Tommy followed but did not catch her before she disappeared into the restroom. He waited patiently by the door for over fifteen minutes trying to look inconspicuous. Women looked him up and down as they passed and all he could do was smile and try not to look anxious. At one point he wondered if Barbara might have climbed out the window to avoid him but a quick peek as the door opened and Kate emerged revealed a flash of purple inside.

"Having fun?" he asked Kate with feigned innocence.

"Did you two have a fight?"

"No, a misunderstanding of some sort I think."

"I thought so. She's in there washing her hands over and over. Just wait, she'll be out soon."

Another ten minutes crept by before she emerged. He could tell she had been crying but she had disguised it well and only he would know because her eyes had lost their glow. She half-smiled at him. He took her by the hand and spun her back onto the dance floor. The night was deepening. The lights were low and the tune was mellow. He cocooned her in his arms and held her as they swayed to the music. Her face nestled into his chest and she sighed.

"I'm sorry Barbara," he eventually said, "the last thing I wanted was to upset you."

"Don't be. It was a nice gesture but...I don't want your pity."

"My pity?"

"Uncle Bill, my family. You always want to save the world; rescue the oppressed and downtrodden. I don't want to be protected Tommy. I want to be...I need something else." She pulled away from his arms and walked back onto the verandah.

Tommy followed and as she leant on the balustrade looking out at the lamp-lit lake he enfolded her in his arms and pulled her back into his chest. "Oh Barbara! In my haste and excitement I forgot to mention something very important."

"What?"

"I love you."

"Oh?"

"It's trendy to say to the Moon and back now but I would have to be more realistic, let's say I love you to the edge of the universe and back."

"Tommy you don't have to..." She wriggled around to face him. His liquid eyes and and broad smile were endearing. She wanted to kiss him and make the most of this connection between them as long as it lasted but she did not want to tie him down in marriage. One day he would hate her for it but stay because that was what he had promised to do.

"I know. I want to. I need to because it is true. There has always been something very special between us Barbara hasn't there? But we were both trying hard to believe it was anything other than what it really is - love, a total, all-encompassing, unshakable love. Now we know we can't shovel it back under the pretense of companionship or friendship. They are part of our love but there are other parts too." Tommy kissed her tenderly. "Like that. It doesn't feel that way without love does it? I know you feel it too amata."

"I do love you Tommy! I've known that for years but it won't be enough. Imagine my family meeting yours. We're too different for it to work. I don't want you to hate me."

"I never would and I disagree. They said that the two of us working together would fail and they were wrong. And as for our families...both are far from perfect. Yours are just more open about it."

Despite the situation Barbara laughed. "But it's not Tommy Lynley I'd marry, it's also Lord Asherton. I'd fail you."

"Nonsense and you know it. Tonight you proved how much more to you there is than baggy coats. You'll wow everyone and that's all we need to do a few times a year." Tommy kissed her again. "But I've rushed you. I should have waited until you understood how much I love you. It was just that when that odious man said that I'd tamed you I knew then that I had to marry you because..."

Barbara raised her eyebrows and interrupted him. "Because you think you've tamed me?" She asked with ill-disguised anger.

"No! The opposite. We are at peace together, well when we're not arguing. We both want to be ourselves. Together we are free to be ourselves, with all our idiosyncrasies and foibles."

"My idiosyncrasies, your foibles." She looked up at him. Humour had crept back into her eyes. It was almost impossible to stay angry with him since that first kiss.

He ran the back of his fingers across her cheek. "We love each other without expecting anything in return but knowing we'll always be here. I want to spend every day of my life with you amata. I want to wake up and have your sleepy face be the first thing I see. I want to go to sleep holding you and knowing that you're there. But I can understand why you don't think it will work so I am not going to pressure you. I'm going to convince you instead and I know that'll take time."

"You know I want to say yes don't you?"

"Yes and that's enough for now." He kissed her lovingly and she responded. Her body moulded against him. It was not the time for amorous thoughts but he had them anyway. Now he just had to find a way to get them back to their room.

They rejoined the thinning crowd. Kate spotted them and came over. "I'm leaving now. It was lovely to meet you both. I hope you have a wonderful life together. You look like you're meant to be together. So many couples don't you know."

Tommy understood that for this shy woman it was quite an effort. "Thank you Kate. I appreciate that. Maybe we'll see you at breakfast," he said kindly.

"You should come down to London sometime," Barbara added, "I think you'd enjoy it. We always have a bed."

Tommy noted the term 'we' with amusement. Barbara had a short, uncomfortable couch. He was the one with spare rooms. Maybe Barbara was planning to move in with him. He would encourage that.

They said farewell to the bride and groom and then faced Aunt Marjory. "Thank you for inviting us Aunt Marjory," Tommy said.

"You're welcome. We had no idea Barbara had found a man you know and especially a nice one like you. Good luck son."

Tommy put his arm around Barbara's shoulder in an open display of affection. "I've already had my luck finding Barbara. She's not only beautiful on the outside but she has a wonderfully kind and loving soul. I'm the luckiest man alive and I only hope I am worthy of her. Now though you'll have to excuse us because I want to go upstairs and make love to her until dawn." The last sentence had been decidedly ungentlemanly but it had its affect. He thought Aunt Marjory might faint and he almost wished she would.

Barbara smiled genuinely at the shock on her aunt's face. "Good bye Auntie. It was a very enlightening wedding. I am glad I came to see some of the family again."

They nodded and walked past her motionless aunt to the lift. Once inside they both began to laugh. "Did you see her face?" Barbara asked.

"Indeed. It was very crass of me to say that but I wanted to put her in her place." The lift opened and they walked silently to their room trying not to laugh and disturb anyone. Tommy unlocked the door and they stepped inside. He saw how nervous Barbara was now they were alone. "And what about you telling her you were glad to see the family?" he continued hoping to take her mind off what might follow.

"I was, so I never have to wonder. You were right about closing the circle. I don't have to feel I failed them. They failed me." She walked to the window and stared out into the darkness.

Tommy turned on a lamp and extinguished the harsh overhead light. He walked ip and wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin lightly on her head. "Yes they did."

"Seeing them today...I feel justified...somehow free."

Tommy kissed her hair and snuggled closer. "You are free Barbara to make what you want of your life."

She turned in his arms and hugged him. Tommy lifted her chin. "I love you Barbara."

"That's good because I love you too."

Tommy kissed her softly. There was no urgency and he would follow Barbara's lead. She returned his kiss passionately. They stood by the window for several minutes gradually deepening the kiss. Tommy traced the line of her dress across her naked shoulders. He was just about to start lowering the zipper when she stooped kissing him.

"My feet are killing me," she said trying to kick off her shoes, "i'm not used to heels."

Tommy guided her to the sofa. "Allow me."

He knelt and carefully lifted the hem of her gown. Her feet were encased in purple shoes that glinted when they caught the light from the lamp. "This is the reverse of Cinderella I think," he said releasing her swollen feet and gently massaging her feet.

"Oh that's wonderful." Tommy's touch was relaxing and exciting. When he started to massage her calves she groaned approvingly.

Her skin was much softer and silkier than he had imagined. Stroking her legs was making it almost impossible for him to keep his vow of following and not leading. He stood and pulled her to her feet before he undid his bowtie and unfastened his top button. Her hands were on his shirt and he let his coat be pushed off his shoulders. It slipped down his arms to the floor. He kissed her again then tracked his lips down her throat. Her hands tugged at his shirt, freeing it from his trousers. When her trembling fingers began to undo his shirt and explore his midriff they both gasped before their mouths crashed together in a fiery kiss.

His hand hovered over her zipper. "May I?"

"Yes."

Slowly he edged them towards the bedroom door.

Three weeks later

Tommy stood by the car with his hands on his knees sucking in deep breaths. "I'm getting...too old...for all of this!"

Barbara nodded. "At least we caught him. He'll go down for a long time."

Tommy muttered agreement then rubbed his face and manipulated his jaw. "He had a very savage right hook too."

They were the last officers at the scene. The accused had been removed in the other car and they were about to drive back to London. "Tommy?"

He looked up. "Yes?"

"Do you still want me to move in with you?"

He lost all pain instantly. He moved closer and put his hand on her shoulder. "You know I do."

"Then yes."

Tommy hugged her then kissed her. "When?"

"Well I'm there almost every night now but Saturday?"

"Excellent. Your bed really is too small so I like the idea of not having to share it too much longer."

"Also I was thinking..."

"Hmm?" Tommy had learnt long ago not to pre-empt her thoughts.

"We should go to Howenstowe and tell your mother about...you know."

Tommy gave her a generous loving grin. "The last thing I'm telling her is about 'you-know'."

"Not that," she replied with amused horror, "about...us."

"She already knows. I told her the day after we returned from Colchester."

"You did? Why?"

Tommy could tell she was not angry. "Because I was happy. I told her everything."

"Oh Tommy! She'll think I come from a family of psychopaths."

"Oh not the details, especially not about our night after the reception, but I did tell her that I had asked you to marry me and I was going to prove myself worthy of you. She was delighted. She said we both deserved happiness."

"I see. I was going to gauge her reaction and then..."

"Then?"

"I was going to say yes," she said quietly not quite able to look at him and biting her lower lip.

"We can go this weekend if you like," he replied with schoolboy enthusiasm.

"I thought I was moving in?"

"You've already agreed to that and we haven't spent a night apart anyway so it is more important to me now that you agree to marry me." He kissed her passionately.

"You can't tempt me with kisses like..."

"Can't I?" He kissed her again and ran his hand down her coat. "We had heavy traffic on the M24." He slipped his hand inside her coat as he kissed her. "That's why we're late Sir." He started to push the coat off her shoulders. "Not because I made love to my future countess."

"Here?"

He nuzzled her neck and smiled when she squirmed. "Everywhere amata, always."

Barbara knew she would give in. There was no point in pretending otherwise. "Yes, always."