He laughed a bit loudly, and again some people around them turned their heads. “I must admit that holds an appeal. I know how much you’d love to travel.”

“Especially with you. If we leave tomorrow, we can surely arrive and marry before the twelfth. Then you will have met your father’s deadline.”

He stared into her eyes. “You mean this in earnest.” At her effusive nod, he took her hand and brought it to his lips. “Yes. I’ll elope with you to Gretna Green tomorrow.” He kissed her knuckles and reluctantly released her.

Heat sparked along her hand and arm and spread, making her body hum with desire. “Well, in that case, I think we should go home and get some rest in anticipation of our journey.”

“Another excellent idea. We should probably also pack.”

“Let me stop into the retiring room to tell Prudence and Cassandra we are leaving.” She hesitated. “What about Prudence? What will happen to her now that I am getting married?”

“She will become companion to another young lady. I’ll ensure she’s taken care of until then.”

“Perhaps Cassandra’s father would hire her.” Fiona suspected she would have a bit less time to spend with her friend after marrying Tobias, and she worried that Cassandra would be lonely. Actually, she already worried that Cassandra was lonely. “Would you speak to Lord Lucien about it?”

“Anything for you, my love,” he murmured. “It’s an excellent idea—for both Miss Lancaster and Lady Cassandra. You are a wonderful friend. But then I would expect nothing less.”

His words warmed her. “Shall I meet you in the entry?”

“No, let’s leave in a way that will garner less attention,” he said. “Can you meet me downstairs?”

“Now who has the brilliant idea? I’m so pleased to be marrying such a clever gentleman. What a fortunate young woman I am.”

His eyes gleamed with love and pride. “The fortune is all mine.”

Epilogue

Eight days later…

“Do you think your father is scowling or laughing because you wed on the eleventh of March?” Fiona snuggled more closely against Tobias in their bed at the Bell and Broomstick in Gretna Green.

After a fortunately pleasant journey north, they were now being blanketed with snow. Which Tobias found rather lovely, for there was nowhere he would rather be than bundled up with his wife in a cozy four-poster bed at an inn.

“I would say scowling probably, but I’m going to imagine him laughing. It’s past time I let my negative feelings about him fade away. Anyway, there is really no room for them with all the love I have for you.” He turned to kiss her, and her stomach made a loud rumble.

She giggled. “Oh dear.”

A knock on the door made Tobias leap, nude, from the bed. He grabbed his banyan and cloaked himself. “Our tea has arrived just in time.” He waggled his brows at her as she burrowed beneath the coverlet.

Tobias opened the door to see Mrs. Insley, the innkeeper’s wife, holding a tray. She grinned. “I hope you’re hungry. There will be less travelers today owing to the weather, so the cook gave you extra portions.”