After a moment, she said softly, “Anyone would be disquieted by such a shock. And I know how much you want to put your past behind you.”
“But it always comes back.” The returning warmth in her eyes made the truth tumble out of him like rubbish from a bin. “The things I despise about myself, the killer I was… During the capture, I lost control. I could have killed Heath. Wanted to.”
“But you didn’t. You stopped.” With gentle palms, she held his jaw, focusing him on her. His present. “You did what you had to in the past. One day, you’ll forgive yourself. You’re a good man, Gabriel.”
Her faith humbled him. He couldn’t speak.
“And I want to thank you for sharing what you just did. For talking to me,” she said in a rush. “The truth is it’s been a difficult week for me too. When you blocked me out, I didn’t know why. I can’t read your mind. I thought perhaps you were having second thoughts about marriage or me—”
“No, Thea.” Appalled at the conclusions she’d drawn, he said, “Iwantto marry you. More than anything. I can hardly wait to make you mine.”
“Truly?” Her eyes glimmered.
“Truly.” He took her hands, kissed her soft knuckles. “What I wouldn’t give to be alone with you right now, princess.”
“Oh, Gabriel,” she said tremulously, “I’ve missed—”
“Papa! Miss Thea!”
They both turned their heads as Freddy ran toward them. Sliding a longing, apologetic look at Thea, Gabriel said, “What is it, son?”
“We’re to play a new game. A spelling game.” His boy’s eyes were bright with excitement. “We need to make teams. Will you both be on mine?”
Gabriel and Thea exchanged amused glances.
“We’d be delighted,” she said.
When she made to follow Freddy, Gabriel took hold of her hand. She didn’t pull away, instead lacing her fingers with his. He held on tightly as they went over to the fireplace where the game was taking place.
The party had been divided into four groups. According to the rules—gravely presented by Edward—the object of the game was to gain the most points possible by accurately spelling a word. Each player had the chance to pull a scrap of paper from a box; the paper contained a single letter. The player had one minute in which to come up with a word beginning with that letter and to spell it properly. Each letter of the word equaled one point.
With things back on course with Thea, Gabriel found himself able to relax for the first time in days. Perhaps it was Freddy’s delight or the air of crackling competition, but he was actually drawn into the game. When he selected the letter “M” and correctly spelled out the word “meticulousness,” Freddy and Thea cheered aloud.
“That’sfourteenpoints, Papa!” Freddy crowed. “We’re in the lead!”
Gabriel smiled at his son’s enthusiasm.
Not to be outdone, Strathaven pulled the letter “F” and proceeded to spell out a word.
“Farfetchednessisn’t a word,” his duchess argued (she was on another team).
“Indeed it is,” the duke said loftily. “It refers to the quality of being farfetched.”
“Like yourword,” she said, rolling her eyes.
Nonetheless, after some good-natured debate, Strathaven’s team was awarded fourteen points. The play continued, with the competition becoming fiercer and the words more outlandish. When they reached the last round, Gabriel and Strathaven’s teams were in the clear lead, head to head. Edward declared that there would be a final round between the two teams. Each player on the team would get the chance to spell one word.
Strathaven won the coin toss, and his team went first.
Harry correctly spelled “ambitiousness” for thirteen points.
Gabriel felt a moment’s worry when Thea pulled the letter “O.” But she, clever girl, provided the word, “orchestration,” tying them again.
Strathaven and Gabriel kept the scores even with their respective entries.
Then it was the turn of the final players, Violet and Freddy.
Violet drew her letter. “Q!” she said indignantly. “Dash it, that’s not fair. Who put a “Q” in here?”
