“I… I cannot.” She shook her head. “I love you, Thomas. But I do not know whether I can trust you. Words are only words.”
“And what if I showed you?” Thomas took a step toward her, his eyes dancing.
“And how do you plan on—” Her words were cut off as Thomas closed the distance between them and kissed her.
His kiss felt like fire. As if he were claiming her as his own. The last shred of her resistance crumbled, and she threw her arms around his neck, kissing him back with just as much ferocity.
She could not tell if it was tears or rain that drenched her cheeks, but she did not care. When they broke apart, they were both breathless.
Thomas stroked her cheek with the thumb of his hand. “I choose you, Vivian. You are the only woman for me. I love you.”
“I love you too, Thomas.”
“Does that mean you will take me back?”
“It does. I want to be angry with you, but we have wasted so much time already.” She touched his cheek with her hand. “I do not know what time we have left, but I would rather have a day with you than a lifetime without you.”
“Then let’s go home.” He grinned.
“When the storm passes, yes.” She walked with him to the stables, handing the reins to a very confused groom.
As soon as Thomas did, he swept her into his arms. “I think it is high time we made this a true marriage.”
“I quite agree.” And laughing, she let her husband carry her into their next adventure.
Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER
“I do not like the look of that cloud.” Thomas squinted up at the sky.
Vivian followed his gaze. The sky was blue with the barest hint of gray cloud on the horizon. It was the kind of crisp winter morning that made the world feel as though it were just waking up.
They were walking toward the waiting carriage, and Thomas had his arm linked through hers. She could feel the tension in his muscles, ready to spring in front of her at any moment to protect her from danger. His head was constantly turning, scanning the horizon.
She smiled, feeling a mixture of exasperation and amusement warring within her. It had taken nearly a week to convince him to let her make the journey to visit the school, and she suspected he would still have refused if not for his grandmother’s intervention.
Vivian squeezed his arm. “I am sure we will be perfectly fine. Besides, a little rain never hurt anyone.”
Thomas was still surveying the horizon, chewing his lip. “But a lot of rain could.”
“Then it is lucky that the journey is a little more than ten minutes and that there is a lovely inn in town that we can pass the time together in until the weather improves.” Vivian brushed against Thomas. “Though I doubt that will be necessary.”
“Perhaps we should go another day, just to be sure?” Thomas slowed, and Vivian felt him begin to turn toward the house.
Repressing a sigh, she shook her head and gently tugged him forward. “The carriage is already prepared, and I need to make sure that everything is progressing as planned. The school is due to open in a month, and everything must be in order. These girls are depending on this. And I have already delayed my visit once at your behest.”
“Which you agreed at the time was sensible. After all, there was nothing to do until the wallpaper and the paint were dry.” Thomas glanced back toward the cloud and frowned. “I swear it is getting bigger.”
Vivian just managed not to roll her eyes as she looked at the sky and the barely existent cloud. “It is not. If anything, it is getting smaller.”
“Hmmm.” Thomas took a step forward and then stopped, standing in her path as his entire face lit up. “I know, how about I go to the school and check on everything for you? You can return to the house, settle on the sofa, and read a nice book. Relax, perhaps have some cake. Cook did make a rather lovely?—”
“I am the patroness of this school, and I intend to visit it. Besides, there are things that only I will be able to discuss.” Vivian straightened.
“Such as?” Thomas folded his arms across his chest and arched an eyebrow at her.
“Asking whether their laundry has ensured adequate facilities to support women through their courses.” To her satisfaction, she saw spots of color appear on his cheeks. “Such things are not the kind of thing a lady discusses with a gentleman, and yet they are essential for a school for girls.”
