Authors Note: I have been much delayed in updating this as I work in Hospitality as a manager and this is a really busy period for us, add to that two children and a husband and you have my life ;) – once I again I ask you to forgive me for the delay.

Chapter Twenty Seven: Home to Berkley.

Pedler's Inn

Dumfries, Scotland

Dec 1816

Therese wakens to find herself held, enclosed in strong bare masculine arms and her face pillowed on her husband's chest. From the deep even breaths under cheek she surmises Bastian is still in slumber.

Careful not to disturb him she stretches a little, breathes in his warm comforting scent and smiles a sated, delighted smile; one the sheer exhilarating joy of her wedding night put there, she is happier than she has ever been before.

Propping herself up on one elbow she studies Bastian's sleeping features, though she knows his face better than any other his beauty still has the power to stun her. That this incredible man loves her more than life she knows to her marrow now, but that she should be lucky enough to have been gifted with it, this she knows will continue to amaze her until the day she dies.

"You're staring at me." Bastian speaks with a smile in his voice and without opening his eyes.

Therese laughs softly. "I am . . . I may never stop."

Dark eyes open and Therese sees the love and happiness glowing in their depths. He tightens his grip, and remaining on his back he pulls her up and over him, settling her straddling his waist, she can feel the hot hard length of him against her bottom. Grinning at him she leans down to kiss him tenderly. The kiss deepens almost immediately, the passion between them flaring and cascading through them both leaving them greedy, grasping, lost in each other.

Bastian's hands grip her waist and lift her, he shifts beneath her, positioning himself so she can slide down upon him, enclosing his yearning body within her heat. He lets out a sigh of complete contentment when he is fully seated inside her.

"God I love you." He whispers.

"I know." She responds, lifting up at his gentle urging before sliding back down again. "I love you too . . . more than you know."

He sits up to kiss her, and there is no further talking, just urgency and desire and the force fueled by them. They give themselves over to that power, let it shimmer between them, fully acknowledged, binding them ever more tightly each moment.

They are very late to breakfast, but Robert and Amelia pretend not to notice.

Amelia has kindly prepared a feast, remembering how ravenous she was after her own wedding night. Together everyone dines companionably talking about how beautiful the previous day was and how excited they all are to be journeying to Berkley for a traditional family Christmas.

Noticing the eager anticipation on everyone's faces, Bastian smiles inwardly, knowing that his beloved Berkley will soon be filled with hustle, bustle and laughter as the full spirit of the season descends upon it.

Berkley is both beautiful and serene at any time of the year, but Bastian remembers the Christmases of his childhood, when his mother and father would fill the castle with extended family and celebrate the joys of living and of the season properly. Once his mother had passed away and his father had married Alathea, things had gone rather differently, and though Christmas was always festive, the joys of sharing it with a large group were lost. He looks forward now to changing things back, to making each Christmas special as he and Therese add to their family and encourage all those closest to them to come to Berkley and celebrate together.

He has already sent invitations to Alastair and all his other cousins, aunts and uncles to gather at Berkley in five days for the holidays and to celebrate his wedding. He figures most of them will accept for he is the head of the family and now that he has his Countess secured, it is only fitting that everyone come and pay their respects to his bride. Before he married her they might have aired an opinion, but now that Therese is his wife they would not dare question his decision, at least not openly. Not that he cares a jot for their opinions actually, but he knows that in time Therese's grace, intelligence and kindness will make her such a perfect Countess of Gloucester that even the harshest of his relatives will come around.

And he did make them miss the wedding in his haste, so it seems only right he now give them all the chance to see his happiness and to celebrate it.

They leave the Inn early afternoon. Bastian has hired a large, comfortable covered carriage to transport Robert, Amelia and their daughters, he and Therese will travel back in their own finely appointed vehicle. The hirelings managing the Inn in Robert's absence are well known locals being paid very handsomely for their trouble as the family is not expected to return to Dumfries until after the New Year.

His new nieces are giddy with excitement and Bastian finds himself remembering his sister's at that age, resolving to find some fine gifts for the girls' en-route he thinks that nothing could be nicer than to have children to indulge at this time of the year, and he secretly wishes that by next Christmas he and Therese might be blessed with a baby. As he glances over at his new bride, smiling softly as she watches the city roll by outside the carriage window, his own smile turns positively wicked as he concludes that begetting the child will be a reward in itself. He intends to be very earnest in his pursuit of heirs.

Therese catches the smile and wonders if her beloved Earl's thoughts are travelling in a similar vein to her own, when he reaches for her and seats her across his lap, unbuttoning her cloak and reaching for the laces closing her bodice as he covers her lips with his, she finds her question answered in the affirmative.

It proves to be an exhilarating and creative journey.

They arrive at Berkley in the early afternoon four days later.

The carriages turn onto the mile long driveway to the castle and the familiar landscape brings a sudden rush of fond warm memories to Therese. She has missed Berkley more than she could ever have dreamed, and knowing that it will forever be her home now, that she will never need to contemplate saying goodbye to it again, it is no small joy.

The castle itself comes into view and Therese can see the staff lined up waiting to greet them, shooting a questioning glance at Bastian she raises her eyebrows.

"I sent word when to expect us of course." He answers with amusement. Reaching across the carriage for her hand he raises it to his lips and plants a soft kiss on the inside of her wrist. "Welcome home Countess." He says eyes lit with delight.

Her title, she concludes will take some getting used to.

Bastian exits the carriage first as a footman leaps to open the door for him, he looks over at the following carriage and sees that his staff are ready to greet his guests, then reaching back into the carriage he hands his wife down.

Therese takes a deep breath wondering how all these people she's known only as almost one of the staff herself, will take to her now that she is their mistress. Will they resent her?

Looking over the sea of faces ready to greet them she finds only genuine welcoming smiles on every face, smiles of happy approval and her fears vanish.

Dobbs, Bastian's erstwhile Butler steps forward, bowing formally he winks at her as he straightens.

"Welcome home my Lord, welcome home my lady." The words ring with a warmth not usually heard in the Butler's normally somber baritone.

Bastian smiles, then raises his voice to be heard by all.

"Thank you everyone for turning out to welcome us home. As you all know I left you a broken man in search of the woman who brings meaning to my life, and as you see, I have returned to you whole and happy with a bride by my side. I present to you all, your new mistress, Therese Berkley, the Countess of Gloucester. I ask you to make her welcome, to serve her as you have always served me. Thank you."

A cheer goes up and stunned Therese looks over the faces once more, she can detect not a hint of censure or disapproval and she is about to thank everyone when she is ambushed by twin tornadoes.

Eliza and Alicia Berkley plaster themselves one to each side of her and sandwiched thus she is squeezed tightly.

"Therese we have missed you so, so much . . . thank God you've come back." Alicia's eyes shine with tears of joy and Therese finds her own filling up. She has missed Bastian's sisters very much, more than she even realized now that she sees them again. She plants a soft kiss of welcome on each girl's forehead.

"We don't think Bastian could possibly have picked a better sister for us, do we Lissy?" Eliza smiles up at Therese, and Therese smiles warmly back, the girls are obviously delighted by their brothers' decision to marry her, but what of their mother?

As if summoned by Therese's thoughts, Alathea Berkley herself appears on the castle entrance steps, she looks over the gathered staff, looks over the second carriage and momentarily frowns as she eyes Robert, Amelia and the girls, their clothing clearly is not as fine as her own and the dowager is well known for looking down her nose at her social inferiors. Therese watches the emotions clearly play out over Alathea's face and then to her surprise her expression changes to one more welcoming, she descends the entrance stairs and makes her way over to where Therese stands, and arm still around each twin.

Therese waits to see what Alathea will say, she senses Bastian bristling as he strides over to stand next to her.

"Welcome home Therese, Bastian. I offer you my congratulations on your wedding."

Startled, Therese is not sure how to reply, Bastian beats her to it.

"Thank you Alathea. As you see we have brought my wife's family with us to celebrate Christmas, I trust you will join us at the castle for all the festivities?"

Alathea manages what looks like a very grateful smile, clearly she feared NOT being invited to partake in the family gathering and Therese understands suddenly that during her disappearance to Scotland, Alathea has not faired well at Bastian's hand. She makes a mental note to talk to him about it, she cannot blame Alathea for thinking and acting as she has, she's been brought up and has lived all her life among the aristocracy and the way they traditionally do things. Alathea deserves the chance to see them together, and to give them her genuine blessing on their marriage, not one that has been coerced out of her.

'Thank you Bastian, I shall be very happy to join you all." Alathea turns to Therese, "If I can be of any help to you as you settle into your new role as Countess . . . I hope you will feel free to ask Therese, but I respect that this is your household to run now. If you will both excuse me, I will greet your family, and retire to the Dower House."

Therese sends her husband a pleading look. Bastian rolls his eyes, but translates it very well.

"You will join us for dinner of course Alathea?" He asks her.

The dowager smiles gratefully again and nods her acceptance.

Bastian turns his attention back to his bride, and his smile turns decidedly wolfish, it's a look Therese is learning to recognize.

"Bastian?" She asks, voice trembling nervously.

Her husband's smile only widens and he bends, scooping her into his arms to another cheer from the entire watching staff. He strides carrying her effortlessly towards the stairs and climbing them he sweeps his bride over the threshold and into the castle.

Therese wraps her arms happily around his neck and laughs joyfully, she is finally home at Berkley once more.