“Why didn’t you say anything?” Seth choked, voice raw. Cooper handed him the glass back and sat on the sofa.
“I promised Cassandra I wouldn’t interfere.” Cooper jabbed a finger at him. “So I didn’t. Not in the library, not in thefield. I understood that, I truly did, because if it had been Lady—” He sighed. “I would have done the same had it been a womanIloved.” Cooper’s voice hardened into a hiss, “But what you did behind the bakery—really? Thebakery?—I should have dragged you to the altar at gunpoint. I would have pummeled you then had three men not beat me to it. Youliedto my face when I asked you point blank, and I catch you in her room theverynext morning?”
“I’m sorry—”
“I’m not finished,” Cooper snapped. “I thought you would back off after being disqualified, let the dust settleat least. But no, you hunkered down further. Figured you signed a contract with Lord Bolderwood and your marriage to my sister was a done deal? She had been paid for, so why wait?”
Seth flinched.
“And then you go and get yourselfshot.” Cooper groaned. “Do you know how difficult it is to hold a grudge against you now? I’m managing, of course. But it has been difficult. You’re still marrying Cassandra, as soon as you can stand.”
“Bring in the priest, I’ll do it now.”
“Cassandra isasleep. Didn’t you hear me? Or did you hit your head too hard?” Cooper sighed, long and drawn out. “Don’t tell me I have to make that speech again, I practiced it in the mirror twice.”
Seth might not remember the man who shot him, but he remembered the fear of seeing a pistol pointed at Cassandra’s back. After they married, he ought to send her away, back to Lincolnshire, where he knew she would be safe, but he couldn’t bear the thought of living without her.
“I love her, Cooper.”
Cooper sighed.
“I know.”
His expression turned pensive.
“You signed that contract for Cassandra, didn’t you? You gave up your freedom to Lord Bolderwood so that you would have the means to marry my sister. Must have been difficult.”
In truth, it had been the easiest decision of his life.
“I would sign a lifetime contract for her.”
“You’re about to.” Cooper grinned. “I hope my sister is worth it, because there isn’t going to be much left of you when Aunt Valentine is through. Treaties between warring countries are smaller than the marriage contract she’s drafting up.”
“Give Cassandra everything.” None of it meant anything without her.
Cooper laughed. “That’s the gist of it, yes.”
The sight of Cooper laughing wasn’t one he had expected to see again. Seth took a sip of water and cleared his throat. Settling on simplicity, he said, “I’d like your blessing.”
“I’m sure you would.” Cooper’s eyes were firm on his. “You’ll have plenty of time to earn it in the next ten years. You being shot doesn’t excuse what you did before that.” Cooper took the glass back from him and placed it on the bedside table. With a smirk, he said, “But it’s a solid first step.”
Seth opened his eyes again to the same ceiling and the same flickering lantern light, accompanied by the melodic lulling of an angel’s voice. On the sofa next to the bed sat Cassandra, illuminated by candlelight. Cross-legged, dressed in a flannel nightgown, her warm brown eyes skimmed over a book in her lap, and as he watched her mouth move, he thanked God she was alive. How lucky he was to get another chance to spend his life with her. At the tip of his tongue was how much he loved this woman, how beautiful she looked when she was reading,how he wanted to grow old with her.
“Cass—” He coughed. Jagged and coarse, her name stuck in his throat.
Cassandra startled out of her seat, her book tumbling to the floor. In half a second, she reached for the glass on the bedside table. The glass shook in her hands as she propped his head up and held it to his lips. Water flowed down his neck.
Thirst quenched and chest wet, he smiled. “Don't make me wear it, sweetheart.”
She sat on the bed next to him and began trembling, holding back sobs.
He reached for her, wincing at the tug on his side.
“No, love, no. Come here, lie with me,” he whispered. “Let me hold you.”
She shook her head. “You’re hurt. I’ll pull your sutures.”
“I’ve seen your needlework, you can fix me.” Seeing the heavy set bags under her eyes, he patted the space next to him. “There is room in this bed for two.”
