“Is my mother.”Thea's voice was flat.“I've had years of practice ignoring her.”She paused, and her face was flushed.“Wesley, there's something I need to—”
The door opened.Lady Hasting swept back in with the butler in tow, already issuing instructions about announcements and wedding preparations.
Thea's mouth closed.Whatever she'd been about to say disappeared behind that careful smile.
Wesley watched her, waiting for her to try to speak again, but she didn't.She sat with her hand in his while her mother paid them no attention.
When he finally took his leave, he kissed her hand and murmured that he would see her soon.
“Wesley.”She caught his arm before he could step away.For a moment, he thought she might make one last attempt.“Tonight.Come to me tonight.Please.”
It wasn't what she'd been about to say before.He was certain of it.
“Of course,” he said.“Nothing could keep me away.”
It was the truth.
The Fox was crowded, and Wesley was almost finished with his glass of whiskey when he noticed Kit's usual table still sat empty.
“Where's Kit tonight?”he asked.
Louis shrugged.“Haven't seen the lad in days.”
Strange.But Wesley had more important things to think about—like the woman waiting for him across London.
Louis made a toast to the future Duchess of Greystone.Max offered dry commentary about wedding nights.Wesley laughed in the right places and won back some of the money he'd lost.By the time he climbed into his carriage, all he wanted was Thea.
The trellis behind the Hasting residence was sturdy, thick with climbing roses that tore at his coat as he climbed.The thorns bit into his palms and snagged his cravat, but he didn’t care.The love of his life was waiting for him on the other side of that window.
Her room was dark other than the glow from the fireplace.The window was unlatched.He eased it open and slipped inside.
Thea was sitting on the edge of her bed in her night rail and dressing robe, her hands clasped in her lap.She looked up when he climbed through and appeared almost nervous by his arrival.
“You came.”
“You asked me to.”He crossed the room to stand before her.“I told you nothing could keep me away.”
She rose to meet him, her hands coming up to his chest.The thin fabric of her night rail did nothing to hide the shape of her beneath it, and his body responded despite the worry in her eyes.
“Wesley.”She took a breath.“Before we—I need to tell you something.I should have told you before, but I didn't know how, and then everything happened so fast, and I—”
“Thea.”He covered her hands with his own.“Whatever it is, it can wait if you're not ready.”
“But that's just it.I don't think it can wait.”Her voice wavered.“You deserve to know who you're marrying.The real me.Not just—”
She stopped, her gaze dropping to where their hands were joined.
“I know who you are,” he said.“You're the woman I've wanted for years.The woman I love.”
“You don't know everything.”Her eyes met his again, and he saw fear there.“Wesley, I—”
She shook her head, and he watched her swallow whatever she'd been about to say.
“I'm trying,” she whispered.“I want to tell you.But every time I start, the words won't come.”
“Then don't force it.”He cupped her face in his hands.“Tell me tomorrow.Tell me next week.Tell me whenever you're ready.I'm not going anywhere.”
“You say that now.”Her voice was so quiet he almost didn't hear it.“But what if—”
