Page 107 of Miss Ashbury and the Anatomy of Mending a Heart

“Vera!” someone hollered from behind them. It was her brother Bertrand, emerging from the trees. “Where are you? Ah, there you are!”

Stephen gritted his teeth and muttered, “Dear heavens, I’ll shoot that man. Physician’s ethics or not—I swear I will.”

“Bertie Ashbury,” she yelled, pointing at the far tree line. “If you don’t leave right now, I’ll let Canterbury set his dog on you.”

Bertie jerked to a stop, turned round, and went with all due haste.

“He doesn’t like dogs?” Stephen tilted his head.

“Arthur’s been teaching Seamus to growl. For cheese.”

Stephen opened his mouth, shut it, and shook his head. “Please put me out of this miserable suspense. Will you marry me or not?”

“Yes.” Vera beamed down at him. “Nothing would make me happier. I love you, Stephen.”

Stephen grinned and stood, then pulled her into his arms. His lips found hers. And though she’d studied the textbooks that he’d given her, she suddenly found them lacking, too. For she’d never before read that a person could fly while their feet were firmly upon the ground.

Yet she was flying. The mint and tobacco of his breath told her he’d been nervous—he only indulged in a cigar when he was anxious about something. She reveled in the warmth of his skin, the tender movements of his lips against hers, as if he wished to learn her.

Vera dazedly wondered if she’d ever tire of this. No wonder they cautioned young ladies against kissing a man, even one that you loved! Now that they’d started, how would they ever stop? It was a wonder there weren’t scandalous displays of this kind all over London!

“Vera!” Bertrand sounded like he was choking on the impropriety of it all.

They broke apart.

Vera whirled, her hands clenched into fists, murder snapping in her eyes. “We’re betrothed, Bertie! If you interrupt us again, I shall cheerfully strangle you myself!”

Bertrand went, hopefully for the last time. When she turned back to Stephen, he was laughing.

Vera shook her head. “I’m not certain I am glad to be back in the family fold.”

But they both knew she was lying—it was trying sometimes, to have people care about you, but it was far better than the alternative.

Stephen grinned. “I hope you don’t find it too presumptuous of me, but I’ve already made plans to call on Dr. Halveston this afternoon.”

“Are you unwell?”

“I’m in perfect health, I assure you. But I don’t have any patients in London, and Dr. Halveston has more than he can see. I thought to ask if he’d send them my direction, start building a practice.”

Vera frowned and stepped back. “Here? In London?”

“I thought that, being so recently reunited with your family, perhaps you wouldn’t be keen on putting such a great distance between you so soon.”

“I’m very keen on returning to Devon, though it has nothing to do with putting distance between my family and me.”

“Truly?” Stephen grinned. “You wish to make our home in the countryside?”

“I do. You don’t need to establish a practice here; you already have one in Devon. My family may come and visit as often as they like.”

“You do realize that you are getting a package deal, accepting me? Not that I’ll let you out of it now that you’ve said yes, but Benjamin will live with us until he’s ready for Eton, and Anne will be with us indefinitely.”

“You know I love Anne. In fact, perhaps I’m accepting you just to act as her mother,” she teased.

Stephen smiled in that tender way he reserved only for her. “I’m not proud; I’ll still have you no matter why you’ve agreed. I’ll just have to work very hard to make you love me over time.”

“I already do, you know. Love you.”

“I love you, Vera. Immensely. Oh!” He set her back once more and rummaged in his coat pocket. “I almost forgot. This is for you. Though I suppose I’ve bungled it by not offering it to you while on my knees. Shall I do it again?”