Tommy was exhausted. If he thought two months of rehab was tiring, it was nothing compared to the workout Barbara had just given him. "Hmm, I missed that. It was a great incentive all those weeks."

Barbara kissed him. "Well, worth the wait." He was glad that for the last few weeks she had been able to talk to him again.

Although he had been out of hospital two weeks, they had been cautious and despite frustration, had stuck to their promise of not making love until he had medical clearance. Tommy had been given cautious approval by his doctor on Monday, but as their wedding had been planned for Friday, Tommy had decided to wait and make love to his wife and countess.

The wedding had been intimate, with just a few friends and colleagues in a small garden venue in London. Tommy had worked hard to be able to walk his bride back down the aisle unaided. He snuggled her closer against him. "You looked truly beautiful today, Barbara."

"No one was looking at me. Everyone was watching you. All dressed up in your morning suit and top hat. You'd barely know you had nearly died." Barbara started to cry.

He hugged her tighter and kissed away her tears. "I was watching you. And you looked divine. No tears, it's your wedding night!"

"I thought you had died. Karen's principles didn't matter. I wanted to kill her for hurting you and leaving me alone again."

Tommy shuddered. It was the first time they had talked about that day. "I thought I was going to die. I was prepared to you know, to give you a chance."

"I know. That hurts but it's also wonderful. Am I weird?"

Tommy kissed the top of her head as he held her. "No, not at all. Watching you fighting for me, my angry woman, made me realise how much we mean to each other. I'm never letting that go again."

Barbara ran her fingers across his chest. "Good, because I resigned. I meant to tell you."

"I know, Hillier told me. He assumed I knew."

"You never said."

"I knew you'd find the right time, Lady Asherton."

"Don't remind me!" Barbara stopped playing with his chest and looked down. "I didn't want you to think I was doing it because I thought you needed looking after. I want to spend every hour of my life with you."

"Hmm, so do I." He kissed her. The slow tempo rapidly gave way to a discussion of need and passion, desire and love. "And maybe our children."

Barbara pulled back and looked at him. She smiled then kissed him ravenously. "In that case, you have work to do M'lord."