Page 114

“It is said I make those every so often.”

“It must be exceedingly rare.”

He snorted. “You wound me.”

She gifted him a small smile, and his heart danced wildly behind his breastbone.

“I’m not sure what to do now.” She shifted back so they could speak more easily. “The only thing I could focus on was getting here and…and seeing if you were still alive. I didn’t know what I was going to do if you weren’t—” Her words broke off, and she squeezed her eyes shut. She let out a slow, drawn-out breath before opening them again. “And I don’t know what I’m going to do now.”

“Stay.” He trailed the backs of his knuckles down her cheek. “I’ll have a guest room prepared for you.”

“You say that like it’s simple. Like I didn’t just storm your London townhouse, pistol and knife in hand, overtaking your servants and scaring your guests half to death.” She covered her face with her hands and groaned. “Oh my God, what have I done?”

“It would appear you are so madly in love with me, you’ve lost complete sense.”

She spread her fingers a little, glaring at him. “I’m not happy about it.”

He was. He was over the bloody moon about it.

“I wish I could disappear. Perhaps I could sneak out before anyone notices⁠—”

He yanked her to his side with a growl. “Absolutely not.” He finally had her with him again; hell if he was going to give that up any time soon. He just needed to find a way to convince her to stay. He’d do anything. Including not marrying her.

“I don’t actually want to leave,” she said quietly. “I’m embarrassed and might be falling into a bit of a panic.”

He’d imagine so. She’d just done something extremely un-Theodora like. The most sensible woman he knew had just thrown sense out the window. To see him. Because she loved him.

His lips tilted up, and he sank back into his couch. It was marvelous.

“Are you… Are you gloating?”

“I am feeling a mite smug.”

Her face went flat, completely devoid of expression. “I am so glad my misfortune makes you so happy, Your Grace.”

He gripped her chin and steered her toward him for a chaste kiss. “I love you.”

She sighed dramatically. “This truly is horrible.”

He dropped his forehead to hers, a smile tugging at his lips. “The absolute worst.”

“I love you, too,” she grumbled.

Happiness flooded him. Where they went from here might be unknown, but…he wasn’t so certain that was a bad thing. As long as she loved him, he had to believe they could figure out the rest.

46

Theo

Theo paced her bedchamber. She’d had a bath, a glorious bath in an extremely large tub. She’d also had a delicious meal and was now dressed in a fresh pair of trousers and a lawn shirt that were made of the softest fabric she’d ever felt.

He’d procured her gentleman’s attire.

Her heart swooned. He’d even written a note demanding she dress in it. He’d have no one give her trouble for dressing like a man.

She’d received very curious looks from the servants. But she supposed…she shouldn’t really care, should she? Their opinion of her didn’t matter. Soon she’d be back at Ironcrest Castle. Back where everything was familiar, where it was home.

Where there wasn’t Rafe.