She shook her head. “I did not. You were this amazing avenging angel. But I could not have even if I had wanted to. Your fury—and that cane—”
“Ah.” He understood. “That’s why you wanted me to leave it behind.”
A single nod.
He pulled a strand of hair down over her shoulder, twisting it around his fingers. “What they did—was unconscionable. No one should have to go through that. And I know I can promise you I would never—ever—hurt you like that, but it’s going to take some time for you to believe it.”
Another nod.
“Because of what you saw in me.”
“Yes.”
“You, of all people, know that not all men are the same.”
“But you are all capable—”
“Not all men are the same. Just because most of us are stronger than most women does not mean we are the same here”—he pointed to his head—“or here.” He released her hair, took her hand off his coat, entwined his fingers in hers, and rested their clutched fists over his heart. “And I can assure you that my tiny mother is ‘in charge’ of my hulk of a father almost all the time. The man who intimidates the whole of Parliament puts his very soul into her hands, every morning of every day.” He smiled at her. “And you cannot imagine what he would do to me if I ever hurt you.”
She sniffed. “After I got through with you.”
“And I don’t even want to think about those possibilities.”
Rose focused on their hands. “Forgive me?”
He tightened his grip. “Nothing to forgive. You have been through hell.” He took a deep breath. “But as a man, I will tell you that if your goal is to take charge of me like that every night, I will make every dream you ever conceived of come true.”
Rose grinned, shyness evolving into mischievousness. “So I did well? You enjoyed it?”
“I believe the term you used was ‘boneless.’ I can still barely move.”
“Something to remember me by?”
He arched back in mock surprise. “Lady Rose Timmons, if you think I can ever forget you, then I have expressed myself quite poorly.”
“You did propose.”
“Twice, in fact.”
“You were persistent.”
Thomas focused on the rich blue of her eyes, feeling overwhelmed with the flood of emotion that settled over him. His need to protect her, hold her, make love to her surged out in an encompassing hug that drew her back into his lap, his arms circling her, his face pressed against her neck. “And I always will be.”
The strength of her arms around him, the warmth of her body against his felt as perfect as anything he had ever experienced. He wanted to stay here for the rest of time.
Time, however, had its own motives. Rose stirred after a moment. “We should go back inside. My mother and Cecily will be returning soon. I do not want to make my father come up with any awkward explanations as to why we are not in the drawing room.”
Thomas sighed, then tilted his head to look at the back of her head. “I would be more concerned about the explanation for your hair.”
Rose straightened and slid from his lap, her hands going to her hair. She muttered something Thomas didn’t quite understand.
“Did you just curse?”
“There are no pins left in my hair at all.”
“Undoubtedly not. I think one of your combs landed under the bench. I do like your hair down. It’s lovely.”
“Cecily calls it a sea of dead wheat.”
