He kissed her, and his ardent strength intoxicated her. “Can you see yourself spending your life here? With me?”
She smoothed an unruly lock of hair away from his brow. “I can see my life wherever you are.”
He laughed and shook his head. “You know what everyone will say, of course. That I am marrying you for the land. Now that all of this business is settled, you will be a very important lady around here.”
She returned his playful smile. “And why do you want to marry me?”
He studied her face, the fullness of her lips, the curve of her cheek, and then he sobered. “I suppose I would have to say that it’s because of this charming slope of your nose, or the delightful dimple beside your mouth, or because you carry a dagger in your boot. Or because you make me feel whole after feeling empty for what seemsan eternity. And why would you, an heiress, want to marry someone like me?”
Her thoughts rushed within her, and she smoothed his rumpled cravat before lifting her face to his. “That very first day when I arrived at Briarton, you were everything I thought a country gentleman would be like. Handsome, aloof, so certain. I remember wondering how it would be to have a man like that care for me. But then the more I got to know you, I found you weren’t aloof after all. You trusted me in spite of all that was against me. And you protected me, even when I might not have wanted it. You, Mr. Warrington, are the dream I never thought I could have.”
***
Fire pummeled through James’s veins as Cassandra disappeared down the corridor.
She had agreed to marry him!
He hadn’t expected to propose to her right there and then. But he could not resist her allure. She was inebriating, and he didn’t want to part from her.
But she’d said yes. She would be his wife. Forever.
One day they would not have to part at the day’s end. They would be together with the sunrise of every morning and at the close of each day.
He forced his fingers through his hair as he considered the events. It seemed every day since Cassandra arrived had brought change and growth, and he could only wonder what the next days would bring, for all of them.
He made his way up to the family chambers. He should try to catch a little sleep, for he doubted the next day would bring much rest. But there was one thing he still needed to do.
Rachel had said Mrs. Towler had gained consciousness.
And he was relieved, but as he arrived outside of Mrs. Towler’s room, he paused.
The thought of Elizabeth flashed in his mind, as she did so often.
He had no doubt that Elizabeth would approve of Cassandra, but her mother was another matter. He wanted to handle this situation with respect and compassion, but he was sailing in uncharted territory. She’d been ill, and he did not want to upset her, but he also did not want her to find out from someone else about his relationship with Cassandra.
He found Mrs. Towler propped up on her pillows. She was pale, and yet she appeared healthier than she had in days, perhaps even weeks. She was dressed in her nightclothes. How strange it was to see her in the cream linen instead of the black she had worn since Elizabeth died. Even the white cap atop her wiry hair altered her appearance significantly. Mrs. Helock was sitting next to her. He cleared his throat to garner her attention.
“Ah, James.” Mrs. Towler waved her hand toward Mrs. Helock. “Leave us, please. I wish to speak with my son-in-law.”
He stood in silence as the housekeeper exited the room, and then he stepped closer to the bed. “You gave us quite a fright.”
“A fright? Bah. It’s nothing compared to hearing a pistol discharged in one’s own home. Mrs. Helock told me everything. And Rachel brandishing a pistol! Why, I’ve never heard the like.”
“It’s all over now.” He moved a candle closer to the bed. “Nothing to worry about.”
“Nothing to worry about? I hear that North fellow broke into our home and tried to attack Miss Hale. I never did like him.”
James laughed. “No, you did not.”
“That’s not all I heard about Miss Hale.” She raised her brow. “Sit down, James. We need to talk.”
“Perhaps we should wait until you are stronger. You’ve had an—”
“No. It cannot wait.”
Bracing himself, he pulled a chair from against the wall and carried it next to the canopied bed.
“Mrs. Helock tells me that Miss Hale sat with me and helped out while I was indisposed.”
