Stefan hesitated, his own feelings so overpowering that he was unable to determine whether to embark on the passionate speech he'd been rehearsing this past half-hour, or capture her into his arms first. He'd been in tenterhooks lest Robert would fail in persuading Caroline to go with him, and what an enormous relief it was to see her flesh and blood, her face radiant, her misty eyes full of love, her lips slightly parted into a quivery smile as she walked steadily down the aisle. He struggled inwardly to regain composure, and bethought himself that this would only be once, and that everything should pass on perfectly.

"I was afraid you'd not come," he said as Caroline moved closer to him.

This rueful admission went unanswered. Quite incapable of speech at the moment, she did one thing that she'd been wanting to do in those two tumultuous days of languishing. She soundly boxed his ear.

"What the — ?" he exclaimed, completely taken aback, and feeling his smarting cheek. "Caro, what was that for?"

"Stupid, stupid man!" she said in a quivery voice. And perhaps, because of the pain and agony she had endured in the past week, and the overwhelming happiness pouring within her now were too much to contain, she burst into tears and eventually found herself imprisoned within two strong arms. "Oh, I'd been waiting a-and waiting—and waiting for you!" she told him between sobs.

Caressing her hair, Stefan replied tenderly: "My dearest, darling girl, I am very sorry to have kept you waiting. Certainly, I deserve a thrashing for that alone."

"And waiting and h-hoping that you'd come! I c-could have almost died of unhappiness!"

"And that would be the death of me as well. I am below contempt to have let that happen."

"And not one word from you. Not one!" she said fiercely, and looked up at him with a darkling look, her eyes still brimming with unshed tears. In answer to this, Stefan brought his lips on her cheeks to kiss them away, one by one, then on her forehead, before finally claiming her lips. This seemed to content Miss Davis, for she submitted to it wholeheartedly in a few minutes.

"We've emerged from a terrible storm, my love," he said fervently after a while, still embracing her, "that I can hardly believe we are still standing and holding on. I'd been in such an agony, fearing that this day would only remain a scrap of the what-might-have-been. If that were had been the case, then I'd cease to exist the moment you refuse to come here." He held her face, and looking passionately down on her glistening green eyes, he added: "Because I am utterly, irrefutably certain that life without you is nothing—nothing at all, Caro. My title, my estate — all my riches in this earth — I'll gladly trade them just to have you for the rest of my life."

"'So dear I love him that with him all deaths I could endure, without him live no life,'" she quoted, smiling mistily up at him.

"Ah, Milton. I should have thought of something from him as a response to that," he mused drily.

"No, my love. Your words are sufficient enough, and it persuades me most compellingly that you are, at last, making an offer for my hand."

This made him throw his head back and laugh heartily, as he had not laugh for many days.

Caroline regarded her rather uncertainly. "But is it not your intention why you've brought me here? I declare you are being odious for laughing so, sir!"

"Yes, little love, that is indeed my intention, but you've just deprived me the rare honour of properly asking you of it! And here I was, practicing the whole time how to make it to perfection."

Her eyes twinkled at his. "Oh dear, that was quite improper of me, wasn't it? However, I suggest that you should still give it a try, for I am sure it is somewhat incomplete to haste into matrimony without properly asking for my hand first."

Stokeford laughingly assented to this, and surprised her by kneeling on one knee while holding her hand to his lips. The mirth died in his lips and gravely he said: "Miss Caroline Elizabeth Davis, will you do me the greatest honour of becoming my dearest wife?"

"Oh, yes, yes, yes, dearest Stefan!" she cried and was kissed again.

"I love you," he whispered. "I love you to the depth of my soul, to every pound of my heart, to every breath I breathe. Do you know that, Caro?"

"I feel it, love."

He gave her hand another fervent kiss. "From now on, I deem it my duty to let you feel that way every moment of our lives."

She heaved a blissful sigh and melted into his arms once more. "It's like in a dream — a dream I so often dreamt when you were so far away, quite out of my reach."

"Never will I ever be out of your reach again: this I promise you. But in order to fulfill this promise, we shall proceed to matrimony of course."

"What, here?" she asked, incredulous. "But I don't have a wedding gown yet, and everyone's gone without a word to me, and even Miss Moore — "

"Is coming here at any moment now," assured Stefan. "As to the rest of them, they had an early start today, and I believe, are on their way to my estate where we are to meet them tomorrow. No need to pucker yourself over your wedding dress: it is presently being taken care of your Aunt. I am not sure how you will like it, but I specifically told the modiste that it should be of an ivory muslin."

"But they can't make it in mere two days! It's impossible!" she said impulsively, stunned by these tidings.

"Oh, can't they?" he replied, favouring her a smug look. "It is my order to finish it in two days, and two days it shall be."

Awed, Caroline could only stare at him. His eyes glinted with amusement, but he lightly admonished her that it was unbecoming to gape. "Everything is arranged. As my future Countess, you deserve everything that is perfect and I'll give you nothing less than that."

"That's very kind of you," she said warmly. "To have gone to such trouble! I will be fine with a very simple wedding, you know. I must say though, that you are an excellent planner my lord. Indeed, I am in awe."

"Thank you, though I should say that I cannot take all credit, as I've been in cahoots with March in this scheme." They walked to the doorway of the church and Caroline asked: "And speaking of him, I wonder where can he be? The horses are gone." Stokeford satisfied her curiosity by telling her that March was fulfilling another errand, and would be here shortly. "Moreover, I am sure that he is trying to give us more time alone by delaying it," he added with an appreciative twinkle in his eyes. "Come, we'll explore the place presently. I'd say this place has its own charms. Clayton was particularly enthusiastic upon recommending this church to me for our wedding, but I prefer to do it at Stokeford Manor."

She threw him a darkling look. "So it isn't only Lord March that you've had plotted with, but in fact everybody!"

"Indeed, my love. I could hardly accomplish such endeavour without those people at my back. Moreover, they were only too eager to comply with my humble requests," Stokeford said. "We are very fortunate to have found friends like them, Caro. For my part, it is something novel, indeed. Until a few months ago, there were only two people whom I count as friends: Robert and Laurie."

"Perhaps, if you had opened yourself a little to people, you'd have found that there were more who were willing to strike friendship with you," Caroline suggested gently. "You are not what you seem to be, because I know that behind your hard mask beats a warm heart, and a far, far more gentler character than that of the formidable earl's."

Stokeford gave him a very appreciative smile, and humbly thanked her. "How did you manage to see through that mask, I have no idea at all."

"Well, I think I am very clever to have discovered it," she replied, rather impishly. "After all, I had nagged you to botheration that I was so sure you wanted to throttle me several times."

"That was so clever of you to have realized that," answered Stokeford with a touch of sarcasm.

"Oh, I know! And if you intend to be disagreeable with your accustomed irony, my lord, then I am off!"

A chuckle escaped him; he tugged her closer to him and expressed his apology by giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. "Forgive me! I seem to can't help myself. I'll be sure to rein my tongue more often in the future. Where the devil is March?"

They retraced their steps back to the church and just in time, a carriage was rolling down the path and eventually pulled in front of the church. Beaming, Lord March jumped from the coachman's box and opened the door of the carriage and helped a very ecstatic Miss Moore down.

"Miss Caro! Miss Caro! I am very, very happy for you!" she exclaimed, and gave her charge a crushing embrace. "Isn't it all marvelous? Lord Stokeford has everything set for your wedding! Your wedding, my dear! I declare I was moved to tears when Lord March told me of the plan. What is more, everyone saved us knew about it!"

"Everything has been fulfilled according to your wishes," Robert assured his friend presently, in an undervoice. "They are to put up in the George before continuing the journey to Stokeford tomorrow."

"Very much obliged to you. Have you sent for my curricle? We should start our travel in an hour or so."

"Your groom will be here shortly."

Stokeford nodded and interrupted the ladies in their raptures by informing them of what was arranged; that they were given enough time today to do a last-minute shopping in Bath, and the carriage at their disposal. Also, they were to take enough rest before coming to his estate tomorrow. "You may retrieve the rest of your things at Claredon, ma'am, and take Miss Davis' maid with you. However, since everyone has left, and to travel in a much shorter time, I thought it best that you should spend the night at the George instead. Robert has arranged rooms for you there already. We, on the other hand, will set forth once my curricle arrives here. So we will all see each other tomorrow at Stokeford Manor."

"But I have wished to be with you the whole day!" Caroline whispered quickly to him in a disappointed voice.

"My dear, we have a lifetime ahead of us to be together. Don't look upset! Besides, it's only several hours that we'll be separated and I am certain you'll have a great deal of things to buy for yourself before our wedding."

"Well... yes, but still, I want to go with you! I will spend a very short time in my shopping and then return here so you don't have to wait long." She added hopefully: "I can ride on your curricle, can't I? Then perhaps Robert and Miss Moore can be in the carriage, for she so dislikes to travel very far in open vehicles."

"No, you absurd brat!" responded the Earl laughingly. "Besides, that will hardly be proper to be jaunting about in the countryside in my company without you being properly chaperoned." She looked ready to sulk, but he forestalled whatever argument she had on her lips by pointing out to her in a rather firm voice that they would not argue on this head. To which she couldn't forbear to opine that he was being odiously domineering.

"And you," retorted Stokeford, stung, "are being impossibly stubborn!"

"That will do, that will do!" interposed Robert in an exasperated amusement, perceiving that a squabble was about to erupt. "Lord, what a pretty pair of lovebirds you are to be quarreling over a trifle just before your wedding. It is bad luck, you know."

This seemed to have an incredible effect, for both of them desisted at once and hastily offered an apology to one another. "I shall see you tomorrow then," said Stokeford, and kissed her hand for the last time before handing her up on the carriage. The harmony having been restored once more, they were able to say their goodbyes in good humour before the parties parted ways. Miss Moore told her charge in a kindly voice that Lord Stokeford might have another surprise in store for her.

"Do you think so? For my part, I think I've had my fill of surprises today. I merely wished to have him to myself before the wedding," she replied, a little wistfully. "You see, there had not been a time when we were together longer than half a day. I think it is my due to acquaint myself more with my future husband. Everything happens so fast I can barely wink in between to see if this is all a dream or not, for it is too good to be true!"

Miss Moore listened to this with sympathetic ears and told her that she was suffering from strayed nerves, which was very natural. "For I must say that it would be more proper for you to be engaged at least a month or two, and not in this spontaneous manner, then be wedded tomorrow! And what your dear father has to say to this, I am quite apprehensive to think of!"

"Oh, no!" gasped Miss Davis. "Indeed, I should've talked to Papa first! I am quite certain he will suffer a severe shock to hear this news. Miss Moore, what shall we do? I rather think it's too late to turn back now!"

"So it is. We can send him a letter after the wedding, of course," Miss Moore suggested with obvious reluctance, but admitted that there was no other way to rectify matters.

This realization had dampened Caroline's mood, and it was with a little subdued spirits that she went shopping in Bath. She wasn't able to remove in mind her father's possible wrath towards her sudden betrothal and wedding; the mere thought of it made her positively cringe. It would be wonderful if Papa would come to the wedding, but seeing how the matters stood between him and Stokeford, Caroline reflected that perhaps it would be wiser that he should not come after all.

It left her troubled all day. Miss Moore, dragging her from shop to shop, was so immersed with what to buy that she barely noticed her charge indulging a fit of the blue-devils until they were inside the carriage again, on the way to the George. She asked worriedly what it was that made her withdrawn all of a sudden.

"Nothing. Only that it troubles me still that Papa couldn't come at my wedding," Caroline explained rather plaintively. Her own heart wrenching a little at this doleful confidence, the duenna could not help but gave her an embrace, saying that she needed not dwell on it much, for it would only be more distressing for her.

Much against this advice Caroline cried later that night, for there were no other things to dwell upon other than what was in store for her. She was overjoyed, overwhelmed, and at the same time a little crestfallen; in fact, it was all too confusing for her. Steadfast though she might be, but her soft heart was young and naive, and if anything, she wouldn't want to marry against her dear Papa's wishes.

"Try if he will that scoundrel Stokeford ever cross this threshold again, and I'll not answer for anything I might do to him!" Mr Davis had said, venting his spleen. Indeed, so bitterly was he disappointed with the Earl that it consumed him for days, and the mere mention of his name in one of Miss Moore's usual reminiscences drove the humour away from his eyes, and replaced them with angry flash. He interrupted, somewhat rudely, to oblige him not to utter That Man's name again. Offended by this manner, the duenna responded to him rather tartly: "I am sure I didn't mean to provoke you, sir, though I'll be sure to always keep my mouth sealed in order to avoid your temper in the future!"

Under any other circumstances, this scene would have had afforded Caroline some amusement. Miss Moore was a very dear creature, but her tongue could run on like wheels as long as it could manage, and that was one fault in her that Papa found rather annoying more often than not. It was no use to think of persuading Papa; her marriage would certainly surprise, and no doubt anger him. However, to live the rest of her life without her beloved Stefan would be past bearing, and she would as lief face her sire's wrath as not.

With these dismal thoughts she fell asleep. The next morning seemed inauspicious; Miss Moore, upon gazing Caroline, stated in fading accents that her eyes were red and she looked a trifle hagged. "And it will never do, my dear, to look so forlorn in your wedding day!"

Caroline attempted a wavering smile, and responded, with newfound energy: "No, do I? How terrible! Lord Stokeford would brutally tease me for it, I am sure. But pray, Miss Moore, help me dress like a bride and a future Countess, for that will lend me some dignity despite looking a trifle hagged. I don't want to embarrass his lordship."

Brightening, Miss Moore said: "You leave everything to me, dear Miss Caro! I'll make sure you will look as — as fine as fivepence!"

Caroline gasped, and gave a chortle. "Miss Moore! Why, you wouldn't have permitted me that kind of language!"

Lucy, who was laying down Miss Davis' traveling coat, an ivory garb with pearl buttons, and a yellow muslin dress, expressed her happiness for her mistress with a tearful display, and caught their attention by sniffing rather audibly. "Good heavens!" struck Miss Moore, "What in the world ails you, girl?"

"It is nothing, ma'am!" she said in watery tone voice. "Just too happy for Miss Caro, is all! And for myself, too, I think. Only fancy! I will work at a very huge house now that miss will soon be a countess! A countess! I am sure my dear father — bless his soul!— will be proud of me!"

There seemed to be no sensible answer for this, and thus Miss Moore advised her briskly to make haste with her work. After partaking of a satisfying breakfast the party set out for Gloucester. For Caroline, the journey seemed interminably tedious and she wished that they could be conveyed through a magic carpet. She dozed off several times, and between the intervals of slumber and consciousness she enquired to her duenna in a sleepy voice if they were there yet. To which Miss Moore always replied in a positive, cheerful voice: "No, my dear. Though to be sure, at this pace we will reach Stokeford earlier than is expected."

Eventually, as the carriage rolled past the sweeping green fields dotted with wildflowers, a cluster of trees, then afterwards a magnificent iron gates that opened to a long neat drive fringed with tall evergreen trees, Caroline was fully awake, and knew herself to be at her beloved's home, soon to be hers as well.

Farther ahead still, her breath was caught by a glimpse of well-trimmed lawn and flowerbeds beautifully laid out, their assorted colours glinting in the sunlight. Lucy, wide-eyed, could not forbear to exclaim 'Lawks, miss, 'tis very beautiful!' but later, upon seeing the Manor, commented in a rather disappointed voice that it was a pity the house wasn't as beautiful as the gardens.

Unlike her, Caroline was amazed by the whole magnificence of the place. This was Stefan's home, and it was very apparent that he cherished it very much. By the time the carriage pulled, she saw him walking towards them, flung the door open, and helped her alighted. He welcomed the rest of the party, and said, scrutinizing her countenance with a slight frown on his brow: "I hope you do not feel tired at all?"

She smiled and assured him that she'd had enough sleep on their way here. "You have a very lovely home, my lord," she added warmly.