And she’d missed Caleb desperately throughout it all. To the point where Aunt Lucinda sighed wearily whenever the mail arrived for she knew as well as Abigail that it would undoubtedly contain another letter from her love.
A beautiful, eloquent letter at that.
She shook her head with a silly grin as she carefully stowed away her love letters. For that was what they were. Oh, he kept her updated on all the children and their antics, but he also told her of his life, of his past, of his future that he hoped she would share. Most of all, he spoke of his feelings for her.
It turned out that while her brutish pirate was not exactly eloquent when speaking, he more than made up for it in his writing. In fact, Abigail was convinced that he was a poet in disguise.
A romantic poet, at that.
“Really, Abigail. Have some dignity. You look like a simpleton with that foolish smile.”
Abigail laughed. She now knew better than to take her aunt’s coarseness for anything other than an odd sense of humor. Abigail walked over to her now and reached for her aunt’s hands. “I cannot thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me.”
Her aunt sniffed. “And all for naught, it seems. You’re still bound and determined to marry a lowborn pirate, of all things.”
But her aunt’s tone lacked heat, and Abigail suspected—not that she would ever say as much aloud—that her aunt rather relished the romanticness of it all.
“I am,” Abigail said. “But his mind will be at ease when I can say with full confidence that I’ve met plenty of worldly, wonderful, well-mannered gentlemen—”
“And didn’t like a single one,” her aunt finished for her with a laugh.
Abigail lifted a shoulder in an unapologetic shrug. “What can I say? My heart has been spoken for.” She leaned forward and dropped her voice to a whisper as if relaying a secret. “And my heart has a penchant for pirates.”
Her aunt let out a cackle that made Abigail grin. “You and Rebecca are going to get on famously,” she said with the utmost confidence. “And she will no doubt relish the attention of London’s fine young gentlemen.”
“Mmm. The girl must be impatient to find a beau of her own now that Minerva is married, you are spoken for, and even Sally has found her match.”
They shared a smile of wonder at that. It still shocked Abigail some to think of her no-nonsense, spirited sister falling in love. And with an earl’s son, of all things.
“At least one of your nieces has married well,” Abigail said.
“Yes, well...” She reached out and tucked a stray strand behind Abigail’s ear. “I suppose there are worse things than marrying beneath you.”
Abigail pressed her lips together to hold back a laugh at her aunt’s weary tone. Her aunt’s lips twitched in turn. “I just can’t think of anything, that’s all.”
Abigail did laugh then. “Oh, Aunt Lucinda, I am so very grateful for you and this trip. It has been so very enlightening.”
And it had. She’d met people from distant lands, she’d talked to people whose experiences were so foreign to her they might as well have lived in those distant lands, and she’d seen firsthand how difficult the city could be for poor children and families.
It made her all the more eager to get back to her children in Billingham and ensure they learned all that they could for whatever life held in store. Lately, more often than not, her mind was filled with ways she might one day help other children, ways she might have an impact. She and Caleb. She’d written him about her dreams, and even about her hopes for a family of her own. With him.
There were no secrets between them now. There were no ruses or manipulations or lies or questions. Only love. And plans. So very many plans.
The next day she had just enough time to welcome Rebecca before heading back home. She and the maid her aunt sent with her spent the night at an inn. But if it were up to Abigail she would have traveled all night to see Caleb.
He was there when her carriage arrived in front of her home.
Her father, too, and Hattie. And the children, all of whom gathered around Caleb, grinning and waving as she stepped out of the carriage.
The children rushed her. Sticky hands and enormous grins surrounded her, and she laughed with joy as she bent down to dole out hugs and kisses to her little army. Her father and Hattie came next, and they greeted her with warmth and tear-filled eyes.
But soon enough, her father and Hattie called to the children, promising them treats if they came inside quickly.
Hattie gave her a wink as she herded the last of the children into the house, leaving Abigail and Caleb alone.
Well, alone but for a window full of onlookers, no doubt.
“You’re back,” Caleb said as he moved toward her. With his hulking height and breadth he looked like a predator stalking his prey.
She could hardly wait to be caught.
“I’m back.” Abigail grinned as he reached for her, pulling her into his arms and crushing her to his hard chest. She burrowed into him, loving the heat that surrounded her, filled her, and made her heart overflow with happiness and excitement for all their future had in store.
“I missed you, love.” His voice was husky and low, filled with all the tender emotions she felt.
“I missed you, too.” She leaned back to say more but his kiss stopped her. She forgot words entirely as he claimed her lips in a crushing kiss that told her better than words ever could how much she was missed.
How much she was loved.
He pulled back and his gaze studied her as if memorizing every freckle on her face and hair on her head. “You’re really here. You came back to me.”
“Was there any doubt?” she teased.
The relief in his
