Page 160 of A Modest Independence

“I haven’t changed my mind,” she said. “Not about you. I’ve loved you for months.”

Heat flared in his gaze. “Have you?”

“Yes,” she said. “I believe I fell in love with you on the Valetta, somewhere between Marseilles and Malta.”

“When you were seasick.”

“When you came to my cabin and took such good care of me. I’d never before seen a gentleman fold a pair of stockings.” She leaned closer to him, her voice dropping to a whisper. “And I thought…he’s perfect. Handsome and intelligent and always capable of doing precisely what’s required.”

His mouth hitched briefly. “Folding your underthings?”

“And all the rest of it. Kissing me. Listening to me. Being my friend.” A rogue tear slipped down her cheek. “My best friend, who I’ve missed so very much.”

Tom raised a hand to gently wipe her face. “I’ve missed you as well.” His voice went gruff. “When I left Cairo, I was in a wretched state.”

“I know.” More tears spilled.

He brushed them away. “I love you, Jenny. I’ve loved you since you kissed my cheek on the pier at Dover. These last months without you have been hell. A day hasn’t gone by that I haven’t wanted to give everything up and go back to you. And I will. If that’s what it takes—”

“Don’t say such things.”

“I mean it. It was wrong of me to leave you there. I should have stayed with you. I should have—”

“You’d have been miserable in Cairo. You’re meant to be in London.”

“What about you?”

She slid her hands further up his waistcoat. “I’m meant to be with you.”

“Jenny—”

“I mean it, Tom.”

“Before…” He searched her face. “You were so certain that you didn’t want to make a life here.”

“Yes, well…I’ve had a great deal of time to consider our situation.”

“You’ve decided that independence isn’t as valuable a commodity as you’d originally thought?” His thumb moved gently over the damp curve of her cheek. “My dear girl, forgive my skepticism, but I can’t imagine you’ve changed your mind to that degree—not about something so important to you.”

“I haven’t. I still want my independence. But I don’t believe you’ll take it from me.”

“I won’t. Upon my honor.”

She swallowed back another surge of tears. “You were right about my being afraid. I was afraid to trust you. Not because of anything you’ve done, but because of my father and all the other people who’ve let me down. I didn’t even give us a chance. I sent you away—”

“You weren’t the only one who was afraid.”

“You?” She blinked. “What did you have to be afraid of?”

“The same things as you, I imagine. Being powerless. Having no control over what happens. Trusting someone you love not to hurt you.”

And she had hurt him. The knowledge of it squeezed at her conscience. “I’m so sorry, Tom.”

“Hush, love.” He smoothed her hair. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for. You’re here now. That’s all that matters to me. The rest we can work on.”

“Yes.” She took a tremulous breath. “I’m still a little scared to give a man so much power over my life. It would be foolish not to be. But you’re not just any man, are you? You’re the man I love.”

A spasm of emotion crossed over his face.