As the sun began to set, the garden party reached its conclusion.Guests who needed to catch the train started boarding carriages one by one, and neighbors living nearby also began to leave.

The last to depart were the Dunville Park family.They had originally planned to stay overnight at Whitefield, but due to Mrs. Fairfax’s sudden decline in energy, she insisted on returning home, so the entire family had to board the carriages.

Having put the sleeping twins to bed in the nursery, the Dalton couple stood side by side to see them off.

“Thank you for coming. Safe travels.”

Laura greeted Mrs. Fairfax.Mrs. Fairfax, as if too weary to respond, buried her head in her husband’s chest and nodded.Olivia, despite her ears being red and swollen, still wore her diamond earrings and chirped toward her aunt.

“It was a splendid party! The food was delicious, and the music was wonderful!”

Judging by the pitch of her voice, she had likely sipped some wine.

“Thank you, Olivia. You were a wonderful godmother today.”

Olivia threw her head back and laughed brightly.

The carriage carrying the Dunville Park family departed.The sun was already sinking below the western ridge.

The two turned and walked toward the manor.Ian’s head throbbed from playing the unaccustomed role of host all day.But he had no regrets, sensing his wife’s happiness.

Ian wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulder.

“Had fun?”

Laura interlocked her fingers with Ian’s hand on her shoulder.

“Of course. It’s been a while since I saw friends, and everyone’s congratulations were wonderful. They all raved about the food. They kept asking who the chef was!”

“Our manor’s treasure has been found out. They’ll all be clamoring to steal him away.”

“Oh my, really. What if Philip says he’s changing jobs?”

“No worries. He borrowed his retirement fund from me to buy that herb farm. He’s stuck at Whitefield Hall until Lewis gets married and brings home a new bride.”

“Lewis’s new bride. That feels so far off.”

“It does, doesn’t it?”

After changing into indoor casual attire, the two had a light meal of cucumber sandwiches in the small tea room attached to their bedroom.

They had an abundance of stories to share.Daniel’s voice was starting to change, Miss Janet Fairfax was getting prettier every year, the Mortons’ daughter Laura seemed to take after her father more than her mother, Mrs. Rosemary McClean seemed to regret that Laura hadn’t stopped her younger sister from going to Asia, no one seemed to have stopped Olivia from drinking, and the couple who danced the best today was undoubtedly Dora and William Fairfax, and so on.

“By the way, Ian, Harry is quite remarkable. Starting Latin studies at his age, and entirely by his own will. It seems the pastor and Mrs. Starr would prefer he take it slower.”

“He must take after his father. Oliver was born into a family where he had to help with work during the busy farming season and couldn’t attend school, but he studied by reading a Latin Bible borrowed from the parish pastor every night. Even when his father beat him with a broom for wasting candles.”

“Harry’s lucky to have the means to study. He’ll go to public school, won’t he?”

Ian nodded.

“Harry seems to be counting the days until he can go to school. Studying all day must feel like paradise on earth to him.”

Laura thought of Harry playing with Jane at the garden party.After a moment of thought, she cautiously brought up an idea she’d been mulling over.

“Darling, I’d like to invite Harry to Whitefield sometimes to teach him Latin.”

“Harry?”

“Yes. Pastor Oliver is busy tending to the parishioners and doesn’t have much time to oversee his studies.”

Ian looked somewhat skeptical.

“With translation work, housekeeping, parenting, and now tutoring?”

“Translation takes only four hours a day, housekeeping is no big deal with Remswick’s help, and Hannah handles the childcare. Above all, if Harry comes often, Jane will cry less.”

Laura emphasized the last point. In truth, this was one of the main reasons for inviting Harry.

Ian seemed intrigued. He, too, was worn out by their little crybaby.

“I’ll discuss it with the Starrs tomorrow.”

Laura nodded and popped the last piece of cucumber sandwich into her mouth.

Wiping her hands with a napkin, she suggested,

“There’s probably chocolate cake in the kitchen. Shall we have a slice each?”

“You eat. Just give me a bite.”

Laura teased playfully,

“Shall I feed you that bite?”

Ian laughed.

“Sounds good.”

Ian called a servant to request a slice of cake.Soon, a chocolate cake topped with whipped cream arrived on a plate adorned with gold vine patterns.As the servant left, Laura gently sat on her husband’s lap.

Laura scooped a piece of cake with a fork and held it to Ian’s mouth.But Ian’s gaze remained fixed on her.

“Can’t you feed it to me with your mouth?”

Laura gave him a playful glare.

“That’s messy.”

“Nothing about you is messy.”

“Liar. Coming from the neat freak who bathes twice a day.”

Ian gently caressed Laura’s waistline.

“I mean it.”

“I can’t figure out your hygiene standards, Mr. Dalton.”

Ian chuckled softly.

“That name takes me back.”

Laura stroked the nape of her husband’s neck with her other hand.

“Mr. Dalton, our children were baptized today.”

“Oh, how surprising. When did we make children, Miss Pendleton?”

The two chuckled softly.

“Doing this on a holy baptism day, please forgive us, God.”

Laura put the cake in her mouth.Then, wrapping her arms around her husband’s neck, she kissed him.

The cake melted in their mouths.A sweet taste passed between them.

Ian’s hand cradled Laura’s head, holding it steady, while his strong arm embraced her back.Laura clung to his neck, responding to him.

The chocolate cake disappeared down their throats in an instant.

After a long kiss, they parted their lips slightly.Laura, breathless, gazed at her husband.A heat radiated from Ian’s eyes.

His large hand caressed Laura’s cheek.

“It’s too early to go to bed, yet here we are, Mrs. Dalton.”

“You’re the one who asked for it.”

“Didn’t you know it was inevitable once you sat on my lap?”

“I didn’t. I had no idea your lap was such a dangerous place.”

“You forgot. It’s been a year since the last time.”

“A year is long enough to forget.”

Laura smiled, brushing back a few strands of hair falling over her husband’s forehead.Ian took her hand and pressed it firmly to his lips.

“A couple joined before God should share love on a day like this. It’s a sacred way to conclude a holy baptism day.”

“Hard to believe, but I’ll play along, Mr. Dalton.”

Ian rubbed his wife’s hand against his cheek and smiled.

“Stop calling me Mr. Dalton. It feels like I’m defiling Miss Pendleton before marriage.”

“Feeling guilty?”

“Yes.”

Yet Ian’s hands were boldly exploring his wife’s body.

Laura pressed her lips to her husband’s cheek.Rubbing her lips against his smooth cheek, she whispered,

“Ian, I have a confession.”

“What is it?”

“When I was Miss Pendleton, I wanted to do this with you.”

At those words, Ian’s hand, which had been caressing her shoulder blade, paused.

“On that rainy day in the cabin, I wanted to hold you like this. I wasn’t always such a proper lady.”

Ian’s breathing grew rough.His touch became more daring.

“So, I wasn’t the only bad one.”

“You felt the same?”

“I wanted it hundreds of times and imagined it thousands.”

His hand found the buttons of Laura’s dress.Slowly, the buttons came undone.

“In my house, like this, taking off your clothes.”

As his hands slowly unfastened the buttons, Laura listened to his breathing and pressed her flushed cheek against his neck.

The thirty or so buttons lining her back were all undone, revealing her corset.He began skillfully untying the knots.Though it had been a year since he last held his wife, his instincts remembered how to undress her.

But just as his hand began to loosen the untied corset, a knock sounded at the door.

“Sir, Madam, you have a visitor.”

Ian grimaced, clenching his teeth.He looked ready to curse.Laura covered his mouth with her hand and answered instead.

“Who is it?”

“They say it’s the McGill couple.”

Laura glanced at the clock in surprise.The hour hand was nearing eight.Had the invitation listed the wrong time?But the garden party had long since ended.

“Show them to the first-floor parlor.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Remswick’s footsteps faded.

Laura removed her hand from her husband’s mouth.He was on the verge of exploding with frustration at the uninvited guests.

Laura, too, was deeply disappointed.But at the same time, she was glad Ann had come, even now.It had been over two years since she last saw her.She had longed to see her face, even just once.