“What can I do to convince you?”
“It’s not a matter of convincing. But, before I return, thereissomething I need to know.”
He braced for her question. “Ask me anything you wish. I will answer honestly.”
She kept her gaze, not on him, but on Mercy. “After you realized I would be upset, why didn’t you tell me that Vivianne had been Sarah’s governess?”
“Because”—he lifted her face so that he could look fully into her eyes—“you were growing more important to me by the day…by the hour, even. I didn’t want you to leave me.” Ruefully, he twisted his lips. “As happens more frequently than not, my own actions caused my deepest fear to come true.”
“I didn’t leave you for good. I—I was just worn out.”
“I know,” he said cupping her cheek. “Terms or no, marriage is more complex than either of us expected.”
“I’llsay,” she enthusiastically agreed.
“But when you proposed, you placed the most significant wager of your life.” He brought his lips against her brow. “You were the first—the only person—to vest full faith in me. Tell me,pleasetell me I haven’t fully squandered that faith.”
“Oh, Harbury. Of course you haven’t. And, by coming to get me, you’ve only increased it. I’ve beenwretchedwithout you. Why didn’t you write?”
He drew back. The pain in her eyes broke his heart all over again.
Could she have actually been doubting his love when, at the same time, he’d been fearing, despite her promise, she would never return to him?
“You could have saved mesomuch fretting,” she scolded.
Tenderly, he tucked a stray curl back behind her ear. “The night you left, you said you needed to see your sisters. You said you didn’t know what you wanted anymore. I never imagined youwantedto hearfrom me.”
She shook her head, once again freeing the curl. “Oh, you senseless, thickheaded man.”
He didn’t mind the insults…not when she was smiling up at him with her unspoken love shining out from her eyes.
God, the sight was beautiful.
A sight he’d thought he might never see again.
“Cassie…” He paused until the thick feeling in his throat passed. “I love you.”
She closed her eyes and pursed her lips. She looked as if she were also holding back tears.
“I love you, too,” she whispered.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in close.
They remained that way, his mouth against her hair, her face turned into his neck until Mercy let it be known that he didn’t find the position tolerable at all.
She sat up and adjusted her cap. “How are things on the estate?”
“I promised you I would set things to rights, and I have. I’ve taken your suggestion and hired Townsend’s son as steward. He and his young family are to take up residence after the Harvest festival. I hope you don’t mind that I didn’t wait for you to return to engage him.”
“Not at all,” she replied. “I’m glad.”
“Anderson really did believe I was an imposter, you know.”
“Poor man.”
“He’s been better, so I’ve been told. Or, perhaps, the right word is calmer. I don’t think his condition will reverse. But at least he will be with Lady Pennington, where he will have care and plenty of rest.”
She frowned.
