“You were caught in a thicket of thorns.” His smile was kind. He’d never made fun of her. He’d listened to her. He’d given her distance when she’d needed it, and then when she needed… him.
He was there.
She had misjudged him before. “You saved me that night.” In more ways than one.
“You would have saved yourself,” he tilted his head, “eventually.” The white of his teeth flashed, and she found herself appreciating another thing about this man.
A brilliant smile. Felicity realized she was staring at his mouth and raised her gaze to find him staring at hers. And just as it had two days before, the air grew heavy between them.
She wanted him to kiss her.
In the orangery, she could make excuses for having made advances toward him… for all but throwing herself at him. She would have no such excuse today.
She licked her lips and forced herself to focus on the discussion they were supposed to be having.
“I’ll tell my mother the truth. She can tell my father, and then he’ll have no choice but to give us his permission.” Her voice came out breathy sounding.
“I’ll go with you to tell them.” Axel grew serious again. “I cannot risk…”
“You cannot risk?” She wasn’t sure she understood.
“My father has convinced yours that any child of mine would be born with defects.” He swallowed hard.
And then it struck her.
He was worried her father would refuse permission even after hearing the truth. Was he also concerned her father would somehow keep him from their child? Or worse? It was preposterous!
Wasn’t it?
“Surely you don’t think…?”
Axel watched her closely. “I don’t think it likely, but with even so much as the possibility, I… I need to be there. We can tell your parents together.”
“You’re afraid he’d send me away.”
Don’t push me, daughter.She’d wondered what her father had meant. More than anyone, she had seen the two sides of the seemingly mild-mannered Lord Brightley. One, a caring family man, a man who had weaknesses and made mistakes—and the other, an ill-tempered earl struggling to protect his legacy.
Axel nodded and Felicity made no attempt to argue otherwise.
Because this babe, this invisible little being growing inside of her, was Axel’s child, too. It wastheirs.
Her insides felt like they were shaking. “Very well. When?”
Axel released her hands to pull her closer. It was as though he knew what she needed. Closing her eyes, she soaked up his tenderness, burrowing into the warmth of his jacket, memorizing the scent of his soap and cologne… Good heavens, she was crying!
She brushed a hand over her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m never weepy.” How many times had she cried to him since that night in March?
“Everything will be fine. I promise you that. I won’t allow anything else.”
His fingers lifted her chin so she had no choice but to stare into his eyes again. “I hope so.” When would she believe that?
He studied her as though looking right into her soul.
“I’m going to take care of you,” he whispered. “I’m going to make you happy.”
Could he? Yes. Felicity inhaled. Yes. It was possible.
“Then kiss me.”
