At a time when he hungered more than anything to claim the woman he loved, to make her his wife and embark on a life together, Gil had stood in his way—and Luke had allowed it.
But no more.
His friend had stirred up tragedy with his betrayal, and those who had been left behind were made to suffer from more than innocent grief.
Luke simply needed to breathe.
Rather than rushing over to present himself formally at Galewick Manor, rather than facing Gil’s brother and mother to offer his condolences, hoping for a moment alone with Naomi, he’d wandered outside through the playground of his youth. Staring up at the gushing waters of the falls, memories played in his mind, and as he lost himself watching the deluge of water crash over the rocks, the taint of the present washed away. Miraculously, the innocence of the past remained intact.
His chest released and the autumn sunlight penetrated his soul.
He could now give himself permission to embrace a future that would be filled not only with love and hope and joy but also challenges and tears. And in that very moment…
He turned and saw that beloved figure.
She was there, and then she was sprinting towards him.
This time, he met her with open arms.
“He was buried on Tuesday.” Her voice broke, giving him some idea as to how hard the past months had been for her. Oh, but she was in his arms again. There was nothing he could do to prevent the tremor of relief that swept through him.
It was over.
Luke recalled the cemetery where two sets of brothers had once played pirates with one another, and his heart ached with the sudden swell of grief.
“My sweet girl.” He buried his face in the caressing strands of her golden hair. “My love.”
In between tears and kisses pressed onto his chin and lips and neck and then lips again, she chanted his name. Time stood still as each of them absorbed the other, offering comfort for the lost months of loneliness and fear.
When she exhaled a tremulous breath, Luke drew away and stared into her eyes. With a sad smile, he brought his hand up and cradled the side of her face. “Lydia told me.”
“She’s been wonderful.” Unshed tears wavered in her stormy blue gaze, but she blinked them away. “I can’t believe you are here.”
Later, he would explain to her how the ship had arrived before dawn and that he hadn’t been able to keep himself away even another day. For now, he leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers. Her lips trembled beneath his as he reacquainted himself with her taste, which mingled with the salt of her tears.
Nothing would come between them again, Luke vowed silently.
She buried her face in his chest, unsteady, and he tightened his arms around her. Their love affair was not a normal one, but it would be everlasting. The two of them had a lifetime to make up for all they had missed.
“When did you arrive?” She sent him a sweet smile, but a shiver ran through her and her hand shook as she reached up to brush some hair away from her face. “I only sent the letter a few days ago.”
She was nervous. Not afraid, but not as comfortable with him as she’d been before.
He drew them both away from the banks of the pool to where a grassy patch grew at the base of a large oak. “Let’s sit.”
Luke made himself comfortable leaning against the trunk, and then bent his knees, feet apart, as she arranged her skirts around herself a few feet away. When she glanced over at him, he shook his head. “Come here. I need to hold you.” He indicated the space between his legs.
“I wasn’t sure…” She swallowed hard and gave him a tight smile before moving closer. “So much has happened, and last December seems like a lifetime ago. I got a letter from my parents. Since the War Office won’t be sending a widow’s pension, Tempest insists I have an annuity, and he says Milton Cottage is mine, but I’m not going to keep the house—I doubt I’ll have need of it. It could end up costing me more to keep it standing and I’m not even certain it’s safe. I can’t have that—for Amelia, you know?—"
“Of course,” he said, smiling, with his chin resting on her shoulder. He’d missed this, making plans with her and discussing the future together.
“I’m nervous,” she admitted, turning her head so that she could look at him. “I wasn’t sure,” she repeated. Neither of themcould have been one hundred percent certain. But they had both loved. They had both promised. And they had both hoped.
In answer, Luke touched his lips to hers softly. “I worried like hell that you would regret marrying me.”
“Never,” she answered. “I told him. I told Arthur about us on his last day. He confessed that he hadn’t signed the certificate. He said he was waiting to secure my dowry. He intended to sign it after speaking with my father. But he?—”
“Ran out of time.”
