“Of you?” He blinked.
“Yes. If you say you are so unworthy of me, then what does that say of me? It says that you think I am stupid, that I am incapable of knowing a good thing when I see it.” She scowled at him.
“What? No!” He leapt to his feet.
“That is what it sounds like to me.”
“Well, that is not what I meant. Of course, you know your own mind. I know that you are one of the cleverest, most wonderful, beautiful, loyal, and utterly marvelous people I know.” He let out a huff. “Only a fool would think he could convince you of something you did not wish to believe.”
“Well, we have established you are a fool,” she teased. “And stubborn too.”
“And that.”
“So how can you think I would not recognize a viper if I saw one.” Lydia smiled at Archer. “You with your manly bravado and posturing—did you forget that I have seen you with your sisters? That I know that beneath that bear-like exterior lurks a complete teddy bear.”
“You make me sound soft.” A hint of spark returned to Archer’s eyes, and Lydia’s heart responded in kind. “I assure you, Duchess, I am nothing of the sort.”
“That is the Archer I know.” She squeezed his hand, but the wall around her heart would not let go. “How am I supposed to trust you? I gave you so many chances to keep me with you that night, and you just let me leave. What is different?”
“I know that I cannot live without you.” He met her gaze, and a thrill ran through her. “This house without you in it is nothing more than an empty husk. My life without you is shades of grey. You are the colour in my world, Lydia. You are the wind in my sails. You are the first rays of summer sun. I do not expect you to forgive me, not after what I have done, but would you at least come home?”
Lydia leaned back, a thoughtful expression on her face. Archer looked at her, his back straight but not defiant. “Our family misses you.”
“Are you asking me back for them? Or for you?” Lydia asked.
“Both.” Archer let out a shaky breath. “But if I am honest, they are the smallest part of it. I want you back for me. I want you, all of you. I want to honor the vows I made to you on our wedding day. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you and being loved by you.”
Lydia swallowed. “I will come home, but I have one condition.”
“Name it.”
“Kiss me.” Her eyes sparkled.
“As you wish.” He pressed a kiss to her mouth, gentle at first but more passionate as time went on.
She lost herself in the kiss, feeling his touch shatter the last wall around her heart. She flung her arms around his neck, and he scooped her into his arms, not breaking their kiss for even a moment.
When they finally broke apart, his eyes glittered. “I love you, Lydia.”
“I love you too, Archer.” She pressed a kiss to his forehead and then gave him a wicked look. “Though, I think I have just found my second condition.”
“That was not part of the bargain.” Archer frowned, but Lydia could just see the quirk of his smile beneath his bushy beard.
“You said you would do anything.” She grinned. “I do not want separate bedrooms; your bed is plenty big enough for both of us.”
Archer’s voice was low and husky. “I think that can be arranged.”
“And for my final, request.” She tugged gently on his beard. “Get rid of this. It is truly horrid.”
“Consider it done, Your Grace.” And laughing wildly, he swept her into his arms and spun her around.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
They sat in Archer’s bed, holding each other. Whispering sweet words of affection until long after the rain had subsided.
Lydia sat comfortably in Archer’s lap. He kissed her tender mouth, pausing only for a moment to brush his thumb against her swollen bottom lip.
His hand wandered, leaving her lips behind to cherish her cheek. He kissed his way up to her ear and softly blew on it. Lydia gasped in surprise, shivering in his embrace. He smiled at her reaction, trailing more kisses down her jaw before imbibing on her sweet neck.
