Then he finally disappeared, the door clicking softly into place. I stared at it for several long seconds, half expecting it to open again. Father had worried Rus would not take the lead of our family once he was gone. I had often wondered, too, if he would take his future duties as a viscount seriously. But based on the last few weeks, Father had little reason to worry. Rus would make a fine viscount, and he would take care of his family.
Perhaps a little too well.
Edward brushed a loose piece of hair away from my face, drawing my attention to him. “What are you thinking about?”
“I’m thinking how I pity Bridget’s future suitors. I never believed Rus would be such a stick in the mud about propriety.”
Edward chuckled, wrapping an arm about my waist and pulling me against him. I melded into his chest with a sigh, sliding my hands up and over his shoulders. Edward smiled, the fast beat of his heart evidence of how my touch affected him as much as his affected me. “I pity them, too, but that is not what I had hoped you were contemplating.”
“Ah. What were you hoping for then?”
“That you might be considering a proposal from me. And I do not mean one of the fake variety. A real, genuine”—his arm tightened around me, pressing me impossibly closer—“life-altering proposal.”
“How can I contemplate something you’ve yet to offer?” I teased.
“Then allow me to ask. Miss Annette Apsley, will you consider becoming my wife?”
“No.”
His brows furrowed. “No?”
“No, I do not need to consider it. I’ve done nothingbutconsider it for a week now. I am absolutely sick of considering, and fully intend to marry you, Edward Pa—”
His lips cut me off, stealing my breath with a kiss. And then another. I lost myself to him. The world around us muted. We had kissed before, but this time was different. It was more than passionate. Each kiss was a promise of the future to come, an assurance of love and happiness. A vow of support.
And in Edward’s kisses, I felt nothing would ever threaten my independence, because I would have that support from him, just as he would have mine.
Edward pulled away, but his arms remained tightly around me. “You once mentioned the ruins were a place where you felt at peace. At home. You asked if I had such a place. At the time, I couldn’t give you an answer, but now?” Edward tenderly kissed my forehead. “You are that place for me, Annette. With you is where I feel most at peace. You are my sure place of comfort. Thank you for being everything I needed.”
“Everything?” I put on a fake pout, though the tears in my eyes were far from it. “Are you saying I do not vex you even a little?”
“You do, but I welcome it.” He smiled, wide and bright. “I need you, Annette. There is so much uncertainty in my future, so many obstacles. The possibility of failure terrifies me, but when I’m with you, every goal feels less out of my reach. When I thought I had ruined any chance of owning your heart…” He shook his head. “I have never experienced such heaviness. Not aboard ship. Not in chasing Hollinsby. None of it compared to my regret in losing you.”
“Oh, Edward. Can you forgive me? I was so upset but only because it hurt to think you may not care for me as deeply as I do you. It scared me to lose my heart, because I feared I had once again failed to see things properly. But I was right about you all along. My admiration was well placed. I love you. I love you so very much.”
“Thank goodness for that.” He kissed my lips again, and despite my desire to thread my fingers through his hair and lose myself once more, the full weight of his words prevented it.
“Hollinsby!” I gasped, pulling away from him enough to look up into his eyes. Rus had informed me that he had found Edward at an inn. Hollinsby had left Willowbrook Manor, and Edward had pursued him. Once he learned I was missing, Edward returned. He had given up his chase.
My eyes swelled with tears. “Adda. Have you lost her because of me?”
To my surprise, Edward smiled slightly. “I haven’t given up. Hollinsby has escaped for now, but all is not lost. I’ve reached out to my contacts and your father’s. We are creating an extensive web of support.”
“But if it were not for me, you might have caught him,” I said. “You might have already saved her.”
“Perhaps, but there is no guarantee. Regardless, I would not trade your life for anything. Adda is important to me, but so are you. She is in danger, but she is still an asset to Hollinsby, and that affords her some protection. I could have lost you in that storm. Returning to find you was the only course I would consider.”
“You’ve been searching for so long, though,” I whispered. “Adda saved your life. She matters, too.”
“Of course, she does. Choosing you does not mean I gave up on her. If I’ve learned anything these past weeks, it is that my focus need not be so tunneled into one thing. Into one person or pursuit. We will find Adda, together, but in the meantime, I want to build a future with you.”
“And take Hollinsby down,” I added. “Together.”
“That too, and thanks to young Lucas, I now have the evidence to do it.” He continued when my eyes widened. “A written agreement between Hollinsby and another man about purchasing Adda. It will be difficult for him to refute it.”
“That is excellent news!”
“I’ve been doing more than wooing you during my stay at Kenwick, you know.”
