Sophia ran her hand across his hair, down the side of his face, her fingers playing with his beard. “I knew you would come for me,” she said.
Her faith in him was humbling.
“I didn’t know if I could save you,” he admitted, “but I couldn’t let you go.”
She laid her head on his shoulder and took a deep breath. “I can’t believe it’s true.”
Silence filled the room as he took a moment to let it really sink in.
Sophia, his Sophia, was nobility.
She was, most likely, wealthy.
His goat girl had turned out to be exactly what he’d been looking for all those years—and he loved her.
He’d loved her before he knew, and he would have given up the life that he’d planned for himself, but now he didn’t have to.
“I’m scared,” she whispered.
“It’s natural to be scared,” he said softly. “But I’ll be right by your side, as long as you’ll have me.”
“Always,” she said. “I’ll have you for the rest of my life.”
The door to the sitting room opened and two maids bustled in, accompanied by Rawlings. One maid immediately began to start a fire, while another carried a tray with tea, two cups, and a selection of dainty sandwiches.
“Oh, my goodness, that was fast,” Sophia said, sliding off Caspian’s lap to sit next to him.
“I told you we wouldn’t be a burden,” Caspian said quietly as Rawlings pulled a table over to them and the maid set the tray down on top of it.
“I hope you weren’t cold,” Rawlings said. “I should have started the fire myself.”
“No need,” Caspian said. “I could have done it if we were cold. Thank you, Rawlings.”
“Your bath will be ready soon, Lady Sophia,” Rawlings said.
Sophia thanked him before standing to pour them both a hot cup of tea. “I am so excited for a bath,” she said as she sat back down and reached for a sandwich. “Do you think they’ll have clean clothes for me?” she asked.
“I’ll make sure they know to get you something from Mother’s things,” Caspian said, making eye contact with the maid who had finished lighting the fire. She smiled, nodded, and hurried from the room.
Sophia leaned back into the sofa, both hands wrapped around her tea, and sighed. “I can’t believe we’re safe.”
“I can’t believe you’re Lady Sophia,” Caspian said.
She looked over at him. “I know. It feels like a dream.”
“Does it have a happy ending?” Caspian asked, scooting over to snuggle up to her.
“Yes,” she said shyly, smiling up at him. “I think it does.”
“I think so, too,” he said, leaning down to give her a kiss.
There was a knock at the door and Rawlings poked his head in. “Your bath is ready whenever you are, Lady Sophia. I’ve put her in the blue room,” he added, turning to Caspian. “I thought you might want her close to you.”
“Thank you, Rawlings,” Caspian said. Of course Rawlings would pick up on that. “Do you want to finish your tea?” he asked Sophia.
She shook her head, already setting it down. “No, I want to get out of this dress,” she said. “I’ll be back soon.”
She followed Rawlings out and Caspian finished the sandwich in his hand before following them up the stairs to the bedrooms. He wasn’t as dirty as Sophia, but he wouldn’t mind a change of clothes, either.
