“Come in.” Tobias opened the door wider so Mrs. Insley, an efficient and warm-hearted woman in her late thirties, could place the tray on the table.

“There’s tea, ale, cheese, bread, biscuits, and some special cake we give to all the newlyweds.” She winked at Tobias. “And the latest newspaper from London.”

“This looks wonderful. Thank you, Mrs. Insley.”

“Will you be coming down for dinner?” she asked.

“If it’s not too much trouble, we’ll take it up here, I think.” He was loath to leave the cocoon of their room.

“Not at all. That is not an unusual request for those who visited the blacksmith shop earlier in the day.” Winking, she took her leave.

Fiona pushed back the coverlet and quickly donned her dressing gown. “I’m famished.” Her dark red hair caressed her face and shoulders in a riot of unkempt waves. She looked as if she’d been thoroughly shagged—which she had.

A joy and satisfaction Tobias had never known settled over him. He did possess a romantic nature, just as his grandmother had said. He’d always wanted to find a woman like Fiona, and to experience a love like they now shared. That he’d discovered both was still a shock.

They settled at the small round table in front of the window that overlooked the yard below. The Bell and Broomstick was a smaller coaching inn and not as busy today because, as Mrs. Insley had indicated, of the weather.

“Do you think we can still leave day after tomorrow?” Fiona asked before taking a bite of cheese.

“I suppose we’ll have to see what the weather decides. If it keeps snowing like this, however, I would say no.”

She smiled, her mouth full, and her eyes danced with glee. “That would be a pity.” She put her hand in front of her mouth and tried not to laugh.

They ate ravenously for a few minutes, then Fiona poured tea. Tobias plucked up the newspaper and scanned the headlines. Opening it, he found the column with news from the ton and read aloud.

It has come to this author’s attention that the Dowager Countess of Overton was the sole instrument in matching her grandson with his ward, Miss Fiona Wingate. Their shocking elopement to Gretna Green caught everyone by surprise. Well, everyone but the dowager countess. She insists she was part of the planning, and that the couple has her full endorsement. When she arrived in London, she immediately realized they were perfectly suited, and the match was made. Indeed, they were so perfectly matched that they wished to wed and honeymoon at the same time. The old rumors of the earl trying to dash off to Gretna Green with another young lady have finally been put to rest, and this author wishes the earl and his new countess a very happy life together.

Fiona goggled at him. “That’s what it says? You didn’t just make that up?”

He laughed and handed her the paper. “See for yourself.” That was what his grandmother had said she planned to tell everyone and anyone that asked and to those who didn’t. That she’d successfully made their perhaps scandalous elopement into a romantic tale was more than Tobias could have hoped for. “Now, this would make my father scowl.” He chuckled as he lifted his cup of tea.