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Friday was Eloise’s favorite day of the week. It was the day Mr. Harris would leave Theo to close up the print shop, so Eloise and Theo got three hours in the shop all to themselves.
After Theo finished up his duties for the day, he and Eloise would always wind up on the small couch in the back room. Sometimes, they would spend that time reading, Theo’s arm around Eloise and her head resting against his chest. Other times, they engaged in heated debates over pamphlets or the books they had just read. Most of the time, however, they engaged in heated other things.
This was one of those times.
Theo was on his back, his head propped up on a small pillow, his long legs stretching over the other end of the couch. Eloise was on top of him, straddling him despite the challenge her dress made it. Theo’s hands smoothed along her waist and hips, and Eloise’s were thrust in his hair, mussing up his thick locks. Eloise couldn’t decide where she wanted her mouth. One moment it was kissing Theo’s passionately, and the next it was peppering kisses on his cheeks and nibbling at his jaw. Her hands worked at his cravat, pulling it and his collar away a little so that her mouth had access to his neck. Theo let out a soft moan as Eloise gently nipped and sucked.
“Get back here,” he mumbled, his hands moving up to cup each side of her head, pulling her face back to his where he kissed her deeply. Eloise got lost in the feeling of his mouth on hers. After they came up for air, Theo used his hands to gently guide her head so that he could bestow a kiss on each of her forehead, both cheeks, and finally her nose. “My sweet girl,” he murmured.
Eloise sat back, and they grinned at each other. Theo’s hands found each of hers, interlacing their fingers. They simply gazed at each other for a long moment.
“I love you, Eloise,” Theo said blissfully, his eyes never leaving hers.
Ever since the first time he said those words to her three months ago, Eloise knew she’d never tire of hearing them. The same warm, bubbly feeling rushed through her this time, too.
“I love you too, Theo,” she responded contentedly. Then, she moved so that she was lying down, half on top of him, half between him and the back of the sofa. Theo wrapped his arms around her, and she tucked her head into the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply. She loved his scent. Paper and ink and Theo. She felt Theo’s lips graze against her head as he pressed a kiss to her hair. They rested together for a while, the only sounds being their soft breaths.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Theo whispered suddenly.
Eloise pulled her head back to look at him, noticing the worry on his face. She ran a hand over his hair soothingly. “Yes, Theo. I’ve never been more sure about anything. I love you.” She pecked his lips.
Theo couldn’t help but smile at that. “I love you too. I just–” He regained his serious expression. “I just don’t want you to lose your family.”
“My family will understand,” she replied, resting her head back down under his jaw. “And if they don’t, well, it’ll be okay because I have you. You’re my new family.”
His arms tightened around her as he tried to hold her even closer. “I love you. I can’t wait to marry you.”
“I love you too, and I can’t wait to marry you either,” she responded. “Good thing John should be here soon with the horses,” she giggled slightly.
And John had been there soon with the horses. Together, they saddled up the horses with each of their suitcases, and they double checked their funds after pooling Theo’s saved up wages and Eloise’s stashed pin money. After sending John away with a hefty tip, Eloise and Theo mounted their horses, and they were off.
The journey took three days and three nights. With all this time alone with Theo, Eloise grew even more certain in her decision to marry him. She just couldn’t get enough of him. They talked and laughed all throughout their horse riding. They ate at pubs, in dimly lit booths where they could sit pressed up against one another and hold hands under the table.
For lodgings, they booked only one room. They pretended to already be married, and when Theo introduced her as “Mrs. Sharpe” to the innkeeper, she blushed and felt butterflies all over. She couldn’t wait for it not to be pretend anymore.
Sharing a room was a bit awkward at first because the domesticity of it all was so new, but they soon adjusted and were so happy to have the privacy to be completely open with their love. It felt so good to be able to experience a full night’s sleep together, instead of their cat naps on the print shop couch. They got comfortable as soon as they got under the covers. Eloise would snuggle up to Theo, and he would wrap his strong arms around her as she laid on his chest. They fell asleep just like that every night. The mornings were a different story. The first morning, Eloise woke up completely on top of Theo with his arms around her. Another two, they woke up on their sides facing each other, entangled in each other’s limbs.
On the day of the wedding, Eloise woke up on her side, her back tucked into Theo’s chest. His arm was draped over her waist, and his hand clasped hers. Eloise raised their hands to her lips to kiss his knuckles. The soft breaths against her neck turned into soft kisses. “Good morning, my love,” he murmured.
“Good morning,” she returned, twisting in their embrace to face him. “We’re getting married today,” she said, grinning.
Theo grinned back at her. “Yes, we are.”
Eloise squealed as Theo suddenly rolled them so that she was on her back and he was on top of her. “I. Am. So. Happy. We. Are. Getting. Married. Today. I. Can’t. Wait. To. Be. Your. Husband. And. For. You. To. Be. My. Wife.” Theo punctuated his words by stamping loud kisses all over her face, neck, and collarbone as she giggled and squirmed.
He finished with a kiss on her mouth, which they both got lost in for many minutes. They stopped when it was time for them to get ready for their big day.
They got married at the Blacksmith’s Forge, a popular spot for Gretna Green weddings. It was a modest ceremony, but it was all they needed. Theo wore his nicest clothes, and Eloise wore a simple white dress she had secretly commissioned from Madame Delacroix. They slid simple silver bands on each other’s fingers, and the blacksmith struck his anvil to seal the marriage.
Eloise and Theo smiled at each other. No one could come between them now that their love was recognized by law. Eloise wrapped her arms around Theo’s neck and his hands grasped her waist as she leaned in for their first kiss as husband and wife.
When they broke apart, Eloise rested her forehead against Theo’s. “You’ll never be rid of me now,” she joked.
“Good,” he replied, accentuating his response with a peck on her lips. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”