shift's hem. The innkeeper's wife must not be as well-endowed as Emilia, who was struggling to keep herself covered as the fabric stretched tightly across beautiful, smooth flesh.

Last night, Emilia hadn't bothered with her corset, saying it was far too much work to put on only to remove it before bed. She merely wore the cotton shift, which, while undoubtedly improper, hadn't been revealing in the least.

Unlike right now.

Will cleared his throat.

"He used some sort of drug," Emilia continued to say, even though by now Will was distracted. "Pressed a terrible smelling cloth over my mouth, and by the time I came to, we were miles outside of London. And I'd been tied up. I hadn't realized how far we had gotten until I noticed the sky had turned dark."

Her words were like a slap in the face, bringing him back to reality.

"Did I mention how I was going to kill him?" Will growled while pulling his boots on. "I'm going to kill him."

"I know you are terribly mad at Trevor—"

"Terribly mad, are you kidding me, Emilia? That's an understate—"

"—but I do not think he wished to do what he did."

Will stopped in the process of pulling on his other boot and stared at her. "You don't think he wished to drug you? Or kiss you and fondle your breasts?" he choked on the last word.

"That was when he was drunk," Emilia said. "And then he was...different."

Will scoffed, but Emilia ignored him.

"It is just that before—" She paused, pulling the innkeeper's dress over her head. When her face popped back out, she went on by saying, "When we were in the carriage, he seemed so sad."

Will shook his head, not understanding the words she was saying.

Regardless of Trevor's feelings or intentions, he had done terrible things to the woman Will loved. And for that, he was going to pay dearly.

Emilia adjusted the dress so that it laid nicely over her corset and shift. Gesturing to the back of the gown, she said, "Would you please help me?"

Will, having finished dressing, walked stiffly behind her. There was a row of tiny buttons down the spine of the dress, and he quickly went to work fastening them.

"I rather prefer taking your dresses off," he muttered under his breath, so quiet he didn't think Emilia heard him. But she certainly felt the kiss he placed on the side of her neck. Emilia arched to allow him further access, but Will forced himself to drag his lips away.

Moments later, they left the room together, descending the stairs and weaving their way through the tables that were still dirtied from the previous evening's activities. Emilia gave a little laugh, and Will looked at her curiously.

"What?"

"Oh, I was just thinking...I suppose when I met Trevor, I should have asked him if he intended to ladynap me. We could have avoided this whole mess."

Will couldn't help but laugh too as they passed through the front door, the fresh air hitting them. He admired Emilia as she walked ahead of him into the bright day, her words and expression reminding him of their first dance together. He was reminded of the simple way she had stolen a piece of his heart: by staying true to hers.

"I do not think most men would reveal their intentions for ladynapping, anyway," he pointed out as he walked a few paces behind her.

"Most men?" she asked, calling over her shoulder.

Will quickened his pace until he was within arm's length of Emilia. He reached out, grabbing her by the wrist and spinning her around so that she flew into his chest. He grinned down at her startled face. "Yes, well, I have no problem declaring that I am going to ladynap you, Emilia."

"You are?" she laughed, surprise in her voice as she returned his smile. Emilia peered up at him beneath her thick lashes. Will was so happy that she seemed more like herself today. Her face was lovingly open and confident, devoid of the terrors of yesterday.

"Oh yes," Will replied, the humor leaving him. "Considering I plan to take you and keep you forever." He brought her ungloved hands up to his mouth, sweeping his lips over the back of them one at a time.

Emilia's mouth popped open, forming a perfect O. "What are you saying, Will?"

Will's stomach clenched. He honestly wasn't sure if he had ever felt as anxious as he did now. But he dropped her hands and lifted his own to cup her face. "I wish for you to marry me, Emilia. I am in love with you, and I have always been in love with you. Yesterday morning, I went to Kingfield House to propose only to find that you had gone."

Her eyes lit up with shock and wonder.

"I thought you finally listened to me and ran away with Trevor," Will explained, shaking his head, knowing how foolish it had been to think that now.

"I am far too stubborn for that, Will," Emilia teased, her eyes searching his face. "I wasn't going to marry anyone if I couldn't have you."

Will took a deep breath. "But I need you to know the truth about—"

"Yes," she interrupted him. "I mean, yes, I will marry you."

Will chuckled but pressed on, saying, "Let me finish, darling. I—"

She interrupted him again, this time by placing one small finger against his lips.

"Will, I love you," she whispered, and his heart soared. He immediately decided she could interrupt him all she wanted. "I do not care what it is that you've been hiding. All I've ever wanted is simply for you to trust me enough to tell me the truth. Because I want you, Will, regardless of whatever else comes with."

Her words were crushing him and lifting him at the same time. Why had he been so blind for so long?

"I trust you, Emilia. I promise I will tell you everything," he said, the words rushing out of him now. "I trust you, and I love you. I love you so damn much, and I am so sorry that I've been such an idiot the last two years by not telling you the truth. How can you forgive me?"

He leaned his head in so that their foreheads were touching as he continued to grip her face, his thumbs caressing her rosy cheeks.

Emilia was smiling, her lips spreading wide across her face. "You can spend the next few decades making it up to me," she whispered back. "But know that I've forgiven you."

Will couldn't resist anymore; he pulled her close, wrapping an arm around her waist and lifting her up, her feet no longer touching the ground.

And then, when Will was the only thing in the world that Emilia Shepard was touching, he went about kissing her. Their lips crashed together, matching the push and pull that Will had always felt in his heart.

"We're bloody outside!" Theo's voice hollered, calling at them from across the courtyard.

This time, Will did ignore Theo, his lips working across Emilia's. He enjoyed the feel of her and the knowledge that he would get to feel it all again.

And again.

And again.

Eventually, Will released her, and she slid down his front, her feet delicately balancing on the ground.

Emilia grabbed his hand, looking up at him as if he were the sun, the moon, and the stars themselves. Together they turned to make their way toward the stables.

Theo was glaring at them.

Will asked Emilia to wait for a moment, wanting to talk to her brother.

"Last night, I understand. But Jesus Christ, Trotten, everyone can see you," he shot out as Will approached. Theo was adjusting the saddle on the back of the horse that Will had ridden yesterday.

He wasn't bothered by Theo's outburst. Will felt like he was floating. "She said she'd marry me," he said by way of explanation.

"Well, of course she did," Theo said, but his gaze softened. And then he stuck out a hand for Will to grasp. He did, and Theo shook firmly.

"Congratulations, Will. I am not even mad that you didn't ask my permission," he said with a little wink. "I know you'll take good care of her."

Will gave him a succinct nod. "I will, Kingfield." He looked toward the horses. "Emilia insisted that she was fine riding. She may do so with me."

Theo's glower quickly returned. "Oh no, I think not."

Will had been expecting this. "Are you going to be like this even after we are married, too?"

"No. But you are not married yet, Trotten. And I refuse to watch this," he said, wiggling his finger back and forth between Will and Emilia, "for eight hours."

Will rolled his eyes and then gave Theo a straight look. "What if it were Addie? What if she had been kidnapped and assaulted, and you had only just gotten her back? Actually, forget all of that even. What if she were here right now after you've been forced apart for the better part of a year?"

Theo seemed to struggle with that one. "I wouldn't want to let her go," he admitted.

Will stared him down.

"Fine," he relented, though unhappily, and tossed the horse's reins at Will.

****

When Emilia had been stuck in Trevor's carriage the previous day, she never imagined that she would feel so thrilled by the time she was back on the road the next day.

No longer was she on her way to Scotland to marry a man against her will. Quite alternatively, Emilia was heading back to London with plans to marry the only man in the world she had ever wanted. And that man's broad chest was currently supporting her back, his arms wrapped around her as he held the horse's reins. Emilia tried not to stare at his muscled legs as they straddled the mighty animal beneath them. As they straddled her from behind.

It would not have worked for Emilia to ride side saddle all the way back to London. So instead, she had also straddled the horse, feeling wholly comfortable except for the light breeze at her ankles.

But Theo had taken one look at her and Will sitting atop the horse and said, "I think we shall try to take roads which have fewer travelers on them."

Emilia couldn't find it in her to care. Not when Will was whispering in her ear how much he loved her on repeat.

"If you had an extra pair of breeches—" Emilia began, but Theo cut her off.

"I do not think that would look any better, sister."

She shrugged, again not genuinely caring.

Her reputation had long been in shambles, her ruination set in stone years ago. It wasn't going to change much by a scandalous horse ride if anyone were to see her.

But none of that had ever mattered anyway. Emilia had never really desired to get her reputation back; it hadn't been a great one to begin with. It was only ever Will that she wished to regain.

And now she had him.

Emilia had been so pleasantly surprised about Will proposing that she hadn't wanted him to launch into telling her about the king's blackmail. Because then she would have to inform him that Trevor knew of it and had, in fact, informed her already. She hadn't wanted Will to get sidetracked from what he was saying about them. Will and Emilia, married. Together.

She would bring it up. She would ask him more about the blackmail and why he hadn't told her about it to begin with. Maybe in a little bit. But right now, she was enjoying herself too much.

The sun drenched the three of them as they traveled across the countryside. Emilia admired the occasional wildflower, the hues of purple and white decorating the fields. The day was breezy; there was still a chill in the air from the day of rain yesterday.

"Emilia," Will breathed in her ear after they had been riding for some time. "Do you wish to take the reins?"

"Sure," she said, happily taking the leather straps from him. "You do not want them?"

Emilia could feel his chest and shoulder move behind her in what she assumed was a shrug. "I'd rather have my hands available to do this." Will snuck his hands beneath her light cloak, wrapping them around her waist and pulling her closer to him.

"Will," she groaned. "You shall distract me."

"You constantly distract me, Emilia," he said, placing a gentle kiss behind her ears. "It is time for me to return the favor."