by April Munday
“Then there is much to be done today,” said Lady Anna.
She must have made a sign to Meldon, but Finch hadn’t seen it, and they both left the room.
Finch took Mary into his arms and kissed her.
Mary and Finch were sitting in the drawing-room in Finch’s house that evening. It had been a busy day. When they had found Freddie and told him that they were to be married he had hugged Mary and told her that he was glad his father would not be alone when he went to school. Finch was visibly touched and saddened that his son was worried about something that was still some time in the future.
Then they had visited the elders, who had accepted Finch’s explanation for the short notice they were able to give. He had explained that they were going to leave London for a while to protect Freddie and wished to marry before they did so. Mary had no qualms about this as it was true, just not the whole truth.
Then they had returned home, taking some of the soldiers with them from Meldon House. The servants were now making things ready for the wedding trip and they were to leave immediately after the ceremony.
Finch had been busy writing to his father and brothers explaining why they had not had enough notice to join the celebration. Mary did not ask what he wrote, for she saw that it weighed heavily on him that he was lying to those he loved.
Finally they had come to the peace and quiet of the drawing-room. Finch pulled her down into his lap as he sat in the chair and they kissed for a while.
“I’m glad you wanted to sit here this evening,” he said, when he released her. “I’ve been very happy in this room.”
“As have I,” Mary said.
“We should go to bed soon.”
“Every night we were together I dreaded hearing you say that, for it meant we would part and I couldn’t be certain when we would meet again.”
“You shall have so much of me that you will soon wish never to see me again.”
“Perhaps.”
“I hope you are teasing me.”
Mary moved the hand that held her and sighed with pleasure when he responded.
“I am teasing you,” she said, somewhat breathlessly. “I fear that may be an aspect of my character that neither of us knew about before.”
Hesitantly, she touched him where she had learned that morning that he liked to be touched. He stopped breathing and she began to understand the power she had over him.
“That would be cruel,” he said when he could speak again, “if you intended to stay away from my bed tonight.”
Revelling in her new-found rôle as a tease, she kissed him, then started to move her hand very gently.
Finch broke away with a cry, then he laughed.
“You do know that I’m recovered enough to pick you up and carry you to my bed?”
Belatedly it came to Mary that he really was asking her permission and had made no assumption about her willingness to join him tonight.
“Mine is closer,” she whispered, putting her arms around his neck.
Epilogue
3rd April 1813
My Dear Meldon,
I trust you recognise my untidy hand as I may not put my name to this note. I am come safely to this place, which I may not identify, and am able to continue as I have started. I may not tell you how many we are, but I am not alone. Two, at least, of my companions you will guess and you will know that I have no greater desire than to be with them. We will be joined by another before many months have passed.
We all send you belated congratulations on the birth of your son.
It grieves me to think that you will know nothing of me until this is over, although I shall, of course, know how things are with you.
I have set in train events that will resolve your own problem and that of Lady Anna.
Even by my standards this is a short letter, but I trust you will read what is not written.
Take care and remember always that this is not over until we meet again.
I remain, always, your friend.
THE END
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