Mrs. Bussworth’s eyes crinkled at the edges. “So many good ones to choose from, my lady.”

“And many more to come.” Matteo rounded the house, his face showing a healthy glow of exertion. “You have returned.” He approached slowly, a bit cautiously, to her side.

Mrs. Bussworth curtsied and turned back to the house with a smile.

Scarlet reached for Matteo, and he immediately supported her, pulling her into his embrace. She clung to him, melted into his front, and tried to block out the pain of the past week, but she could not. All her emotion, kept carefully in check, came flooding to the surface, and she found herself crying with abandon. She had failed; a dear French family lay dead. All the pent-up frustration and pressure surfaced, and she wet his lapel. So sudden was her outburst that she didn’t have time for embarrassment.

He held her, cocooning her and resting his chin on her head. As her sobs subsided and her body stilled, he ran his hand along her back, tracing circles with his fingers. He said, “Would I could shield you from all sorrow, that you would never have a moment like this again.” His grip on her tightened.

She pulled away so she might look into his face, her eyes widening as a single tear travelled down his cheek. “Matteo, what is it?” She reached up and caught it with her finger.

His expression held warmth. “Your pain. I couldn’t help but feel a bit of it myself.”

Her heart filled. What manner of man was this? No questions. He seemed to know what she needed. And tears. Tears for her sorrows. She considered him, searching his face through new joyful tears of her own. “This is the first moment of true happiness I have felt in many days.” She rested her hand against his cheek.

A great feeling of unity passed between them. The distance closed. He searched her face as if to drink her in and then tilted his head and pressed his lips to hers. She leaned into him for comfort, for the warmth she knew she would find; but the minute their lips touched, a hot fire ignited, and she struggled to hold back with the proper decorum, to gently kiss only once, twice, a third time because she couldn’t resist.

He tried to pull back then, but she reached for him, stepping up on the tips of her toes to keep him close. He responded immediately, meeting her lips anew with his own, lifting her around the waist and pulling her closer to him.