“As if there was always something in the way,” Isolde finished for him. “As if something was doing its best to keep us apart.”
“Or someone,” he replied, and his grim tone of voice made her wonder what exactly had gone on between him and Cassian since they’d last spoken.
Cornelia had heard from Tatiana, who had come to call on her earlier in the week to offer her condolences, that Lord Cassian and Lady Bradshaw had left Hartington quite quickly, and Thaddeus hadn’t said a word about it.
“Yes,” she agreed. “It was as though every time I came to see you Lady Bradshaw was there. And Lord Cassian told me how you had known her in childhood, how you cared for her then ...”
Thaddeus stared at her, mouth open.
“I did not,” he said emphatically. “She is a casual acquaintance – or rather, she was but is no longer. I shall not see her again. There was never anything between us, not then and not now. Though it was certainly to her advantage that you think so, and I’m afraid she has abused both of us with her schemes and deceit. And Lord Cassian helped her, through some family loyalty, I suppose, or perhaps because he thought to have a claim on my wealth through her.”
Thaddeus reached down and took her hands in his.
“I am sorry that I did not uncover their scheme earlier,” he said, voice soft again.
“I wanted desperately to see you,” Isolde said, unable to keep her feelings to herself a moment longer.
Thaddeus blinked at her, surprise etched on his face, and she worried that she had misread his feelings, but she found she had to keep going. If she were to be rejected, she at least wanted him to know how she felt.
“I care so much for you, Thaddeus. I wanted to be there with you while you were recovering, to comfort you. I want to be with you now. And I understand why you took the bet. You wanted to save me from a terrible fate. I thank you for that, and if you do not care for me the way I care for you, I shall accept that. If you wish to break our engagement, you may. I only ask that you leave me some way to repay you, for everything you’ve done. For saving me from marrying Crowley. For offering me my freedom. For coming here today.”
She stopped, heart pounding so hard she thought she might swoon.
Thaddeus was quiet for a long moment before he suddenly took her hand and dropped to one knee.
“I adore you, Miss Fairchild. And if you care for me in turn, then I am the luckiest man in the world. And the only repayment I shall accept is your hand in marriage.”
Stunned, Isolde stared down at him.
“Do you mean it?” she whispered. He nodded, the hand holding hers clasping it tightly.
“Will you?”
Isolde gasped, realizing she’d been holding her breath, and smiled at him.
“Yes. Yes, with all my heart.”
In one swift motion, Thaddeus stood, pulled her into his arms, and captured her mouth for a kiss. His lips against hers made her feel dizzy, and she melted into his embrace. She felt so safe, warm, and happy.
She didn’t think she had ever felt so happy. She suddenly remembered her daydream of welcoming Thaddeus home with a kiss and realized it may well come true. Delight bubbled up in her chest, and she couldn’t help giggling even as he kissed her.
Thaddeus gently broke the kiss and peered down at her.
“Sorry,” she said, and grinned because she didn’t feel sorry at all.
“If my kisses are amusing to you, then I suppose I shall have to try harder,” he said, and there was a gleam in his eyes that made her knees go weak.
“Isolde? Lord Hartington?” Thomas’s voice broke the hazy bubble the kiss had wrapped them in, and they jumped away from each other just as Thomas came around the corner of the church.
“I just came to see that nothing was amiss,” he said, looking between them with curious eyes. “Annora and Cornelia are settled in the carriage and only awaiting you to return home, Isolde.”
Isolde smiled at her brother.
“Nothing is amiss, Thomas. In fact –”
She felt Thaddeus’s hand at her elbow and stopped, giving him a questioning look.
“Perhaps we ought not say anything,” he murmured. “You are in mourning, after all.”
