“There’s no money,” she forced herself to admit, anger still mixing with hurt. “No inheritance. There never was.”
“I never cared,” he said softly, his brown eyes full of nothing but love. “All I ever wanted is you.”
She slipped her hand into his.
He pressed a kiss to her hair. “And maybe shoes. Yes, the more I think about it, I’ve always yearned for a wife with shoes.”
“That’s a very specific wish.” She handed him his journal. “Quite superficial of you. Not unconditional love at all. Wednesday doesn’t wear shoes. Koffi doesn’t wear shoes.”
“If you sprout fur or feathers, you can stop wearing shoes, too,” he promised her. “Or we can never leave the bedchamber. I have never heard of a finer reason to neglect practical footwear.”
“Excellent point,” she agreed, and snuggled into his warm side. “I accept your offer.”
But the bedchamber would have to wait. When they pulled onto Grosvenor Square, Priscilla’s father was standing on the front step with an umbrella in one hand and a pocket watch in the other.
She tensed, expecting the sight of his obvious hurry to leave to break her heart anew, as it always had done.
This time, it did not.
He was not a god, an angel of adventure, a wise man on a mountaintop that must be scaled in order to deserve peace.
He was just a man. A flawed one, a selfish one. This time when he left, she would not miss him.
Thaddeus leapt to the ground, then held up his arms for her.
She went into them eagerly.
“I also dreamed of joining my wife in a hot bath,” he whispered into her ear as she slid down beside him.
Her cheeks flushed with heat. Marriage would be full of adventures, indeed.
“I got your carriage muddy,” she told her father when he didn’t speak.
“Priscilla…” he said at last.
He was looking at her with a mix of amusement and admiration. And perhaps a little regret.
“Here.” Papa returned his timepiece to his pocket and shoved a few pound notes in her direction. “Take this. It’s not ten thousand, but it’s what I have handy. I’ll set you up with a proper account the next time I’m in London.”
Sure he would. Priscilla would not hold her breath.
Thaddeus cleared his throat. “Sir, I—”
But Papa was already swinging himself into the cabriolet, reaching for his reins, spurring his horse.
“Do a better job than I did,” he said as the wheels took him away. “Never let her forget that you love her.”
Thaddeus turned to Priscilla in disappointment. “I wasn’t able to finish the question.”
“He’ll be back in twelve years,” she assured him wryly. “Or perhaps not.”
Thaddeus took her hands in his and lifted them to his lips. “How are you taking this?”
“Actually…” She glanced at the wrinkled bills in her hands, then gave him a lopsided smile. “Not bad, I think. We have money! Ten whole pounds. How miffed would you be if I spent it on shoes?”
“Exceedingly unmiffed,” he assured her. “You may be interested to learn that I have money, too.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You found a shilling on the pavements?”
