She hugged him back but moved from his arms. “There is no other way. If there had been, we’d have thought of it.”
“Then let’s give the Marchvilles enough money to get them settled,” he proposed equitably. “A quick pass the hat and a few quid to get them back on their feet.”
“And you’d live the rest of your life knowing that a terrible wrong was never righted?” She looked at him. “You’re not the kind of person who will settle for that, Finn. Nor am I.”
She turned away under the pretext of fixing her hair.
Finn sighed but finished his own toilette, coming to stand behind her as he attempted to fasten his buttons.
She sighed as well. “Here. Let me.” Turning, she set him to rights.
“I love you.” He stared at her, his eyes full of emotion.
“I love you too,” she answered, knowing her feelings were in her eyes as well. “And I won’t risk too much, tonight, I promise.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” he vowed. “I can’t help thinking you’re risking yourself for me. And that I’m not worth that kind of risk.”
She gripped his hands, hard. “Don’t say that, Finn. You are my world. If I cannot take a risk for my world, what kind of person does that make me? What sort of woman would I be to profess that I love you and yet hold back doing the right thing for you—for us—just because something carries some risks?”
She squeezed his fingers. “This wrong will haunt you to the end of your days if we don’t put a stop to it here and now. It would haunt me as well. My involvement simply makes it a little easier. I hope.”
He nodded, then let her go. “My mother, God rest her soul, must be looking down from Heaven with a great big smile on her face right now.”
“Why?”
“Because she used to scold me for my lack of concern about religion. But at this moment, I’m praying to every saint I can think of that they’ll bless our endeavour tonight.”
“They will, I’m sure,” laughed Hecate. “Your mama wouldn’t let them do otherwise, I’m thinking.”
“And you’d be right,” he smiled back, picking up her cloak for her. “Are we ready then, Ma’am?” He held out his arm.
“We’re ready, Sir.”
“Then let’s be off.”
