But for all that was wrong, this was right. The way her blood trumpeted through her veins, making a glorious symphony of noise in her ears. The way she fit inside the circle of his arms, making her feel as protected as a bird nested in the rocks, yet still as free as one gliding on the wind. The way her heart skipped and jumped and raced.

She pulled away with a little groan, pushing him back a step even though she kept her fingers curled into his shirt. “You need to go.”

“Soon.” He kissed her again first, bending down this time to accomplish it. “I’ve a lot of years to make up for.”

She laughed. And convinced her fingers to let go of the cotton. “And we’ve years in which to do the making up. The future’s ours, dearovim.”

If only it were pure joy in his eyes at that, untainted by all this. “I hope so, my love.” He nodded toward the house. “You’ll have to be the voice of reason with that lot. I don’t trust those dandies to sort things out, not as far as I can throw them.”

Her lips twitched—first because neither Sheridan nor Telford were dandies by any definition other than an islander’s, and second at the image of him giving them a nice, friendly toss. “How far do you think that is, exactly?”

He chuckled. “If they don’t watch themselves, we may find out.” He pressed his lips to hers once more, softly. “I’ll find you after school. Are you here tonight, or back to St. Mary’s?”

It had been ages since anyone asked her questions like that—questions that at once granted her the right to decide for herself how she’d fill her days and yet asked to be a part of them. “Here. Libby wants to be close to Mamm-wynn. We’d originally planned to go back just for a bit this afternoon, to get the Wednesday delivery, but with Beth back, I don’t think we need to. Which is fine with me. We brought enough clothes to last us a week.” Including evening wear for Libby, much to the lady’s dismay—but with two lords in residence and Beth back, dinners would be a formal affair again at the Tremayne house. They’d had two lads carry their bags from the Mermaid to her parents’ when they landed.

“Good. I’ll feel better with you close. And don’t let those idiots do anything stupid while I’m at work.”

She smiled her promise. “I’m flattered you think me capable of stopping them.”

He laughed and stepped back to the gate, opened it. “I think you’re capable of anything, dearover.” With a wink, he stepped to the street. “Tonight?”

“I’ll be either here or at my parents’.”

He nodded, lifted his hand, and strode away.