Reynolds whirled, fear igniting in his expression as he registered Victor’s presence. In one fluid motion, he grabbed Olivia, yanking her against him as a shield while pressing his pistol to her temple.
“How unexpected, Your Grace,” Reynolds said, trying to maintain a casual tone.
Victor held his gaze, seeing the desperation in the man. But it was Victor who was desperate to get the barrel of the pistol away from his little one. “There’s nowhere for you to go. Release her, and I may permit you to leave England with your life.”
Reynolds gave a brittle laugh. “A generous offer, but unconvincing. We both know you’ll kill me the moment she’s free.”
Victor settled his gaze on Olivia. In her gaze, he saw her fear, trust, and emotion that made him ache for the moment that he could cradle her in his arms and keep her safe.
“Let her go,” Victor said, his voice roughening. “This is between us, Reynolds. She’s innocent.”
“Innocent?” Reynolds scoffed, tightening his grip on Olivia. “The scandalous duchess? I think not. Besides, I stand to make a fortune from whoring her out if I don’t have military secrets to sell.”
“Your plan has one fatal flaw, Reynolds,” Victor continued, lowering his pistol slightly.
“And what might that be?”
“You underestimate the accuracy of my aim and willingness to fire my pistol even with my wife before you.”
The statement hung in the air for a single heartbeat. Olivia took her opportunity and went limp in Reynolds’ arms, dropping her weight downward just as Victor raised his pistol and fired.
The shot cracked through the small room. Reynolds staggered backward, blood blooming across his shoulder as his pistol clattered to the floor. James rushed to secure Reynolds as Victor rushed to Olivia, falling to his knees before her.
“Are you hurt?” His hands cupped her face, his eyes scanning her features with frantic intensity. All pretense of control had vanished, leaving only fear, relief, and another overwhelming emotion he’d never expected to name.
“No,” she whispered, her own hands rising to grasp his wrists. “But I am so very glad to see you.”
“Olivia.” Her name emerged as a prayer. “I thought I’d lost you.”
She clung to him, her fingers digging into his shoulders. “You found me.”
Victor pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his hands trembling as they framed her face. “Do you know what it did to me? When I realized you were gone?”
“I’m here,” she soothed, her thumbs brushing his cheekbones. “I was so frightened I would never see you again.”
His hands moved to her shoulders, then slid down her arms. “Tonight . .. when I thought I’d lost you, I realized what I’ve been fighting since the moment I saw that painting.”
“What?” she whispered, hope and fear mingling in her expression.
“That I love you,” he said, the words emerging broken yet perfect. “I love you, Olivia. Your spirit, your mind, your heart. Everything about you. That is why I made you mine.”
Tears spilled freely down Olivia’s cheeks. “Say it again,” she pleaded, her voice catching. “Please, Victor.”
“I love you.” The declaration gained strength as he repeated it. “I love you with a force that terrifies me.”
A sob broke from Olivia’s throat as she surged forward, her hands clutching his face as she pressed her forehead to his. “I couldn’t allow myself to hope that you might ... I feared you would never?—”
“I know,” Victor interrupted, his thumbs catching her tears. “I gave you no reason to hope.”
“But you’re saying it now,” she whispered, looking up at him through her teary lashes.
“I nearly lost you,” he admitted, his voice breaking. “And I realized tonight that if Reynolds had taken you from me, nothing else would have mattered. I would have destroyed the entire world until I had you again.”
Olivia’s breath caught on a sob as she pressed her lips to his, the kiss desperate and claiming. Victor responded with equal fervor, one hand tangling in her hair while the other pulled her closer, erasing any space between them.
“I love you too,” she confessed when they parted, her eyes shining. “I tried to tell myself not to. But I do.”
“I don’t deserve your love?—”
