A/N: And here it is, the chapter some of you have been waiting for. I hope I've done it justice. Thanks again for the wonderful reviews.

Richard rubbed the back of his neck as he glared down at the paperwork he'd just finished. The day had been slow enough that he'd had the time to tackle the stack of it that had been piling up the last week while he'd been inordinately busy with a sudden influx of patients. Isobel had been in to tend to her side of things, but had gone home an hour before.

Which had left him alone with his thoughts. Thoughts that had been plaguing him for weeks now, specifically since New Year's Day. So many days since then he'd had to excuse himself to take a walk in the cold air to calm himself and take his mind off his improper thoughts. Well, they weren't exactly improper as they were about his wife, but they were problematic when he'd promised not to push her into anything she wasn't ready for.

He smiled as he thought about how she'd been sharing his bed more and more. There were very few nights that he spent alone now, and he cherished having her next to him. His body was beginning to appreciate the soft curves pressed against it, and it was growing more and more wearisome trying to fight the desire those curves and her scent stirred up inside him.

He was only a man after all.

A knock on his door made him scowl. "Yes," he growled then sighed when one of his young nurses popped her head around the open door. "I'm sorry, Nurse Smith. What was it you needed?"

"A Mr. Williams has asked to see you, Doctor."

"Fine then." He nodded. "Send him in." Straightening his tie, he rolled his eyes and shuffled papers. The last thing he wanted was to deal with Mr. Williams. Hearing a noise, he looked up. "Yes, Mr. Williams. Is there something wrong with Mrs. Williams or the baby? Johnny?"

The man twisted his hat in his hand. "No. Nothin's wrong with the missus or the kids."

"Are you feeling ill then?"

"No. I came to apologize."

Richard raised his eyebrow at that. "Oh?"

"Yes. My missus gave me a right talkin' to after you left. Said how your missus helped you, how the two of you were the reason she and our Mary were okay."

"And?"

"And I wanted to apologize for what I said about our baby." Looking up at Richard, Mr. Williams sighed, "I'd had a bit too much to drink. I really am happy for a girl. She looks like my Lilly. She'll make some man happy one day."

Richard nodded. "I'll be sure to pass along your apology to my wife."

"Thank you."

Richard watched the man turn and hurry out of his office. "Well that was interesting."

"What was?" Isobel asked as she came in.

"Did you pass a man leaving as you walked down the hall?"

"I did."

"That was Mr. Williams."

Isobel scowled. "And what did he want? Nothing wrong with his wife or the baby, was there?"

"No. He came to apologize."

Raising and eyebrow, Isobel sat in the chair in front of his desk. "Oh?"

"Seems his missus has a bit of fire in her."

Isobel laughed at that. "Sent him in with his tail between his legs, did she?"

Richard joined in her laughter. "Yes."

"Good for her."

"I still plan to check in from time to time."

"Good. Now, I've brought you this."

Richard looked at the basket she sat on his desk. "I missed luncheon."

"You did and Elsie was worried. She asked me to bring this to you when I told her I'd forgotten something and had to come back."

"What in the world did you forget?"

"I forgot my bloody house key."

Richard laughed at that. "Only you, Isobel. Only you."

Walking over to her desk, she wrinkled her nose at him as she bent over to pick up her key. "Oh hush. Eat your sandwich."

"Going back to visit with Elsie?" he asked as he reached into the basket to pull out the meal his wife had packed for him.

"I am. She's working on a new dress and needs my help with the fitting. It's rather hard to fit one's self."

"Tell her thank you for the sandwich and that I shouldn't be late tonight."

"I will."

EEE

Elsie looked at herself in the full length mirror. Studying her reflection, she let her thoughts drift to the things she'd been thinking of lately. They weren't improper thoughts, but they were thoughts that frightened her.

Richard.

The feel of his body against hers at night in his bed.

The way her body had started to react.

She wanted him.

Of that she was sure.

But she was scared.

Looking at herself in the mirror again, she sighed as she caressed a hand over her curves. She wasn't young. Her body was soft where it had once been smooth and toned. The only parts about her that were still in any shape worth mentioning were her legs from years of climbing stairs and her arms from the physical work she'd done all of her life. Her breasts were no longer perky, her middle, well, she didn't want to think about that. Nor did she want to think about the graying of her hair.

Isobel watched her friend, having let herself into the cottage when her knock went unanswered. Elsie was standing in nothing but her undergarments and shift studying herself. As a woman, Isobel understood what Elsie was thinking as she caressed a hand over certain parts of herself. Quietly taking off her coat, gloves, and hat, she laid them aside then walked to where Elsie stood.

"He loves you, Elsie. He'll want you just as you are."

"Isobel." Elsie breathed as she turned a startled gaze to her friend. "I didn't hear you knock."

"I know. I let myself in when you didn't answer. I was worried something might have happened. Then I came upstairs and found you staring at yourself." Smiling at Elsie, Isobel held her gaze. "What's brought this on, Elsie?"

"I," she started then began to chew on her lower lip.

"Stop that and tell me." Isobel scolded gently.

"Oh Izzie." Elsie breathed as she moved to sit on her bed. "I find that my," she blushed before continuing. "I find that my body has started reacting to Richard's."

"Ah." Isobel nodded, smiling kindly as she sat beside Elsie and took her hands. "Have you never been with a man, Elsie?"

"I have, but I was a young lass." Looking up at Isobel, Elsie smiled sadly. "I'm not young anymore, Isobel."

"No, Elsie, you're not, but neither is Richard. Have you stopped to think about that?"

"We kiss, and I enjoy that and he seems to, but I don't even know if he wants me that way."

Isobel chuckled and winked. "Oh believe me, Elsie. He wants you."

Elsie raised an eyebrow at her friend. "And how would you know?"

"Do you know how many times a day he takes a walk out in the cold when it's slow at the hospital? I've seen the way he looks at you, Elsie." Squeezing Elsie's hands when she gave her a skeptical look, Isobel continued, "You told me you've been sharing his bed."

"Yes. Since New Year's Day."

"And you told me that he promised not to push you for anything you weren't ready for."

"Yes."

"Well, don't you think that he's been holding back?"

Elsie chewed her bottom lip as she thought about their heated kisses. "Lately his kisses have been rather," she blushed and shrugged.

Isobel chuckled, "Heated?"

"Mmm." Elsie murmured.

"Then don't hold back anymore, Elsie. You love him. He loves you. And it isn't as if you have to worry for your honor. You are his wife."

"Oh." Elsie huffed and nudged Isobel in the ribs. "I can't believe I'm discussing this."

"And why not? I'm a nurse, but I'm more than that, I'm your friend."

"Beryl will shoot me for talking about this with you and not her."

"No she won't. I was here. You couldn't very well call up to the big house and ask to talk to Beryl and tell her all of this over the telephone."

Elsie laughed and shook her head. "Oh heavens no."

"Well then. I'm also sure you'd be too embarrassed to discuss this with Fia."

"Oh my yes. Telephone or no."

Isobel watched the blush deepen in Elsie's cheeks and hugged her. "I seem to recall a few garments Fia and I bought for you."

Elsie's face burned at the thought of those items. "Yes, but Isobel, I can't possibly."

"And why not? That's what they're for and I think you're ready. Wear the blue one tonight."

"Which blue one? They were all blue."

"The dark one."

"The lace one with the shear skirting."

"Yes."

Elsie sighed, "I don't know."

"It will be alright. I promise, Elsie."

EEE

"He really came to apologize?" Elsie asked as she watched Richard settle in his chair by the fire.

"Yes, he did. Seems Mrs. Williams has enough fire in her to scare the man."

Elsie laughed. "Good for her. That wee lassie will be alright with a mam like that."

"Yes she will. Now come here my beautiful lass." He held out his hand and winked at her when she shook her head.

"Oh you daft man," she told him as she put down her mending and went to him.

"Nice," he murmured as he shifted to make them more comfortable. Nuzzling Elsie's neck then kissing along her jaw as he held her close, he could feel her shiver against him, a hum deep in her throat when he reached the place behind her right ear that seemed to be a particularly pleasing spot for her. She was more responsive tonight than she'd been before, and he wondered if he could push things a bit further, but then shoved those thoughts away.

She would come to him when she was ready.

"Oh." Elsie breathed as she settled back against his shoulder.

Richard smiled as he caressed her arm. "Are you alright, Lass?"

"Mmm," she hummed and nodded her head. "Quite."

Yawning Richard shook his head and apologized, "I'm sorry. All that paperwork makes me more tired than being busy does."

Elsie nodded as she stood up. "I understand. Doing my bookwork always made me wish to take a nap. Go on up. I'll take care of things and be up myself."

Richard shook his head. "I should do that."

"No need. I know how." She winked at him. "I've banked many a fire in my day, Richard. Go on now."

Pulling her into his arms, Richard kissed her with a longing he kept hidden until now. His hand slipped down to the small of her back, pressing her close against him. Feeling her tremble and then moan, he pulled back and stepped away, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Elsie."

Blinking rapidly and swallowing, Elsie fought to get her wits back. Finally steady, she smiled and moved closer to Richard. "No need to apologize, Richard. I rather enjoyed that."

Richard stared in surprise. "You did?"

Elsie nodded. "I did. Now go to bed. I'll be up in a minute."

Richard nodded a bit dumbly and turned to make his way upstairs. He was completely confused by what had just happened. He didn't know why he'd kissed her in such a way, or why he'd pressed her body to his so that she could feel his reaction to her. Extreme fatigue. Yes, that must be it.

But then he thought of the way she'd been watching him tonight, the wink she'd give him, the teasing lilt in her voice.

Had she been trying to tell him something with her actions that his body had picked up on while the rest of him had been blind?

"Good heavens, man. You've gone daft."

Elsie heard Richard mumbling as he went up the stairs and shook her head. Tonight had been a bit odd. He'd held back while they were snuggled in his chair kissing. Then just now, she shook her head.

"What happened?" she wondered as she moved from locking the door to bank the fire, turning off the lights as she made her way to the stairs.

Had he realized she was flirting a bit with him? Of course, at first, she hadn't even realized what she was doing.

She was so confused, and nervous.

Walking quietly to her room, she saw the light still on in Richard's and smiled at him sitting in his bed, propped up against the headboard. He usually read a bit before sleep, but she didn't see a book. He seemed to be still a bit confused which made her smile and decide that she was going to do as Isobel had suggested.

EEE

Richard looked up and stared. He wasn't sure what he was seeing, but it couldn't possibly be his wife standing just inside his bedroom wearing satin and lace, her hair in a braid that fell over her shoulder, one of the ribbons he'd bought her for Christmas tied at the end in a neat little bow.

"Elsie?" he whispered, sure that he was dreaming.

"Yes, Richard." Elsie answered him in a quiet voice, nerves making her fidget.

Looking over her, he felt his body reacting to the swell of her breasts cupped in lace, the sheer fabric flowing from the lace making it possible for him to see she wasn't wearing anything underneath. The deep blue of the gown enhanced her eyes and seemed to make the milky whiteness of her skin glow.

"Lass," he breathed. "You're beautiful." Standing up, he walked to where she seemed to be frozen in place. "Is this what had you fussing at Fia?"

Elsie nodded. "One of them."

"One?" Richard asked, his voice nearly squeaking.

Elsie laughed at the sound of his voice and nodded, her eyes twinkling up at him. "Yes. There were three from her, and one from Isobel."

"Heaven help me," he breathed as he caressed her bare arms. "Does this mean that I didn't scare you earlier?"

"You didn't scare me, although I am nervous."

"We don't have to do this, Lass."

"Yes, Mo chéile we do. I'll go mad if we don't," she admitted quietly, her hands reaching out to fuss with the buttons of his pajama shirt.

"What do mean by that, Elsie?"

Looking up at him again, Elsie blushed. "I've been thinking about," she bit her lip against her nervousness. "I've been wondering. I can't seem to stop myself. My body has started reacting to being near yours."

Richard smiled as he cupped her face in his hands. "I've been thinking, too. And I've had to take a lot of cold walks to calm myself because my body has been reacting to the soft curves pressed against it at night."

Unbuttoning his shirt, Elsie skimmed her hands over his chest. "Richard?" she asked as she pushed the shirt off.

"Yes, Mo bhean?" he asked, his fingers pulling at the ribbon at the end of her braid, loosening her hair from its confines. Fingering the soft curls as he combed through them, he smiled as a hint of rosemary drifted to his nose. It had been Beryl that told him what the scent was because he'd been driving himself to near madness trying to figure it out on his own.

"What are you smiling about?" Elsie asked, her brogue thick with the huskiness of her voice.

"Your hair. I was remembering how I nearly drove myself mad trying to learn what the scent was that I would catch a whiff of when I would hold you close." He winked at her when she blushed. "I had to ask Beryl."

Elsie laughed and leaned against him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Thank you for that," she whispered, grateful to him for helping her with her nerves with a bit of humor.

"Elsie," his voice dropped as he said her name, his grey-blue eyes holding hers.

"Yes?" she answered, her voice barely audible.

The air around them seemed to crackle as he pulled her closer, pressing her body firmly to his, letting her feel what she did to him. Nibbling at her neck, his hand gently roamed her body, the feel of his warm palm sliding over the material covering her, caused her to shiver at the sensations.

Elsie's breath caught in her throat when Richard's hand moved to cup her breast. His thumb rubbed circles around the taut peak, the lace causing a friction that made her mind seem to spin. Her fingers dug into his shoulders as her head fell back giving him easier access to the graceful column of her neck.

Richard kissed her and breathed her in. The more he touched her, the more she seemed to go limp in his arms, even as she held onto his shoulders, her head falling back. Pushing the lace strap off her shoulder, he felt her shudder as he pressed a kiss to the soft skin. Gently moving them backward, he turned her until she was standing beside the bed. "Elsie, open your eyes."

Elsie swallowed and opened her eyes as she lifted her head. The grey of his eyes had darkened with the intensity of his desire and she felt her blood warm even more.

"You must tell me if you're absolutely sure," he whispered.

Biting her lower lip, she held his gaze as she lifted her hands to push the other strap off her shoulder, carefully pushing at the lace until the negligee pooled at her feet. "It's been a long time, but I'm very sure that I want this."

Continuing to hold her gaze, Richard untied his pajama trousers and let them fall to his feet, kicking them aside. Gently laying Elsie back on the bed then lying down at her side, he took his first look at all of her. This wasn't the first time he'd seen her body, though the other times had been as a doctor with only a clinical eye. This time though, he traced over every inch with a tender fingertip as he took in her lovely pale skin and soft curves with the eye of a lover.

Elsie felt tears well in her eyes at the tenderness Richard was showing her as he learned her body, gently touching her, pausing to linger over places that caused her to catch her breath. She felt her arousal growing and reached out to tangle her fingers in his hair, bringing his mouth to hers for a kiss more passionate than any they'd shared before.

Moving his body over hers, Richard held her hands in his as he pulled from the kiss. "Look at me, Elsie."

Opening her eyes, Elsie stared up at him. "Please, Richard," she whimpered.

"I love you, Elsie Clarkson," he told her as he gently pushed inside her, pausing at her gasp. "Easy."

Elsie squeezed his hands, her eyes never leaving his as she adjusted to the feel of him inside her. "And I love you, Richard Clarkson." She wiggled against him. "Now, please."

Feeling her lift her legs and drape them over his thighs, Richard began to move against her, drowning in the dark blue pools of her eyes as she stared up at him, moaning and whimpering. Leaning down, he kissed the scar on her breast, remembering the stark fear that had stared back at him from the eyes now filled with want and need, lingering with other thoughts that seemed to fill his mind now when he thought about what this scar meant. Moving his kisses back to her lips, his body demanded more and he gave in, letting his control go as Elsie grew ever more restless beneath him. Close, so close. Sliding a hand down between them, he touched her gently and felt her immediate reaction.

Arching up against him, Elsie cried out as she climaxed, her body trembling, heart pounding, breath coming in short gasps.

Reaching his own climax, Richard collapsed against her for only a moment before rolling onto his back, pulling her with him and across her chest. Caressing the damp hair from her face, he concentrated on regulating his breathing and the pounding of his heart.

Elsie did her best to calm her breathing, her frantically beating heart slowing as Richard's slowed beneath her ear. Snuggling her head under his chin, she shivered against the cool air of the room on her hot, damp skin. Sitting up a bit, she pulled the covers up and over them then settled back into her spot.

"Thank you, Lass."

"Mmm," she hummed. Drawing aimless patterns on his chest, she sighed, "Richard?"

"Hmm?"

"When you kissed the scar, what were you thinking?"

Caressing a hand over her back, Richard answered quietly, "I was remembering the fear I saw in your eyes."

"That wasn't all, not the way your kiss lingered."

"I was only thinking about how I wasn't sure I would have been able to handle it if I'd been your husband then. Seeing that fear in your eyes as your doctor, and an acquaintance, was hard enough, but being your husband and seeing you go through that," he paused and held her a bit tighter. "It would have broken me, Elsie."

Tears rolling down her cheeks, Elsie tilted her head up to kiss his jaw. "Oh Richard, I love you so."

"Never as much as I love you, my beautiful Scottish lass." Feeling sleep claiming him, Richard kissed her head. "Sleep well, Mo bhean."

Elsie murmured sleepily as she settled more comfortably into his embrace. She'd have to remember to thank Isobel, then she grinned just as she slipped into sleep. The thanks would have to wait for much later.