"Leave. Now."
They fled.
Eleanor turned to Aubrey, her hands shaking as she helped him settle against the pillows. His face was ashen, sweat beading on his forehead, his jaw clenched so tightly she feared he might crack his teeth.
"You fool," she whispered, her voice breaking. "You absolute fool. You shouldn't have. You might have injured yourself."
"Had to." Aubrey's voice was strained. "Couldn't let her… say those things…"
"Laudanum," Eleanor said, reaching for the bottle on his bedside table. "Let me give you—"
"No." Aubrey caught her wrist weakly. "No laudanum. Just… Stay. Please."
Eleanor's throat tightened. She set down the bottle and climbed onto the bed—not caring about propriety, not caring about anything except the man before her who had dragged himself out of bed, injured and in agony, to defend her.
She gathered him into her arms as gently as she could, cradling his head against her shoulder, one hand stroking his hair while the other held him close.
"I'm here," she whispered. "I'm here. I've got you."
Aubrey's arms came around her waist, holding her with surprising strength despite his pain. His face pressed against her neck, his breathing ragged and uneven.
They stayed like that for a long time. Eleanor holding Aubrey while he trembled with pain and exertion, his arms tight around her waist, his breath warm against her skin.
"I meant it," Aubrey said finally, his voice muffled against her shoulder. "Everything I said. I never loved her. I was a fool, Eleanor. A blind, selfish fool."
"I know." Eleanor's hand continued stroking his hair, the gesture soothing for both of them. "I believe you."
"But I love you."
Eleanor's hand stilled. Her breath caught.
"I love you," Aubrey repeated, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes. His face was still pale with pain, but his expression was fierce. Certain. "I love your strength and your kindness and your brilliance. I love the way you manage estates and care for orphans and refuse to let anyone diminish you. I love the woman you continue to be despite everything I did to break you. I love you, Eleanor. And I don't deserve you. But I love you."
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears. "Aubrey—"
"You don't have to say it back." His hand came up to cup her face gently. "You don't have to feel the same way. I just… I needed you to know. Needed you to hear it. That what I feel for you is real. That it's nothing like what I felt for Rose. That you're…" His voice cracked. "You're everything, Eleanor. Everything I never knew I wanted. Everything I was too foolish to see."
A tear spilled down Eleanor's cheek. Then another. And then she was crying in earnest, pressing her face against Aubrey's shoulder while he held her, both clinging to each other like drowning people finding shore.
"I can't," Eleanor whispered against his neck. "I'm so afraid."
"I know." Aubrey's hand stroked her back in soothing circles. "I know you are. And you have every right to be. I've given you nothing but reasons to fear trusting me."
"I forgave you." The words came out muffled. "Days ago. When I learned about Rose's lies. When I understood why you'd been so cruel. I forgave you, Aubrey. But forgiveness isn't the same as trust. And I need to know that this is real. That you won't leave. That this isn't just gratitude or lust or—"
"It's not." Aubrey pulled back to look at her, his blue eyes intense despite the pain etched in his face. "Eleanor, listen to me. I'm not leaving. Not after Christmas. Not ever. This is my home now. You are my home."
"You say that now."
"I'll say it every day for the rest of our lives if that's what it takes for you to believe me." His hand tightened on her back. "I dragged myself out of bed, barely able to stand, in agony, just to throw away a locket and tell Rose Beaumont I never loved her. Do you think I'd do that if this weren't real?"
Eleanor laughed despite her tears. "That was remarkably sweet."
"It was." Aubrey smiled, though his face was still white with pain. "And it was worth it to see her face, to defend you. To make it clear to everyone—to the servants, to you, to myself—that you are my wife. The only woman I want."
Eleanor pressed her forehead against his shoulder, closing her eyes.
They stayed like that, wrapped around each other, breathing together, both afraid and hopeful in equal measure.
