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“Richard.” She was shaking her head and stepping away from him again. She didn’t believe him.
“Have I truly been such a boor that you still doubt me?”
“It has nothing to do with our past.” She hesitated. “But you were reluctant to wed me because of my common birth. And now it is clear to all the world that I am the daughter of a common whore!”
“You are my wife,” Richard growled. “My viscountess. I don’t want to hear that language toward you. Not even from yourself. And if others can’t deal with it, it’s on them.”
“Richard.” She finally stepped toward him. “It’s not too late. We can still get an annulment.”
“It is too late!” he cried. “For all I know, you could be with child now!”
“I am not. You know that.”
Richard licked his lips as he stepped even closer and took her by the arms. Why was he even arguing about the useless notion? His mind was too jumbled. He cleared his mind. “Listen to me, my dear wife. Youaremy wife. You always will be. You can try to come up with millions of reasons to annul our marriage or to get a divorce, but I am never going to let you go. Do you understand? Never. I love you. I swore before God to love you, honor you, and keep you in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others. Well, isn’t this”—he waved a hand toward the paper—“part of the vows?”
Jo turned her liquid eyes to his. “I don’t want to bring you suffering.”
“You can’t. All you bring me is joy and peace.”
She let out a chuckle, although tears sprang from her eyes. “Is this what peace is like?”
He took her hand and placed it against his chest. “Do you hear it?” he asked. “My heart is strong and steady. With you, I am at peace. No matter what else is happening around us. The only time my heart races around you is when you drive me wild with want.” He wiped the tears away from her cheeks. “Do not worry, my dear. You have a family now. And I shall never let you down.”
Jo nodded and hugged herself close to him, her tears soaking his waistcoat. “But do we have to go to the ball?”
He caressed her hair, then kissed her on the top of her head. “Yes. I want to show off my bride to all the world. And I want to let everyone know that I am not ashamed.”
“They are going to hate me,” she whispered.
Richard shook his head, his chin rubbing against the crown of her head. “They won’t. And those who will… They can go to the devil.” Richard’s voice hardened. “But at least they’ll know that I am not about to hide my beautiful bride away. And I am not going to disappear from society. Neither are you.”
