“But if what I am cannot be changed, nothing else matters.” Her heart beat hard in her chest. She wanted him to have a miracle that would change her birth, yet knew it was impossible.
“Please, I have happy news.” He righted her chair for her.
If he were to tell her he’d found someone else to marry in so short a time, she was sure she would faint, and she’d never fainted.
“Please, Sophie. I visited Lord Dowling again.”
She gasped as she pressed her free hand to her chest, now afraid for Tam. “Why?”
“Please, sit, and I will tell you all.”
She shouldn’t, but she had to know. Finally, she nodded and took the chair he offered.
Tam pulled another chair over and faced her, taking both herhands now—not that she could run away if he held just one, as he was so much stronger than she. He stared at her as if he hadn’t seen her in years, then he finally spoke. “I visited Lord Dowling to negotiate for your hand in marriage.”
“Negotiate? With Lord Dowling?” Dread filled her. Lord Dowling was known for being ruthless in negotiations.
“Yes, and as you can see, I’m not the worse for wear. No need to look at me as if I’m a ghost.”
“I apologize, but I don’t understand why you would do that.”
“I did it because I love you, and I want you to feel every inch the lady you are. I’m pleased to tell you that he and I came to an agreement.”
Unable to help herself, she squeezed his hands, needing to hear what he’d done. Fearing the worst, she couldn’t be patient this time. “Tell me.”
“He has agreed to our marriage, and the contract will be settled within a fortnight.”
She blinked. “He agreed? That does not sound like Lord Dowling. It has to be a trick of some kind.”
“No. Hewantsus to wed.”
“It’s not like Lord Dowling to change his mind. What did you say to him?”
“I told him the truth.”
From the way Tam straightened his back and his jaw lifted, she could guess what he’d said. “You didn’t.” Her voice came out in barely a whisper.
“I did. I see no reason why you and I must suffer for something your mother did two decades ago.”
“Twenty-four years ago.”
His brows rose. “You’re that old?”
She slipped her hands from his and crossed her arms over her chest. “Yes, I’m that old. Don’t change the subject. You told him youknew about my birth and then threatened to expose him.”
“I did. He was furious, but there was nothing he could do, especially when I told him that one other person knew and would release the information if I had any kind of accident.”
“Merciful heavens.” Her heart pounded in her chest that Lord Dowling might have threatened Tam in that way.
“I know you think me hard and cruel for using the truth of your birth to get my way, but it’s not for me. I did it for you. You deserve to be the lady you were raised to be, and you will be if you’re my wife. No one will ever have any reason to question your birth now. That is, if you still feel strongly about me.”
She couldn’t answer, her shock at what he’d done so they could be together still reverberating through her. His cunning, determination, steadfastness, and love went far beyond any character she’d read about in any book. He was courageous too, risking his very life for her. He truly was her hero.
“Sophie? Do you love me?”
She took one of his hands in two of hers, marveling at how large it was and yet so gentle, but still able to protect her. “Tam, I love you with all my heart.”
“You will marry me, then?”
