It was a challenge, but having a love nest helped.

“Shall we?” Charlie held out his arm to his wife.

Daisy took it. “Yes, my dear.”

“Where are you going, Mummy?” asked Elizabeth. She had very sharp ears as blindness had made her sensitive to every sound.

Daisy refused to feel guilty about leaving her youngest daughter in the care of her big sisters. “Your father and I have some catching up to do. Won’t you enjoy being the big girl while we’re gone?”

Elizabeth nodded, grinned, and sucked her thumb. Kathleen yanked Elizabeth’s thumb out of her mouth.

And Elizabeth popped it right in again.

As they ascended the stairs, Charlie snorted. “The ones that act like you suck their thumbs to win us over.”

“And the ones that act like you,” Daisy said, “are quite bossy and don’t try to win us over at all.”

Charlie chuckled and linked his arm through his wife’s. “But I love each one of them deeper than I ever imagined I could. I’d lay down my life for every one of those little mites.”

Daisy sighed. “Me, too.” She smiled as she recognized Duncan’s favorite phrase, and her breath caught. “I—I can’t wait for tonight. Can you? I’m a bit nervous. I always get this way.”

Charlie nodded and patted her hand. “I know. But every time it works out. Love makes that happen.”

Daisy’s heart warmed. “The same way you and I came together.”

“Exactly. Who ever thought we would?” He opened the door to their bedchamber, Daisy’s old turret room. A distinct gleam lit his eye. “Enter, my wanton mistress, and I shall lead you to our love nest.”

Daisy grinned at him. “I look forward to it, my lord. And may I say yet again that I think you were a genius in your renovations of Castle Vandemere?”

“Yes, say it as often as you like. I never grow tired of hearing of my brilliance.” Charlie’s kiss was as ardent as ever.

And the joy they shared over the life they were creating together added another level of satisfaction to their lovemaking, leaving no room for familiarity to dampen their enthusiasm for each other.

Daisy’s heart immediately quickened when Charlie’s capable hand caressed her waist and moved to her breast. Her husband was her respite. The one who gave her strength when she was depleted.

He was her one, true love.

And as for Charlie, he loved Daisy more and more each day. She’d made him fully a man.

Without her, he was nothing.

Slowly, they made their way across the room, kissing all the while. Charlie reached behind his wife and twisted the knob to the closet door.

Locked, of course. No one other than they had ever seen inside.

Sighing with pleasure—Charlie was kissing the pulse point on her neck—Daisy reached out to a nearby shelf without looking, grabbed the key, and placed it in his hand. They nearly stumbled across the threshold, but it was their love nest, after all, and they knew every little thing about it.

Once inside, they broke apart and Charlie locked the door again, Daisy behind him and holding on to his belly all the while and rubbing wide circles over it with her palms. When she moved her hand lower, Charlie laid his head on the door and let out a pleasurable groan before he turned to her.

“Minx,” he said, his voice hoarse with need. “Attacking me while I’m securing the door.”

“It’s why you never let me secure the door. I think you quite look forward to my little attack.”

“I confess you’re right,” he said, and immediately began to disrobe her.

She was untying his cravat when their bedchamber door was flung open.

“Mummy! Daddy!” It was Davy’s voice. “I see the visitors! They’ve arrived in Glen Dewey!”

“Where are they?” asked Padric. “I could swear Elizabeth said they went upstairs.”

“I think they must have gone outside,” said Davy. “Let’s check the bungalow first. Mummy’s probably showing Daddy her new Christmas gown. And then we’ll count all the carriages again.”

Three pairs of feet could be heard running down the stone stairs.

Neither Charlie nor Daisy said a word for a moment.

“I always tell them to knock,” Charlie said with an exasperated sigh. “I really must get that lock repaired.”

“When have we had time since the children have arrived? It’s why our love nest is more valuable than ever,” Daisy replied with a giggle, and continued her disrobing of Charlie.

“Wait,” he said, staying her hand with a kiss to her fingertips. “Should we?”

“Why not? The girls are probably outside, too. No doubt they’re all jumping up and down and yelling down to Glen Dewey, as if anyone can hear them. And the horses must rest before coming up the slope.”

The two lovers and best friends looked at each other.

“I need this, darling,” Daisy whispered, her palms on Charlie’s chest. “For the rest of the month, things will be lovely—but crazy. And you never know. If the snow is horrendous, everyone could be here for another month. Or two.”

She nearly shuddered. Charlie didn’t look thrilled at that prospect, either.

“I adore everyone, of course,” Daisy said in sincere tones.

“As do I.” Charlie pulled her close and grinned. “But I adore when it’s just us even more.”

Daisy brightened. “If we’re snowed in, at least we’ll have plenty of room if everyone gets restless. The guests can always move to the Keep.”

“Fine plan.” Charlie kissed her temple and nuzzled her ear. “The Beebses will no doubt come to the rescue.”

Daisy lifted her neck to luxuriate in his kisses even more. “Of course they will. And they’ll be here tonight.”

Daisy loved living next door to Cassandra and her husband, whom she’d grown to love as a brother, the same way she loved Cassandra as a true sister.

“Right,” said Charlie with spirit. “We have it all worked out. Now, it’s time for our own private celebration of … things to come.” He made a wry face. “In case Harry is anxious to get here, we’ll have to make it short.”

“But sweet,” Daisy added.

“Ah, love, it’s always sweet with you.” Charlie’s enthusiasm always undid her.

He pulled at her laces.

She worked on his breeches.

Eventually, they stood together naked, their bodies pressed together, heat rising between them.

“No time for besotted gazing,” Charlie murmured. And lifted his bride in his arms. He walked a few short feet away to the only object in the tiny room—situated beneath the stained-glass window of the Golden Prince and the Golden Girl, which used to adorn the drawing room until Charlie had it moved.

Gently, he lowered Daisy to a cozy feather tick on the floor. The bed was covered with beautiful silken pillows. She laughed as he lowered her, which made him laugh—and then she pulled him right on top of her and rolled beneath him to her belly.

“This way,” she said. “It never fails to delight me.”

Their earlier days, when they’d been forced to share a room at the Keep and Charlie had kept to his promise not to ruin her completely, had given them a confident enthusiasm for pleasuring each other in all sorts of ways.

When Daisy spread her legs beneath him, her beautiful rear end providing the sweetest cushion for his loins, Charlie felt lust and love for his wife harden the length of him. He kissed her shoulders, her spine, and worked his way down to her feminine core.

Then with great relish, he kissed her.

She lifted her hips as her moans of pleasure increased.

“Your mouth feels delicious, but the other way, darling,” she said in a hoarse whisper. “Now. Please.”

“I won’t object to that,” he said, dizzy with wanting her.

When he knelt behind her and allowed the tip of his manhood to tease her, she threw her arms out, the same way she’d done so many years ago on the Stone Steps.

He adored knowing every move she’d make. She was his.

His.

And he would make her his again. Right now.

“More, Charlie. Please.” She wriggled her rear to bring him closer.

How he wanted more, as well! Pivoting his hips, he plunged into her, all the while caressing the feminine pearl he knew so well.

Daisy closed her eyes, reveling in the wondrous pleasure Charlie was giving her, and found she couldn’t speak anymore. The pleasure built, bathing her in waves of intense gratification, the kind only Charlie could bring her.

She was here. Now. Nowhere else in her mind. She’d learned to let go … to be at ease—to believe she deserved all good things—thanks to Charlie’s skills as a lover and his devoted attention to her as her husband and best friend.

As their bodies collided in a lush, primal dance, all Daisy’s current motherly worries and cares slipped away like magic. All the old fears had long since passed, as well, especially as Mona was in Italy, in a lovely private house that catered to people with disturbed minds.

Charlie had seen to that. Daisy had told him she couldn’t bear to think of the harridan in prison. But neither could she let Mona walk the world alone, and either do to others what she’d attempted to do to Daisy, or flounder without a roof over her head and food in her belly.

No. Things were wonderful here in the present. Even more wonderful than Charlie knew.

She grasped the silken pillows and let her dearest companion make her his own. The fingers of his right hand wooed her, driving her mad with longing.

“Come with me, my love,” he murmured.

Those words sent her into the realm of utter bliss. She let herself cry out, a lengthy cry of satisfaction matched only by Charlie’s own.

Seconds later, without releasing her from their carnal bond, Charlie leaned down and kissed her neck.