Page 65 of Eight for Losing, One for Loving

Leo was about to turn back to Vi and escort his new wife from the church when Harbottle spoke again.

“I don’t suppose you’re looking for a country house, are you?”

Leo looked to Vi, who answered for him. “Here?”

Harbottle nodded. “One reason the church is in such a state of disrepair is that it sits on private land. It belonged to a noble family, but the last heir never married and there was no one to take it on when he died. The house is hidden behind the trees, but it has been abandoned for over a decade. It’s a beautiful place, a very fine house and just the sort of place newlyweds might like to raise a family,” he added hopefully.

Leo laughed. “Then we shall certainly take a look at it, sir. Thank you.”

“Thank you, Mr Hunt, Mrs Hunt, and I wish you many, many years of joy to come, wherever that may be.”

Whilst he knew Vi regretted they could not all celebrate together, Leo was not entirely sorry to wave their parents and Larkin away, back off to town. He’d been more than happy to see his parents in the church and grateful to Kitty for organising it, for his mother would have been devastated not to have been present when he finally shook off his bachelor status. As the eldest of his peers, she had despaired of him. At least he was free of her nagging him to find a wife. He knew too that Kitty was itching to organise some grand party to celebrate their nuptials soon.

He stood with Vi in the churchyard, her hand on his arm as their parents’ carriages turned a corner and disappeared. He looked down at her, finding her smiling up at him. She looked happy. Pride glowed inside him as he realised he had done that. He had made her happy, made her smile.

“I like it here,” he said, looking up and regarding the small churchyard.

The birds were singing, and the sun beat down warmly on his face. The church was not a fine one by any means, with nothing much to recommend it save its age and its vicar. Yet the place had a warm, friendly air about it, and they were close to Cambridge, with all its commerce and links to the city.

Vi nodded. “I do too,” she said thoughtfully. “Leo, might we just take a quick look at the house before we return to the hotel?”

Leo laughed, having half expected as much. He was eager to give his wife a proper wedding night despite having spent the past three days in bed with her, but he too was curious to see the house of which Harbottle had spoken. The vicar had shown them a private path that led from the church to the house, for the gates to the main driveway were locked.

“Just quickly,” Vi added, apparently reading his mind as her cheeks turned pink.

Leo bent and kissed her cheek. “Anything for you, love, but don’t be shocked if I ravish you among the ruins if you take too long.”

He leered at her, and she gave a little shriek and hurried along the path ahead of him. Leo laughed and then turned back to see Norton and Jenny standing side by side and grinning inanely. Leo smiled at them.

“We’re going to see the house Harbottle told us about. You two go back to the inn We’ll be along in a while,” he said, and hurried after Vi.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t, sir,” Norton called after him, cheeky blighter. Leo snorted, hearing their soft laughter follow him along the path.