The constables moved forward quickly. Their guns were drawn, and they surrounded Jebediah and Lord Redfield quickly.
Redfield released Violet’s hand and threw up his hands in surrender, and she moved away from him at once.
James didn’t hesitate. Dropping his gun to his side, he rushed forward and threw his arms around his wife. In the background, he heard the Magistrate reading Jebediah his rights, and he held his wife even tighter.
“You’re safe now,” he whispered into her dark hair.
And then, as if driven only by instinct and a deep, gnawing hunger, his lips found hers, and he kissed her. It was the most wonderful sensation he’d ever experience, and he marveled that he had wasted so much time not kissing her every day since theday in the library. Her mouth was warm and soft on his, and he was lost in her, his fingers curled in her hair, whispering You’re still mine, you’re still mine, over and over, leaving a trail of kisses up her jawline, then her neck, not caring if anyone was watching, and she was whispering I’ll always be yours, and he thought he would weep from happiness.
At last, he began to kiss her gently, on her eyelids and nose. She giggled, and he folded her into him and hugged her tight.
She hugged him back, and he murmured, “You’re safe now. I’ve got you. I’ll never let you go again. I’ve got you.”
At his words, Violet began to shake, and then he felt tears wet his neck.
He was whispering nonsense, anything to soothe her, and it seemed to be working, because her breathing soon evened out, and then, at last, he released her. Drawing back, he saw that her cheeks were stained with tears, but she was no longer crying. lled her to him again, but this time, he kissed her.
In fact, she was smiling.
“You came for me,” she whispered.
“Of course, I did,” he said.
“I wasn’t sure if Mr. Cain would really help me…”
“He told us where to find you, and I rode all night. I didn’t sleep, I didn’t eat. And Violet, I would do it all again and for less—anything to show you what a fool I have been.”
He was dimly aware of the commotion around them—the constables leading Crampton and Redfield out of the room; taking statements from Nathan, the maid, and the innkeeper and his wife. But none of them mattered to him except Violet.
“Violet,” he whispered. “Of course, I want a real marriage with you. I have been unimaginably stupid, letting my anger and resentment towards my father and my fear of failure keep me from the best thing that’s ever happened to me. It’s you, Violet. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, too,” she whispered as she stroked his cheek with her gloved hand. “I never should have left, James. My father threatened to marry off Rosalie to Redfield if I didn’t. I thought I was protecting her, but I realize now I should have told you the truth. We could have figured it out together.”
“I don’t blame you for not telling me.” James shook his head. “It is my fault. Instead of questioning you or refusing to sign the annulment, I gave you away because it confirmed all my fears that I wasn’t good enough for you. But that will never happen again. For the rest of my life, every second of every day, I will fight to prove that I am worthy of you.”
“Oh, James,” she murmured. “You are more than worthy of me. You are the best and most noble man I have ever met.”
“I love you, Violet.” He couldn’t keep the words in any longer. “I love you with every fiber of my being. I have loved you for a while now, and I knew it the moment I kissed you in the library. I was so scared of my feelings that I pushed you away. But I love you, I really do.”
“I love you, too.” She was smiling from ear to ear, her eyes were twinkling, and her words made him feel as if he could float on air. “I convinced Cain to help me, and I sent Hannah to find you because I knew that I couldn’t marry anyone but you. And even if this vile wedding had gone through, I would have been married to only you in my heart.” Her fingers delved into his hair. “No matter what, you will forever be my only husband.”
He had no words, so he kissed her. And he didn’t plan to stop kissing her for a very long time.
Epilogue
“Mr. Cain has written to me—can you believe it?!”
Violet looked up from the trunk she was packing for her honeymoon to see her sister walking into her room, an amused look on her face.
“Mr. Cain has written to you?” she echoed, fear seizing her heart immediately.
In the two weeks since the events in Barry, Violet had been seized with this fear every time anyone mentioned Mr. Cain, Lord Redfield, or their father. It was getting better, but she knew she would be haunted by what had happened for a long time. It was the reason why Jams had suggested they go on their long-overdue honeymoon.
“Somewhere beautiful and relaxing,” her husband had promised her two nights ago. “Where you can get your mind off it all.”
“I don’t know…” she’d protested. “I don’t want to leave Rosalie alone.”
“Your father is behind bars,” he had reminded her. “And the prison has promised us increased security. There is no chance he will escape again.”
