Was she mad? The answer should have been as plain as the sun now rising above them. “Yes,” he insisted. “Yes, of course. I loved you the moment you threw your mistletoe at me, and I knew I couldn’t hope… Come up here.”

He reached a hand down, and she took it, placing her foot atop his and letting him pull her onto the saddle with him. It was in no way comfortable, but he knew she wouldn’t care. He opened his greatcoat and wrapped it around them both, encircling her with his arms.

Elinor touched his face, and one tear hovered on her cheek.

He kissed that tear, then found his lips pressing against hers, with hers caressing his in return. Her arms slid around him, beneath the folds of his coat, her hands pressing into his shirt, as though they could reach beneath his skin as well. There was no haste to this kiss, no frantic energy, just a deep, fervent intent that stole every thought and breath.

Nothing else in the world existed but them, and this kiss, this connection. There was no other sensation but her lips and her body against his, the feel of her hair against his fingers.

There was no telling how long they kissed, all sense of time and space vanished with it. It faded into a series of softer, grazing kisses, nuzzling that warmed them both until the winter cold had no power whatsoever.

“Merry Christmas, my love,” Hugh rasped against her lips, the words making the tender flesh hum between them.

Elinor sighed and pressed her lips to his for a moment. “Merry Christmas,” she eventually replied. She pulled back and brushed his hair away from his face, his hat having vacated its position at some point. “Will you come back to Deilingh, now? I want to spend Christmas with my intended.”

He chuckled and brushed his nose against hers. “I can agree to that,” he murmured, pulling her closer still. Then he hissed as one of her hands reached for his face again. “Ooh, darling, you’re freezing. You shouldn’t have sacrificed your toes for me.”

She gave him a rather pointed look. “You weren’t supposed to leave this soon, so I was unprepared!”

Hugh shook his head and reached for the reins around her, turning the horse back to the house. “Next Christmas, I am getting you a sturdy pair of boots to keep on hand.”

Elinor huffed indignantly even as her arms tightened around him as they rode. “Why not this Christmas?” she demanded. “We are engaged, after all.”

“Well, I wasn’t planning that far ahead when I was stranded…” he tried to explain.

Elinor rolled her eyes dramatically, making him chuckle. “A likely excuse, Hugh Sterling. What in the world am I going to do with you?”