“Yes?” His smile was pleased, no pretended misunderstanding.
“I thought I lost you.”
“Oh, love. I’m far too stubborn for the likes of Bates.”
“So it would seem.”
“What do you suppose my chances are of making my escape today? You and I should talk, and Kit’s bedroom is not the ideal place.”
“Well, that depends. Your apartment is…”
“It’s gone?”
“No, but there was damage. It’s mostly to the office. However… I would very much like you back with me.”
“Not going to send me packing again?”
I shook my head fiercely and he chuckled before clutching his side.
“Stop being funny, love. Hurts.”
I pressed a kiss to my fingers before pressing them to his lips. Just then, the bird at the windowsill gave a chirp of irritation. I suppose I did reserve that for Gabriel’s headstone.
“Hush, you.”
“I presume the bird is coming too?”
“The bird is coming.”
“I don’t suppose you can get him to stop biting me.”
“After what he did to my attacker, I think you’re lucky with a nip. But I’ll try.”
“Right, can you press-gang Kit into helping me ready? We’ll talk when we get home.”
“Home.” Oh, that was a lovely thought. A beautiful, wonderful thought that I didn’t deserve to have but he seemed willing to encourage anyway.
The mileor so journey home was long and painful. Though William made a valiant effort to hide his winces every time the carriage jerked, I felt each one.
When he was finally settled safely in my bed, the tightness in my spine lessened. I fluffed the pillow he was resting on, desperate for some sort of useful occupation.
“Don’t know what the fussing is about, ’m perfectly well.”
“You could have died. Give me a little leave to fuss.” I perched on the edge of the bed beside his prone form.
“I just?—”
“Will, I already held the man I loved in my arms while he passed once. For too long I thought I might have to do it again. And it would have destroyed me. So if it’s all the same to you, I’m going to fret over you for a while now.”
“Love?”
“Yes?”
“No—I mean yes, of course, but it was a question. You love me?”
And oh, there it was. That awed look he wore so well, the one that made my heart flutter. His jaw dropped slightly, eyes—eye—crinkled. It was a sunny morning blue just now. The worst of the swelling was beginning to recede on the other one, and I could see the barest flash of blue beneath the puffy upper lid.
“I told you so, last night.”
