Edinburgh, United Kingdom
January 1852

As Thomas had warned them, the journey to Edinburgh was long and hard. If it weren't for Jane's experience with horseback riding, she knew she would not have made it; but even with how much she struggled, she resolved not to show it. It was stubbornness for which Jane could not be faulted; for in the end, it was her stubbornness that enabled the three of them to make such excellent time. Since Jane was determined to press onward, so too were her companions.

The wind was cold and biting as it swept down the northern countryside, quickly proving to be the travelers' greatest enemy. The frigid air made their limbs stiff and their movements shaky as they guided their horses through the wilderness. They kept off the beaten paths for the most part, only stopping once in a town of which Jane had learned while working on her grandfather's accounts. She had looked into the records for the last year or two and found that no money had ever flown into that region, so she and her company deemed it a safe enough place to stop for sustenance.

They didn't stay there long, though. After allowing their horses time enough to rest as well as procuring a hot meal for themselves, Jane, Harry, and Thomas plunged their way into the cold air of the morning and resumed their journey north. Jane was uncommonly sore after riding so long, and the break did little to help her improve. The heat from the soup and spiced wine they purchased was a comfort to her; however, after sitting for so long at the table, she felt her legs cramping up and refusing to function in the way she needed them to when she remounted the horse Thomas had acquired for her.

Harry felt the pain in his legs as well, silently willing himself to go on just as Jane did. He knew that as long as she continued to show no fatigue, he would also, at least for her sake. He would be strong for her, because in his heart, Harry knew that Jane deserved nothing less than someone who would persevere through anything to be by her side. And Harry intended to be that person, just as Thomas did.

Thomas struggled alongside his daughter and future son-in-law, but like them, he was careful to maintain a guarded demeanor. Weakness was not something he could succumb to, especially not when they had all come so far. It was the home stretch, and Thomas was determined not to be the cause of their demise.

They rode for nearly three whole days, finally arriving in Edinburgh during the early morning and retiring to the Mercier apartment with little conversation passing between them. Food and rest were given to them immediately, and it wasn't until the following morning that the band of travelers was somewhat recovered from their rigorous journey.

It was an odd thing for Jane and Harry to be able to sit down together for meals in the light of day, interacting like the engaged couple that they were. Jane sat beside Harry at breakfast, the sunshine filling her light eyes with a brightness that Harry had rarely been allowed to see. She looked at him lovingly, unafraid of who might stand to witness her fingers lacing through his beneath the table. And unlike their time in Clumber Park, Harry didn't have to pull away. Instead, he squeezed her hand and smiled gratefully to her for having made the journey with him at all. He was so thankful for the time they spent together, as was she: and though he knew he would have a lifetime with her, Harry sought out to remember these first few days on their own. They would mark the beginning of something great, and he was determined not to forget a single detail.

There was an aspect of newness to their relationship that neither Jane nor Harry really knew how to navigate. It was strange to be able to speak so openly together in any place other than that clearing in the woods. It was strange to kiss one another with the sun shining down on them, and it was even stranger to them that no one seemed to mind. They were beginning to taste freedom, and neither of them knew that such a feeling could have brought them such immense joy already. With this realization, both Harry and Jane came to understand that all their hesitation in following through with this plan had been entirely unfounded. Nothing compared to the joy they felt in those days in Edinburgh, and one such reason for this was the old Scottish couple that came to visit them one evening for dinner.

While Jane and Harry were confined to remain in Thomas's apartment, Thomas took the opportunity of returning to town as an excuse to pay a visit to his dear friends, Aila and Angus. He invited them over for dinner, telling them that he had brought someone that he wanted them to meet. Given the nature of their last encounter with him, both Aila and Angus were hopeful that Thomas was referring to the daughter he had lost so many years before.

They arrived just after nightfall, Thomas greeting them at the door before leading them inside to the drawing room where Jane was waiting for them. Unsurprisingly, they took to Jane immediately as Thomas watched on with a proud smile upon his face. Though he had only known his daughter for a short time, he felt as if he had known her her whole life. And in this moment with all of his closest friends, Thomas could not help the feeling of delight he had when his daughter impressed them with every sweet word that fell from her lips. In her every move, Jane embodied what it meant to know joy, while at the same time giving way to that same teasing sense of humor that her mother had employed.

Aila and Angus could see Victoria in the young girl, her spirit possessing that same youthful radiance brought about by hope that they had known Victoria to project. And while Jane did have Victoria's likeness, the most similar aspect between the two of them was the way their countenance seemed to brighten every time their eyes fell upon the subject of their affection.

Just as Victoria had looked at Thomas all those years ago, Jane likewise looked at Harry with a loving fondness in her eyes that did nothing but further contribute to her pleasing composure. She was in love, and she did little to hide it. Thomas's friends could understand why, though. As they became acquainted with Harry, they came to see his effortless charms and gentle confidence, both of which enhanced his already attractive appearance.

Altogether, the evening made the three runaways feel normal for just a few hours, like they weren't on the run and like they had nothing to hide. It was a relief to them all to feel what life for them would be like once they boarded the ship that was coming for them. It showed them the pleasantness of simply conversing with friends over dinner, but more than that, it showed them what their family would be like once everything was over and done with.

Perhaps it was this thought of family that brought Jane to Harry's room that night, or maybe it was merely because she couldn't sleep, but either way, Jane did slip into the shadowy hallway, reluctantly entering Harry's room to find him sitting at the writing table with a pen in his hand. Upon hearing the door creak open, Harry turned his head to see Jane standing there in her nightgown with her robe pulled tightly about her slender figure. She smiled sheepishly as Harry's brows pulled together in confusion, questioning her as to why she was still awake.

"I might ask you the same thing," Jane replied teasingly, her voice still low so as not to alert anyone in the house of her being there. Her father's room was just upstairs, so she knew she would have to be quiet if they were remain undiscovered.

Harry shrugged and set his pen down, turning his body to face her, "I suppose that's a fair question, but seriously Jane, is something the matter?"

Lowering her eyes, Jane shook her head and watched as she traced her big toe along the fancy carpet pattern beneath her, "No, nothing to worry about. I just... I couldn't sleep I guess."

"Hmm," Harry hummed as he followed Jane's eyes and her slow, graceful movements. He didn't believe her that nothing was wrong. She had looked somewhat out of sorts after a private conversation with Aila, and he hadn't gotten a chance to ask her about it yet.

"May I ask you something?" Jane nodded as if to encourage Harry to continue. "What, um, if you don't mind me asking, what did you and Aila talk about after dinner? You seemed... off after that."

"It's nothing, really." Despite Jane's weak attempt at a smile, Harry did not find her reply to be too convincing. He wanted to know what it was that had her so shook up earlier, and he also wanted to know why she was keeping it from him. But nonetheless, if she didn't wish to share her thoughts with him, he would respect that.

Harry sighed heavily as he rose from his seat and walked over to where Jane was standing by the door. With slow movements, Harry earnestly looked into Jane's eyes and encouraged her to speak her mind. "If it really is nothing, then I'll drop it, but if it is something, please talk to me, Jane." He smiled. "I want us to be able to tell each other anything."

"I know." Jane affectionately took Harry's hands in her own, her eyes falling to look at how he grasped onto her when she did. "I don't want to talk about it right now, though. Do you, um, do you think we could just lay down for a while?"

She smiled at him, her cheeks flushing hotly as she made her request. Jane still wasn't used to being able to experience Harry in such an intimate setting, so it made her nervous to ask at all; however, given how entirely safe and warm she felt in Harry's embrace, that feeling of anxiety meant little to her when it came to bringing about the desires of her heart.

Harry nodded wordlessly to her, delighting in the humility of Jane's words. Even after all they had been through and done together, it was still as if she thought he would deny her. It was an innocent reluctance that endeared her to him, and it was Harry's sole delight to oblige her.

Bringing Jane's hand up to his mouth, Harry gently kissed her skin before leading her to his downturned bed. He helped her climb in first, then coming to lie beside her once she found herself in a comfortable position. In truth, though, she wasn't able to find comfort until Harry reached his arms around her, tenderly bringing her small frame to mold against him.

It was their first time laying in a real bed together, and though it was just a little thing, both Jane and Harry felt that it meant so much. Because once they achieved true freedom, this would be how they would find each other each night and each morning. It was a seemingly insignificant pleasure, but after all the sneaking around and all those nights in the woods, how could they help but appreciate what that bed meant for them?

"This is so nice," Jane commented, looking up to Harry with bright eyes. He hummed in agreement as he bent down to kiss her forehead, his arms momentarily tightening around her and pulling her towards him. With this new closeness, Jane took the opportunity to shift herself upwards so that her eyes were at the same level as his; however, her eyes were not the focus of his attention.

With his concentration fixated on her lips, Harry lowered his voice, "May I kiss you?"

Jane giggled and nodded eagerly, shutting her eyes as Harry came to press his lips against hers. He had meant it to be an innocent kiss between them; however, with Jane's body already pressed against his own, Harry came to see that innocence would not be the defining quality of that evening. As Jane moved against him, she brought herself to straddle his waist, all the while keeping her hands firmly placed on either side of his face. Their lips worked feverishly against each other for several moments until at last, Harry tore away from her and gasped for air.

"We really shouldn't do this with you father upstairs," Harry told her, more to be able say that he tried to stop rather than actually stopping.

As Jane sat back on Harry's thighs, she merely shook her head, "Don't worry about him. He's told me he's a heavy sleeper, so if we're quiet, we should be fine."

At this, Harry laughed breathily and leaned his head back against the bed frame, shutting his eyes to think for a moment. "You will be my undoing," he said at last, a pleased smile on his lips.

For a second, Jane was under the impression that he was about to deny her; however, with that mischievous gleam in his eyes, she soon came to see that Harry didn't need much convincing at all. He was ready for her, and his next words were evidence of it.

"Did you happen to lock the door when you came in?" Harry looked hopefully to Jane, who nodded in affirmation. She hadn't known exactly why she had done it in the moment, but now she came to value her past self for her unintentional forethought. Harry sighed happily, shaking his head in amusement, "God, I love you."

Jane grinned at Harry's approval of her actions, then leaned forward once more to kiss him lightly on the mouth. When she did this, she felt Harry's hands come to grip her thighs, his thumbs hooking around the fabric of her nightgown and inching it upwards. As Harry teased her with his caress, Jane whimpered into Harry's mouth and latched onto him, pulling herself up on his lap. Harry grunted when Jane did this, feeling himself already so enlivened by her touch that he could hardly stand to wait any longer.

They worked together to undress one another, skin brushing skin and eyes burning with desire in the candle light of Harry's temporary bedroom. It wasn't long before Jane was ready for Harry to come into her, his body moving in such a way that she could do nothing but cling to the strength of his broad shoulders. Harry was slow with her this time, slower than the first time, so as to prevent Jane from crying out. They had to be quiet if they were to keep Thomas in the dark, for surely, failure to do so would have been disastrous.

As Jane grew accustomed to the feeling of Harry working against her, she prompted him to go faster, telling him that she could handle it. And she did. Harry pushed her further to the edge of release, all the while trying to reign himself in for her sake. He would need to draw back before finding his own pleasure, but he would be damned if he didn't take her there first.

Harry watched as Jane came undone beneath him, his eyes lingering on her extended neck and how her breasts heaved laboriously to catch her breath. It was all he needed to reach his own climax as he finally allowed himself to let go. Harry collapsed beside her, his own shaking breath proving to be exceedingly difficult to overcome.

"That was..."

"Amazing," Harry said between labored breaths.

"Mhmm." Jane agreed, her hand reaching out and lightly grazing Harry's arm. She wanted to feel his touch, even if it were just his arm brushing against hers. Harry understood what Jane was doing, so as soon he subdued his breathing, Harry propped himself up on his elbow and beckoned Jane to lie closer to him. He took her in his arms, bringing her to his chest and gently kissing her on the forehead.

"Thank you."

Jane furrowed her brows in confusion, "For what?"

"For being you," Harry smiled. "I love you."

Blushing hotly, Jane buried her face into his chest so as to hide from his endless praise. She never had been good at accepting compliments. Harry just laughed softly at her shyness, squeezing her briefly before relaxing into the pillows. They lay together in silence for several moments, each of them just enjoying the quiet peace before it would be time for Jane to return to her room.

Harry sighed heavily, looking down at the beautiful woman lying naked in his arms. Her eyes were nearly shut, but upon the sudden movement of his chest, she looked up at him with an expression of curiosity upon her face.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked him, blinking away the sleep that had begun to cloud her vision.

"Nothing," Harry said quietly, a hint of wonder laced through his voice. "It's just kind of strange how everything has turned out. I never thought that I would actually get to have a life with you. Like this..." Harry nodded towards the bed in which they lay, a piece of his disheveled hair falling in front of his face. "This, I never even dared to dream that this could actually be real."

"Me neither." Jane's fingers absentmindedly traced over the skin of Harry's  bare chest, leaving a trail of goosebumps in her wake. "It feels like a dream sometimes."

Harry chuckled lightly, his eyes alight with happiness, "In that case, this is the best dream I've ever had."

"I just can't believe that it's all happening so fast."

"It's not too fast for you, is it?" Harry looked to Jane inquisitively, hopeful that he hadn't pushed her too far. She was younger than him, so he understood if she would have any reluctance upon marrying him so soon.

"No, of course not." Jane shook her head, but came to grimace as she seemed to remember something that was less than pleasant. Harry cocked his head to the side, hoping for an explanation. Perhaps this was what had bothered her so much earlier when Aila had talked to her.

Jane huffed and tried to clear her mind, "Sorry... I just can't stop thinking about what Aila said to me."

"What was it?" Harry inquired. He hoped to gain an understanding of Jane's worries, so that maybe he might be able to soothe them.

Jane shivered and shook her head again, "It was about childbirth and... what she told me was so... it was gross." She looked up at Harry with a bit of fear in her eyes. "Things between us aren't moving too fast, but please, for the sake of my health, can we wait to have kids for just a little while? I don't think I'm ready for that."

Harry couldn't help but laugh, "Of course, Jane. I mean, there's always a risk of it happening despite our attempts to prevent it, but it's up to you when you think you're ready. I don't want to rush you into anything... especially not something that big."

"Thank you," Jane sighed in relief, and Harry smiled at how distressed she seemed to be over something that was still so hypothetical. It made him wonder just what that woman had said to Jane to spook her like this. Scots were not exactly known for beating around the bush, so he supposed that whatever Aila had told Jane surely must have been wildly more explicit than anything Regina had ever relayed to her about the process of bringing a child into the world.

At the risk of actually receiving an answer, Harry pursued this curiosity. "If you don't mind me asking, what exactly did she tell you about it?"

"You don't want to know; trust me." Jane shuddered, looking much like she had just seen something deeply disturbing. "I don't even know how the topic came up, but once it did, she really wanted to elaborate upon some things for me."

"Interesting..." Harry hummed, playfully dancing his fingers across the bare skin of Jane's hip, and in doing so, earning a soft giggle from her. "I suppose I'll have to find out what she was talking about when you're with child, then... since you won't tell me now."

Jane groaned and once again buried her face in Harry's chest, her cheeks glowing with embarrassment. She didn't want to have to think about the terrifying realities of pregnancy anymore.

"Fine, I'll tell you," Jane sighed. "She said that she would get so sick everyday for weeks. I know that doesn't sound that bad, but sickness has always affected me so much more than any of my friends or cousins. I don't get ill often, but when I do, it's not pretty." She looked up at Harry, who seemed to be very sympathetic to her pain, but the pitiful look in his eyes annoyed her. She didn't like it when people had to take care of her. She felt like a burden. "You won't have to worry about it, though. I can take care of myself."

Harry laughed softly and shook his head at Jane, amused that she would ever think he would let her alone if she were sick. "Don't be silly, Jane. I will take care of you, always." Jane frowned and began to protest, but Harry silenced her with a kiss, gently moving his lips against hers and coming to look into her soft blue eyes. "I will love you in sickness and in health. I vow that to you, Jane, and I will not break that vow." Harry smiled, "Even if it's a little messy sometimes. You are my wife, and I will stand by your side always."

The effect of Harry's words on Jane were immediate as her eyes filled with tears. His sincerity and sense of loyalty made Jane's heart race whenever he spoke to her like this, and it reminded her of just how truly good of a man Harry really was. He was unashamed of his feelings, and he was unafraid of expressing them to her in any way he could. Jane adored him for that. Such transparency required bravery that she felt that she did not possess, and so she admired Harry for excelling where she herself failed.

"I love you so much," Jane replied, focusing on the flecks of gold in Harry's green eyes. The candlelight just behind her on the side table was dancing in his irises and making them come alive with an intensity that did nothing but entrap her in his gaze. "And after all this is over, we can finally be alone."

"We're alone now," Harry smiled sadly, lifting his finger to gently brush away the tears that had gathered in Jane's eyes. He hated it when she cried; he always felt as if he had done something wrong.

Jane rolled her eyes and brushed his hand away. "Yes, but I mean we can be alone, and I won't have to go back to my room."

The reminder of Jane's bedroom brought a frown to Harry's lips. He wished they could just get married in Edinburgh and take that final leap into their new lives together. Waiting was proving to be a very tedious business.

"I wish we could just get married here," Harry sighed heavily as he shut his eyes. "If we were married, then everything would be solidified, and we'd have no risk of being torn apart."

"I know. I do too, but we can't be seen, Harry, and we risk that if we even go to the church down the road."

Harry rolled his eyes and groaned, wishing for nothing more that to be legally yoked to the woman lying beside him, "This is so frustrating. Why can't this be easier?"

"Two more days, Harry." Jane sat up in bed, her naked torso once again finding itself to be the focus of Harry's attention. Noticing his distracted way of looking at her, Jane smirked and leant down to kiss him. She brought her hand up to his jaw and pressed her body against him as her lips moved in sync with his, but before the feverish motions could begin, Jane tore away from him and gently brushed his fallen curls away from his face.

Harry watched her intently as her fingers laced through his hair, her eyes searching his face like she was trying to memorize every detail. Harry felt his cheeks growing hotter as he lie under Jane's attentive eye, anxiously waiting for her to say something to break the silence that she had brought upon them.

"Two more days," she said again, her fingers tracing the edges of his mouth. "Two more days, and we'll be free."

***

I actually wrote 7000 words for this chapter, but only because I accidentally kept getting carried away and kept straying from what I actually meant to write lol... so thats why it took so long. I apologize lol

Thanks for reading, my loves!
-Kate