On their last day in London they were sat at the table finishing their breakfast when Audrey's thoughts wondered to Christmas.
"Richard what do you want for Christmas?" She asked him casually lowering her teacup.
Richard looked up from his paper smiling at her "I have you darling that's all I could possibly want"
She smiled back at him "Really darling are you sure there's nothing you would like?"
"Yes I'm sure, now come over here and help me finish this crossword."
She got up and sat on his lap her arms hung loosely around his neck, his paper left forgotten on the table as he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her neck.
Audrey sighed as she felt his lips caress her throat, she trailed a hand into his hair holding him to her.
They had to be on the road back to Grantleigh in an hour and didn't have time for this to go where she wanted so she gently tugged on his hair encouraging him to stop his ministrations.
"Darling as much as I want you to continue we don't have time" she breathed into his ear.
"Mmm, I know but we've got time for a cuddle" Richard said tightening his arms around her.
"I forgot to ask did you confirm everything with Henry darling?"
"Yes I phoned him last night. We are going fishing tomorrow morning then I've invited him to lunch at The Manor"
"I'm so pleased your making an effort Richard" Audrey said cupping his cheek
"Well you were right, mother deserves to be happy and if Henry is making her happy then who am I to stand in the way"
Audrey brought her face close to his, their lips touching as she spoke "You make me happy Richard, I love you"
"I love you to darling" he replied kissing her gently.
They made it back to Grantleigh in time for afternoon tea. Walking into the drawing room they found his mother knitting away on the settee.
"Oh Bedrich I'm glad you are home that policeman called for you, he wants you to phone him"
"Really I wonder what he wants, I'd better phone him back"
When Richard left the room Audrey saw an opportunity to ask Mrs Poo for any ideas she had for Richard's Christmas present.
She sat down next to her on the settee.
"Mrs Poo I need your help. I want to get something special for Richard for Christmas but I'm having trouble coming up with any ideas."
Mrs Poo shook her head "He is difficult to buy for, I mean what do you buy a man who has everything."
"Exactly, I'm really having trouble, I just don't know what to get him"
Mrs poo reached over and patted Audrey's hand "You know my dear a few months ago when Bedrich's business was in trouble and he thought he had lost you, I have never seen him so miserable. I was so worried about him. But then you invited us to the party and he seemed to be happier, he thought he may still have a chance with you."
"What I am saying my dear is that it doesn't matter what you get him because you have already given him the most precious gift you could ever give...your love."
They both had tears in their eyes when Richard came back into the room. Seeing his wife and mother with tears running down their cheeks shocked him, he'd only been gone 5 minutes what had happened he wondered.
"Is everything alright?" He asked
"I'm just going to freshen up before dinner" Mrs Poo said as she left the drawing room dabbing her eyes with her hankie.
Richard came to sit next to his wife turning towards her, their knees touching. He took her hand in his and wiped away a tear on her cheek "Audrey? What is it, what's wrong?"
Audrey shook her head "It's nothing darling, everything's fine just some woman's talk that's all"
"Ohh, right well" Richard wasn't sure he wanted to know about woman's talk, although he was a modern man some subjects made him very uncomfortable and women's talk was one of them.
Audrey dried her eyes "Did you get hold of Constable Peters?"
"Yes, they found the other two chaps who attacked me, they're holding them until they appear in court. Sometime after Christmas he said"
Audrey let out a relieved sigh "Well that is a relief"
"Audrey are you sure everything's alright, it's just before...I haven't done anything to upset you have I?" He asked her.
She took his other hand now holding both in her lap "No darling you haven't done anything, your mother and I just had a very lovely chat about you and I got a little emotional"
Richard raised his eyebrows wondering just what his mother had been saying "What did she tell you?"
"She told me how sad you had been since leaving Grantleigh"
"I was sad leaving Grantleigh but I was devastated to leave you, I thought if I ever stood a chance with you I had to save the business. Have something to offer you even if it wasn't the manor"
"I would have married you even if you had lost everything Richard, I love you my darling"
"I know that now darling but at the time it seemed that saving Cavendish was the only way to win your love even if it took me away from you for a while"
"Richard you had my love from the start I was just to set in my ways to tell you"
"I love you Audrey with all my heart"
He kissed her forehead, her cheek, then touched his lips to hers in a tender kiss.