The Widow of Larkspur Inn (76 page)

He touched a loose strand of her auburn hair. “Would you?”

“If my family were desperate, I suppose I would have no other choice.”

“Well, Madame Merieult was wealthy. So, in fact, she turned down the emperor’s request.”

Julia found herself a little relieved. “How do you know this?”

“It’s just something I read from a history book recently. I thought of you right away and was glad to learn that she kept her beautiful hair.”

“Why, Vicar,” Julia said, smiling. “You’re quite the romantic soul, aren’t you?”

He appeared to blush a little above his beard but returned her smile tenderly. “I’m afraid so. Do you mind?”

“Not at all. And I suppose that means you wish to kiss me again.”

His eyes sparkled as he leaned toward her. “I’m not the only romantic soul in this room, Mrs. Hollis.” When they had kissed, a little longer this time, he said, “You know, Christmas weddings are quite lovely. Wouldn’t seven months be enough time, considering the fact that I’ve been practically courting you since we first met?”

Suddenly a year
did
seem like a long time to Julia. “Very well,” she replied.

Raising an eyebrow, he said, “Truly?”

“Truly.”

“Do you think we could go find the children and tell them?”

It was so typically
him
to think of such a thing. As they walked together through the courtyard and toward the stables, Julia recalled how bleak her future and that of her children had seemed such a short time ago.
But you brought us through that valley, Father
. There would be other valleys, she knew instinctively, for life was not lived on a continuous plateau. And perhaps it was better that way—in spite of the pain they’d endured—for the mountaintop now seemed all the sweeter.