He crushed her against his chest, his hold on her so tight that he squeezed a cough from her before he relaxed, apparently realizing his own strength. “Thank God, my love. I don’t deserve your forgiveness. Not after the way I’ve treated you. But I’m a selfish man, and I’ll take it, nonetheless. Please tell me that you’re not still going to leave me and return to Riverdale Abbey.”
“I’m not going to leave you,” she confirmed. “The only reason I intended to return to the country was because I loved you so desperately, and I couldn’t bear to remain here, knowing you would never return my love. I had thought I was strong enough to do so, but then you were so angry when I broached the subject of Henry…”
“I was an arse. I am sorry. Sorrier than words can convey.” He shook his head. “To think that I could have lost you today. I could have lost you, and I had wasted these few, precious months we’ve had together…”
She pressed a finger to his lips, staying his words. “Hush. Don’t say it. Don’t even think it. We have the rest of our lives now.”
He kissed her fingertip, staring down at her with so much naked affection that she almost had to look away. It was akin to staring into the sun. So much, so strong, so overwhelming.
“We do,” he said, caressing a path across her cheekbone with his thumb pad as if she were a creature of wonder.
And in his eyes, Sybil felt like she could be.
They had survived. The past was where it belonged, the future awaiting them.
“I love you, Everett,” she whispered, overwhelmed by her emotion.
“I love you,” he said. “I was too stubborn to realize it when I married you, and I was too damned stupid to show you the proper way. But I’ll do everything in my power to do so now, starting today and every day after.”
“I know of one way you might show me.” She smiled at him through tears of happiness. “Kiss me.”
“Done.” His lips settled over hers in the next breath.
“How is she?”Everett askedMamanwhen she slipped from Verity’s room later that evening.
He and Sybil had been waiting, pacing in the hall together, not wanting to intrude but desperate to know more. Ever since word had reached them that Verity had awakened at last, they had been desperate to get to her bedside. To see her, talk with her, reassure themselves she was alive and well.
His mother looked wearier than he could recall seeing her, as if she had aged ten years in one day. He was sure he looked no better. The fire and resulting mayhem, particularly nearly losing his wife and his sister in the same day, had left him reeling.
They had done their utmost to help with the children, bringing in some of the younger girls, Emma among them, and filling their bedrooms to capacity. The others had been divided amongst various orphanages and the homes of some of the other Children’s Foundling Hospital patrons.
“She is…”Mamanhesitated, frowning. “She is confused, I think. She’s in pain, and she has not made much sense.”
“The blow to her head,” he said, worry tightening in his gut again. “The doctor said we should remain vigilant. That there is the possibility she will not remember what happened to her, given how hard she was hit by that falling beam.”
“That is true,”Mamanallowed, nodding. “She doesn’t recall anything that transpired today. Not breakfast, not the fire at the Children’s Foundling Hospital, not nearly being trapped inside. But there are other things that seem to confuse her, almost as if she’s in a dream.”
Everett didn’t like the sound of that.
“Do you think it would be too much for her to see us?” Sybil asked softly.
“She is sleeping again, but you may go to her,” his mother said. “I need to walk for a few minutes, and she would appreciate the company, I’m sure. My poor old knees have grown stiff, sitting at her bedside for all these hours.”
“We will stay by her side until you are ready to return,” Everett promised easily. “Take your time and rest if you need to, as well.”
His mother’s gaze dipped to where Everett and Sybil’s hands were clasped at their sides. “It is good to see you two children finally realizing how hopelessly in love with each other you are.” She turned to Sybil. “Lady Eastlake and I recognized it at once, you know. It is a pity that it took something as terrible as a fire to make the both of you wake up to what has been right in front of your stubborn noses all the while.”
In his admittedly poor defense, he had already recognized it before the fire. He’d been on his way to confess all to Sybil and make a mad-dash effort at persuading her to stay with his sorry arse when he had discovered the fire at the orphanage. But hewould accept all blame, for he was the one who had made a mess of everything since their wedding day.
A flush had stolen along Sybil’s cheeks. “It would seem that our noses were rather large and in the way, but we have seen the error of our ways now.”
Everett brought her hand to his lips for a kiss, holding his wife’s gaze. “In truth, I am at fault for everything. My wife is an angel to suffer me.”
Sybil gave him a shy smile. “It’s hardly suffering, Your Grace.”
“That reminds me. She has been asking for the Duke of Kingham.”
Belatedly, Everett realized they had an audience. His mother yet stood there, watching them. “Verity?”
