“Of course I did,” he rasped. “You are my wife. And more than that, you are… you are everything. The way you stood up to them, the way you spoke your truth even though it terrified you—I have never been more proud of anyone in my life.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I was so angry with you.”
“You had every right to be.”
“I still am, a little.”
“I know.”
“But I also…” She took a shaky breath. “I also love you. And I miss you. And I don’t want to be angry anymore. I am so tired of being angry.”
James closed the distance between them and cupped her face in his hands. “I cannot promise you that I will be perfect, Frances. I cannot promise that I won’t make mistakes or that I won’t sometimes let my fears get the better of me. But I can promise you that I will try. Every day, I will try to be the man you deserve. The husband you deserve.”
“I don’t need you to be perfect,” she said, placing her hands over his. “I don’t need you to be a different man. I just need you to give us a chance. A real chance. Not a marriage of convenience, but a real marriage.”
“I want that,” he said. “More than anything. I don’t want an annulment. I want to be married to you. Truly married to you. I love you, Frances. I love you so much it terrifies me, but I am done running from it.”
“I love you too,” she whispered.
He kissed her then, and it was different from the kiss in the park. That had been desperate and afraid. This was certain. This was a promise.
When they finally pulled apart, she was breathless and smiling.
“So,” he murmured, “does this mean you forgive me?”
“It means I am willing to try again,” she said. “But James, if you push me away again?—”
“I won’t,” he vowed. “I swear to you on everything I hold dear, I won’t.”
She looked at the pianoforte behind him. “It really is a beautiful instrument.”
“Shall I have it sent to Somerset?” he asked, and she noticed how he saidour home, notmy home.
“Yes,” she said. “And perhaps you could come with it? We have much to discuss.”
“I would like nothing more.”
He reached for her hand, and she gave it.
They had a long way to go. There would be difficult conversations ahead, wounds that needed to heal, trust that needed to be rebuilt. But they would do it together.
And that, Frances thought, was all that mattered.
