As the festivities continued and the whirlwind of guestsebbed and flowed, Nicholas was desperate for some time alone with his wife. It seemed she shared his thoughts as they both quietly gravitated toward the terrace, hand in hand.
The guests were occupied, and they managed to steal a few moments alone outside. They walked out into the snowy wonderland. The cold had persisted into February, and they had both talked of how pleasant it would be once the spring came.
They stood side by side, surveying the garden, whilst observing the snowdrops at the foot of the trees bobbing their delicate heads in the gentle zephyr. Nicholas could not imagine a better future or a better person to share it with.
He glanced at the milling guests behind him and then turned to face his wife.
“I love you, my darling,” he said solemnly, and she smiled up at him.
“I love you, too. More every day.”
He leaned down and captured her lips with his own and just as he did so, the snow began to fall again. As she pulled back from him, he was finally able to see the snowflakes settling on those long, beautiful eyelashes.
He could not help the smile that spread over his face as he leaned down to kiss her again.
~The End~
