Tiny Town was as they had left it many months ago, Alice commented as they drove around the town to find her a dress.

"But not us," Harold said, taking her hand in his. "We are different now."

Alice narrowed her eyes at him. "You are being too sentimental, Harry. Of course, we are the same people. The only difference now is that you are less... unwise, should I say?"

Harold dramatically sighed. "When will you be able to let me forget that I had been stupid?"

"Until I prove to you that I can bear you five children."

"Five? Will that not be too much for you?"

"There are people who bore more than eight, Harry, ten even."

Harold cleared his throat, shifting in his seat uncomfortably. "All I am saying, darling, is that we do not have to completely satisfy my father. One or two will be enough for the old man."

Alice sighed as she looked out the window. "I am talking more about my satisfaction."

"You want a lot?"

"Yes, of course. My life has been quite lonely being an only child. Can you not say the same?"

"Well, of course, but—I do not know if we are up to the challenge."

Alice blinked as she realized what he meant. "Oh."

"Oh what?"

"You might be correct. We do not know how to deal with children."

"I only had but a few friends and I did not have to take care of them," said Harold.

"The closest to taking care of a child for me was when I assisted in the delivery of a foal."

Harold gave her an incredulous look. "You will not raise our children like horses."

"I did not say I will. Although a whip might come in handy if they prove to be difficult."

"No one will be hurting anyone." Harold sighed. "We can always hire a nanny."

"Nannies," corrected Alice. "We will need more for the children."

Harold grimaced. "Why don't we talk about the first child first, darling? We can always add more nannies if need be."

"Why don't we talk about getting shackled first? Then we can talk about nannies."

Harold nodded. "Yes, yes, of course. How is my face?" he asked.

"Still very much swollen," Alice replied, looking staring at it. "But I will still marry it."

Harold chuckled and planted a loud kiss on her mouth. "You never said you love me, but now I believe you do."

"Silly, I do not have to say it."

"But you have to."

"Do you need it?"

He blinked, astounded by her innocent question. "I might."

She looked him in the eye for a few seconds without a word.

"Are you assessing whether you love me or not?"

"Well, I do love you. I am simply assessing how much."

His eyes widened in disbelief but then he saw the small twitch of her lips. "You are jesting."

Alice smiled at him. "Of course." She leaned toward him and gave his lips a light kiss. "And I do love you, silly."

Harold leaned back against his seat with a satisfied smile.

"But then, of course, I do not have any other experience to reference this sort of love so I cannot truly say for certain if I have correctly evaluated my emotions."

"Alice...," he said with warning and she chuckled.

*****

They, of course, were in need of a witness.

Martin and Theobald were already waiting for them outside the small chapel, one of the many that lined the Lovers Lane, as it was commonly called, but for a few who came by force, it was referred to as the Death Row.

"It is a shame that you were not able to run away from him, my lady," Theobald greeted Alice with a wicked smile and a bow. "And oh, he even bought you a beautiful dress. No wonder you were not able to escape. You look beautiful."

"Good day to you, my lord, thank you for the compliments," Alice said, looking at the man's face with curiosity. "Your face is not as swollen as theirs," she said, motioning her heat at Martin whose left eye was still very blue.

"I managed quite better than them," Theobald smugly replied.

"Come on," Harold snapped at his friends, grabbing Alice's hand and striding into the chapel.

"Is a beast at your wake? What seems to be the rush?" Martin asked, feigning innocence, followed by a snicker.

"Were they in Wickhurst when you left?" asked Harold without looking over his shoulder.

"No," Martin replied.

"They never went to Wickhurst, Harry," Theobald said.

Harold skidded to a stop. So did Alice. They both turned to face their friends.

"Lady Edwina is on her way to Tiny Town straight from Willowfair with my mother," Martin stated.

"You bloody bastard!" Harold roared at Martin.

Alice whirled around to face the altar, just in time to see the vicar positioning himself in the middle. "We need to get married the fastest you can do it!" she ordered the vicar, grabbing Harold's hand and dragging him down the aisle.

"B-but we have a ceremony to follow. You need to walk down—"

"We are both walking toward you," Alice stonily replied. "Now, Harry, the rings?"

Harold felt for the rings in his breast pockets.

"We ought not to have gone by Devonshire," Alice whispered beside him.

"If we have not," Harold said, fishing the rings with two fingers. "We would not have these." He opened his palm and revealed two rings. "An Everard cannot use any other jewelry, darling. And we needed an heirloom."

Alice could not remember if the ceremony she witnessed gone through by Eva and Martin was long for the two had been married before they arrived, but this one definitely was too long for a town known as the prime destination of eloping couples.

When the vicar asked if she would take Harold as her husband, Alice said 'I will' before the man uttered the last word. Harold did the same, looking over his shoulder at the chapel door from time to time.

Never had Alice thought that the day would come that she would fear her mother.

Finally, after almost several unspoken warnings from Alice and Harold, the vicar asked them to put on the rings. They did so by repeating the vows from the vicar.

They both stood facing each other, looking into each other's eyes, holding each other's hand with their rings now in place.

Alice's heart wanted to escape and leap out of her chest as she got lost in Harold's emerald green globes. He was smiling down at her, face swollen, in his handsome glory.

She quietly promised to herself that she would give this man the kind of family they both never had.

"Bless, Oh Lord," the vicar said, "these rings, that they who give them and wear them may abide in peace, and continue their life's end."

Alice's eyes filled with tears. She could clearly see her future now.

"Inasmuch as you have pledged to the other your lifelong commitment, love and devotion..."

It was so vivid she almost believed she was already living it. She could see children running around the estate, causing loud havoc. Harold would be there, joining the fray. She would try to be the mother and scold, but deep inside she was utterly content and happy. And in love.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." The vicar's distant voice was almost a hum. "You may kiss the bride!"

Harold bent down and Alice tilted her head to meet his kiss and closed her eyes.

The picture was still there.

*****

Harold faced his friends. "I am very much grateful that you are both here, but I have to send you both on another quest."

Martin and Theobald looked at each other before facing him. "You do know that we have gone through so much since the fiasco, yes?" asked Martin. "My wife barely allows me out of the estate."

"Gentlemen come calling through my doors in great numbers," Theobald added. "I welcome callers, but only from the female kind."

When Harold remained silent, the two of them sighed. "Very well, what do you need?" Martin wryly asked.

"Stay here another night."

"Why?"

"Well, we need a few friends to be there with us when Lady Edwina and your mother arrive," Harold answered Martin's question.

"Bloody hell... Do you realize, Harry," his friend said, stepping closer to hiss at him, "that my neck is at most danger here than yours? I allowed this to happen, remember?"

"And I am grateful."

Martin shook his head in disbelief. "You ought to pay me for this."

"Of course," Harold said, turning around. "Now, there are rooms waiting for the two of you at the other wing."

"But—"

Harold wrapped his arm around Alice when he reached her at the bottom of the stairs where she had been waiting. "Fret not, darling. The two of them will not be able to hear you scream..." when she elbowed him, he added, "or cry."

*****

"Should we not be preparing for dinner?" Alice asked as she slipped out of her new petticoat which lightly joined the heap of dress and camisole on the floor.

Harold pulled her toward the bed, but on the way there he stopped and claimed her mouth. His hand worked on her corset and Alice could not help but notice that he was an expert at it. She leaned away from his mouth to say, "You ought to perfectly put these clothing articles back together after we are done in the same expert manner as you are taking them off now."

He grinned, a lock of hair falling over his forehead as he bent down to nibble on her neck. "Yes, wife."

The corset fell on the floor, followed by Harold's cravat and vest.

When they stumbled on the bed, they were both completely naked, their clothing strewn around the room.

Harold looked into Alice's eyes as he sheepishly grinned down at her. He gave her a kiss. "You mother will soon be here," he said, leaning away to turn her around so she faced the bed. His body warmed her back.

He wrapped his arm around her to fondle her breast and hip.

"We can both deal with her later," Alice said over her shoulder. "Are your friends settled?"

"I do not know, but I am," he said, nudging his hips forward against her bottom.

"Oh, you are terrible!" Alice cried against the pillow, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

*****

That evening, Harold and Alice shared dinner with Martin and Theobald.

It was obvious in the former's face that he wanted to go home, while the latter was currently preoccupied by a group of ladies sitting in the corner of the restaurant.

Alice cleared her throat and smiled at Martin and Theobald. "Thank you, my lords, for being here tonight."

"It is my pleasure to see our friend suffer your mother's wrath, my dear," Theobald said. "As we speak, I have one of my footmen posted near the entrance of Tiny Town to await her arrival. She and Lady Vivian will be escorted to this very hotel very soon."

Harold forced a smile while throwing daggers at his friend with his eyes. "I will take as much pleasure at your wedding, my friend. It would be the end for you."

"Ah, but you must jest. It is never the end for a rakehell." He turned to Alice. "Apologies, my dear. I did not mean that."

"Of course you did, my lord," said Alice, giving the man one of her cold looks. "But fret not, I have already thought of the best wedding gift I shall reward you and Rachel."

"Pray tell, I wish to know," the man said, playing alone.

"I shall train her so she could learn how to train the untamable."

Martin and Harold laughed while Theobald forced himself to join in.

"I look forward to that," Martin said.

"I hope you are also looking forward to my arrival, my son," Lady Vivian's voice said from behind Martin who choked on his own food.

As his friend coughed, Harold stood up and bowed at Lady Edwin.

Alice joined him, saying, "Mother. Welcome to Tiny Town."

Theobald, now realizing that the tables had turned, was wearing an amused look on his face as he slowly stood and walked to the end of the table, looking at the rest of them.

Harold, on the other hand, was afraid again.

He may have all the riches in the Town and being an Everard may have saved him in many instances, but it seemed it was true that in some battles, he had to fight with nothing but himself for Lady Edwina did not look so very pleased.