Readers:

I know these chapters are spaced out at an agonizing rate, but there is only one left before I bring this love-fest to an end. I sincerely hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the others. I hope to get the last installment to you as soon as possible. It will be a "honeymoon" period for them, so expect some smut there. If after that you're having withdraws, you should go read my in-progress Carson/Hughes fic, "Letters of Correspondence". It is updated much quicker, and has a more unique plot line. Thank you for following me this far.


Morning light flooded in through the sheer drapery, illuminating Isobel's soft features to Richard. Seeing her like this, so peaceful and still made his heart ache with love and longing. Longing for so much. Longing to see her this carefree always. Longing to protect her so that she may live her life like this, off-guard with steady breathing. Longing to reach out and touch her soft cheek before pulling her tight against him.

Doing just that, Richard ran his fingertips across her soft cheek, reveling in warmth and natural rosy color. He leaned in to kiss her cheek softly, wanting to worship her with his touch, while allowing her to sleep at the same time. Lying back down, Richard scooted closer to her until his stomach was pushed to her back. He wrapped an arm around her, shielding her from the world, inside his warm embrace.

Still asleep, Isobel subconsciously snuggled into him, and Richard smiled widely. He breathed in her scent, lavender and honey. He used the hand not wrapped around her to rub her hairline from above, tickling lightly and placing soft, warm kisses into her hair.

Isobel stirred in her sleep as another ray of light entered from the window. Sighing deeply, she turned around in his arms, eyes still closed to greet him groggily, "Good morning my love,"

"Good morning to you, my beautiful woman," he kissed the tip of her nose, eliciting another sigh of contentment.

"Richard?" she asked, eyes opening slowly to adjust to the low-light.

"Yes, my darling,"

"Having nothing to do today, I see no reason to leave this bed," the words came out slowly in her tired state.

Richard chuckled, coming close enough to touch his nose to hers, eyes closed, "I shall stay as long as you like, I'm not needed at the hospital today,"

"Are you sure? Because that would mean staying forever," she whispered against his lips before leaning in for the first kiss of the day, a long lazy one with nothing but love.

Pulling back Richard told her in a low, embarrassed tone, "I really am sorry about last night, I'm not sure what came over me,"

"Richard, I know exactly what came over you. It is the same feeling that has overcome me for weeks. So, when I saw it in your eyes I saw it fit not to stop you. It was rather selfish of me to go against your wishes. But, please do not apologize. You gave the best night of my life. You asked me to spend the rest of my life with the only man I have ever truly loved, then proceeded to generously give me two glorious things I've never had and ask for nothing in return. Do not apologize for any of that, my love,"

"What do you mean two things?" he could only recall the one act he preformed on her.

"Richard, what you did last night, I've never experienced before, and that..." she trailed off embarrassed, "nevermind.."

"No, tell my darling, I want to know," Richard pulled her hands from where they rested on his chest to kiss her palms.

Closing her eyes, to make it easier, she opened up, "I've never felt that...thing...you made me feel last night. I mean, I had read about it in medical journals but it had never happened,"

"Oh...you mean..." he suddenly understood that she was talking about her powerful release. "Well...I am honored to have given you that gift,"

"And it was a wonderful gift," she said huskily, leaning in for a more passionate kiss, completely awake now. She opened her mouth to him, wanting to feel him fully. To feel his warm, hot mouth anywhere she could get it. It was as if she were addicted to it after last night.

Richard knew her body well enough to tell what she was aiming for when she pressed her chest to his mid-kiss. He pulled back, letting out ragged breaths, "I know it is hard to wait, but now that we're engaged it won't be much longer before you have me the way you want, and I you. Just hold out a bit longer my love,"

Isobel stared into his deep blue pools, overcome with love anytime they locked on her, "But, Richard I can't wait anymore. I cannot bring myself to wait to touch you, to wait to put a band around your finger. I cannot wait much longer to call you my husband,"

"Neither can I, but we must," Richard leaned in to peck her lips softly, "I understand. I really do,"

"We don't have to though. We could go to Ripon this afternoon and you would be mine by sunset," Isobel bit her lip nervously, knowing this was very forward and impatient of her.

"Oh, my darling. You cannot imagine how often I've thought of that, but do you not think it would be deceitful? Our courtship was private and we haven't announced the engagement. What would a secret marriage look like this soon after-" she held a slender finger to his lips, silencing him.

"All I care about is you. I'm not too occupied with the opinion of others, and the only person I would see fit to tell is Mary. We could be married today, stay at an inn as long as we like and tell the others when the time comes," she suggested with an excited voice, her hopes sky high.

Richard kissed Isobel's finger before pulling her hand down to cover his heart, "You know I would have married you the day we met, but are you sure this is what you want?"

"Richard," she shook her head, wanting so bad for him to understand the force of her love for him, "Spending the rest of my life with you is perhaps the only thing I've ever been sure of," she kissed him hard and long, letting a tear fall. She cursed her embarrassing emotions for coming at the least opportune of times.

Richard pulled back to rub his nose against hers in an Eskimo kiss they often shared, "Then I will gladly allow you to make me the luckiest of men,"

She sighed and snuggled in closer, more comfortable now knowing that tonight they would be sharing their love in every form.

"I would love to lie here with you as I promised, but my stomach won't stop reminding me that we didn't finish our dinner last night,"

"As I recall someone wanton man rudely interrupted my top-notch cooking to ask a question he should have known the answer to," Isobel joked poking an accusing finger to his bare chest.

"I could always revoke my offer," he quipped back with a smirk.

"You wouldn't dare," she said huskily leaning in for a kiss passionate enough to elicit an animistic groan from Richard. "Now get up so I can make you another one of my world famous meals,"


After a breakfast of leftover roast on bread, Isobel sent Richard back to his cottage with a kiss. She climbed the stairs back to her room to pack a weekend bag as she had told Richard to do. After tossing the necessities into her bag, she packed only one skirt and shirt, figuring they wouldn't be spending much time out of the inn. Moving to sleepwear, she opened the drawer containing her nightgowns and pushed around to the bottom of the drawer. Pulling out what she had been digging for, Isobel held the sheer purple negligee to the light. Staring at it, slightly scared, she realized just how short and revealing it was. Before she could talk herself out of it, Isobel tossed the lingerie in her trunk, hoping Richard would be as surprised by her wearing it as she was.