For a second their eyes locked and she wanted to believe she saw her love mirrored in his.
“I’m all right. It’s just a scratch.” Caroline went to pull his shirt away from her neck, but when she touched it, her fingertips came away covered in blood.
Her stomach rolled, and the world began to spin. “I’m not sure,” she said. “I’ve never done so before. But…”
“I’m here. I’ve got you, sweetheart.”
“I think I might faint.”
“Just hold still. Try not to move.”
She barely nodded before slipping into oblivion.
When she opened her eyes, she thought she felt dizzy again, but then realized she was being lifted into a carriage—Max’s carriage.
Then she was laying on… She turned her head and found Max peering down at her.
Her pillow was his lap.
The comforting arms holding her were his.
Those arms tightened. “You scared me, love.”
Love?
“Where…? What…?”
“We’re going to your mother’s house. Your brother and his wife are right behind us. A doctor’s been sent for.”
Sunlight slanted through the carriage windows and the events of last night—this morning?—came rushing back. Caroline moved her hand to her throat; this time her fingertips touched dry fabric.
“It wasn’t your blood.” Max’s expression was pained. “Most wasn’t, anyway. Thank God. Your wound seems to have stopped bleeding, but you’ll see a doctor regardless.”
“You’re so bossy,” Caroline said.
“Because I’m your boss. But not much longer.” His jaw set.
What did he mean by that? But then she realized. They’d caught the villain—more than that. Regardless, Max didn’t need her help any longer.
“It was Pip,” she said. “He was the one sabotaging the paper.”
“Yes.”
“You called me love.”
“Yes.”
“We never talked about that,” Caroline pointed out. “Because you said you could never offer for me.”
“Because I’m a fool.”
“Do you want to talk about it now?”
Maxwell's eyes met hers, and in that moment, everything else seemed to fade away. His fingers gently brushed her cheek. "Do you?”
“Yes.” She gazed at him, her heart pounding in her chest, waiting for his words with bated breath. But they weren’t what she expected.
"You're going to be all right, Caroline." Max leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I promise."
