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He stood in the entrance to her sitting room, his coffee-brown eyes smiling just for her.
“Samuel.”
She rushed at him, and he folded his arms about her. Still she made sure to get a good grip on his coat.
“I thought you’d left. I thought I was too late.”
“Hush,” he said, and kissed her, soft brushes of his lips over her mouth and cheeks and eyelids. “Hush. I’m here.” He drew her into the sitting room.
“I thought I’d lost you,” she whispered.
He kissed her with determination, as if to prove his existence real. His lips gently parted hers, and he tilted her head back. She grasped his shoulders, reveling in this freedom to kiss him.
“I love you,” she gasped.
“I know.” His lips wandered over her brow. “I was going to stay here in your sitting room until you admitted it.”
“Were you?” she asked distractedly.
“Mmm.”
“How very intelligent of you.”
“Not so intelligent.” He pulled back his head, and she saw that his eyes had grown dark and serious. “It was a matter of survival. I’m cold without you, Emeline. You’re the light that keeps me warm on the inside. If I left you, I think I’d freeze into a solid block of ice.”
She pulled his head back to hers. “Then you’d better not leave me.”
But he resisted her urging. “Will you marry me?”
Her breath caught in her throat, and she had to swallow before she replied huskily, “Oh, yes, please.”
His eyes were still grave. “Will you come with me to America? I can live here in England, but it would be easier for my business if we lived in America.”
“And Daniel?”
“I’d like him to come, too.”
She nodded and closed her eyes because it was almost too much. “I’m sorry. I never cry.”
“Of course not.”
She smiled at that. “It’s not the usual thing, to keep a boy by his mother’s side, but I’d very much like to have him with me.”
He touched the corner of her mouth with his thumb. “Good. Then Daniel comes with us. Your aunt is welcome to come as well—”
“I will remain here,” Tante Cristelle said from behind them.
Emeline swung around.
The older woman was standing just inside the doorway. “You will need someone to handle the estates, the money, these things, yes?”
o;I know it’s a strange request, and I’m half out of my mind with weariness right now, but I worry about Jasper.” Emeline smiled at her best friend. “Will you look after him?”
By this time, Melisande had recovered. “Of course, dear.”
“Oh, good.” Emeline nodded and started back up the stairs, a weight off her mind.
Behind her, she heard Melisande call a farewell, and she must’ve murmured something in response, but she could only think of one thing.
