“I have to. Just this once. You saved my life, Ada. I’ll never be able to properly thank you.”
“I think you’ve saved mine a time or two, in more ways than you can imagine.”
“I could say the same.”
He released her just enough so that he could look her in the face. “I love you, Ada. I’ve wanted to tell you for so long now, but I couldn’t, not until I knew we were safe, and far away from this.”
“You didn’t have to wait.”
“I did. If I had told you and then something had happened to me?—”
“It wouldn’t have mattered what you had told me, for Ilove you, Jonny, and have loved you for long enough that it would have felt like an entire piece of my body was stolen from me. I don’t know how I could have continued without you.”
“You’re a strong woman. You would have found your way forward.”
“But am I ever glad that I don’t have to,” she said, cupping his scruffy cheeks in her hands as she leaned in and kissed him, hard, pouring into him all the love she felt, all of the desperation that this could have ended unthinkably.
“Will you stay with me? Forever?” he asked, looking deeply into her eyes.
“Of course,” she said. “I would never want to be anywhere else.”
He leaned down, closing his eyes and placing his forehead against hers. She held their hands together until, finally, she realized that while it felt like they were in their own little world, the docks were bustling with people around them, with shouts, with anger, with the underworld of Manchester being exposed.
Finch had brought seven men with him. Some of them were busy tying suspects, others were beginning to carry loads of cargo, papers, ledgers, and other aspects of Sharpe’s business with them.
“Will Tate, is it?” Finch said to Will, who was standing and rubbing his wrists where the ropes had bound him. “Inspector Finch.”
“Jonny’s told me about you,” Will said, reaching out to shake his hand.
“If you think you can help us get through all of this,” Finch said, waving a hand at all the evidence, “I’ll see what I can do about making sure your name is kept clear of it all. Oh, and Tate?”
“Yes?”
“Lady Harcourt’s necklace better be returned, understood?”
Will gave him a short nod, and Finch turned away, leaving Jonny to take his brother’s hand with one of his, while he slapped him on the back in a half-embrace with the other.
“I’m sorry, Will,” he said as Ada stood back, her heart nearly breaking at the pain in Jonny’s voice.
“Nothing to be sorry about,” Will said, slapping his back in response. “We’ve gotten through this, and we move on now, yeah?”
Jonny nodded as he stepped back and Will came forward, surprising Ada by leaning in and kissing her on the cheek.
“Thank you for everything. For saving us. For taking care of my brother.” Lowering his voice, in her ear he said, “He needs someone to see the good in him when he can’t see it himself.”
Ada nodded in understanding as Rhys, Colin, and Tommy joined them.
Rhys crossed his arms over his beefy chest. “You’re choosing the right side, now?” he said to Will with one brow crooked, and Jonny practically pushed him away.
“Enough, Rhys. You have nothing to worry about. We should all get out of here before Finch decides he wants our help moving all these boxes. Sure you’re fine, Will?”
“Never better,” Will said.
“You should go home and tell Mother you’re free of all this. She’ll be so relieved.”
“I’ll check in on her tomorrow. You should, too.”
“We will,” Ada said with a warm smile, recognizing the invitation as Will wanting to see the family together again. She would see to it that it happened, especially as it seemed she had lost her own. Not that it was much of a loss.
