She swallowed over a lump of embarrassment. “I know I don’t look my best—”
“Devil take it!”
His oath startled her, as did the way he moved in a smooth motion to cage her against the worktable. With his hands on the wooden surface on either side of her, he leaned in. “You are not listening to me. I could give a damn about how tired you look; you are, and always will be, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. What I do care about isyou.Why you feel the need to push yourself past limits that even you possess.”
The fire in his eyes melted her defenses. Her vision blurred. The next thing she knew, she buried her head in her husband’s chest and began to weep. His arms closed around her. Surrounded by his strength and familiar spicy scent, she let herself cry, soothed by his whispers of love.
When the storm passed, she didn’t lift her head. Just kept it tucked against the steady beat of her beloved’s heart as she spoke.
“I’ve been feeling like a juggler losing control of the balls,” she confessed. “There is so much to do, and I fear I cannot keep up.”
“Instead of keeping up, why not set your own pace?” Her husband’s deep voice rumbled beneath her ear. “Emma, this has been a challenging year for all of us, especially with little William’s illness. You’ve borne the brunt of it, nursing him tirelessly for months. And you’ve had the usual antics of our other offspring to contend with, not to mention the myriad other household duties. On top of that, you worked on two investigationsandplanned an elaborate fortnight-long holiday party for several dozen guests. Don’t you think you could use a break?”
“When you put it that way.” She tipped her head back to look into his eyes. “I suppose I may have overcommitted myself a touch.”
“A touch?” He snorted. “Pet, you accomplish more in a year than many people do in a lifetime. And while that is commendable, it also has a cost. You take care of everyone and everything but not yourself. And if I have seemed irritated, that is why. You are everything to me, and it pains me to see you unhappy and exhausted.”
“Oh, darling.” She touched his jaw, her heart swelling with love. “You are too good to me. And I know I’ve been acting a trifle batty of late.”
He quirked a brow. “A trifle?”
“Maybe more than that.” Sighing, she said, “I am aware that I’ve been driving everyone mad with my redding of the house. Thea was apparently supposed to act as a decoy today: her job was to keep me occupied while the others took care of the chores for me. Instead, Thea, being Thea, told me the truth of their plan, and we had a heart to heart. She reminded me that we are no longer in Chudleigh Crest, and I don’t have to be in charge of everything.”
“She is right,” Alaric said. “Your brother said much the same to me.”
Emma blinked. “Ambrose spoke with you about me?”
“He was going to talk to you personally, but since you were holed up with Thea, he spoke with me instead. He didn’t tell me anything I didn’t know. Don’t worry, pet. Your secrets are safe.”
“I don’t have any secrets,” she protested.
“I know. It is one of the many things I adore about you.” Her husband smiled faintly. “But Kent did remind me that, no matter how accomplished you are, you still need to be taken care of. And I want to take care of you, love. The way you take care of me and our family.”
“You do take care of me, darling. The problem lies with me.” Something settled inside her as she faced the truth. “When I feel overwhelmed, my first instinct is to work harder. To do more. Silly when I say it aloud, isn’t it?”
“Not so silly. That strategy has helped you through some difficult times.”
The understanding in her husband’s expression loosened the knots inside her. “But what I really need to do now is to let go of some things.”
He waited.
“I didn’t enjoy those cases I took on this year as much as I did previously. I may be ready for a hiatus from sleuthing,” she admitted.
“Then take one.”
She bit her lip. “Is it wrong to give up something I’ve worked so hard on?”
“Only you know the answer to that, love. But people change, so why should our interests not as well?”
“You wouldn’t mind?” At his questioning look, she clarified, “When we first met, I was endeavoring to become an investigator, and I think that was part of the reason you were attracted to me. Because I was different from the other ladies vying for your interest.”
“You honestly believe that?”
At his incredulous tone, she nodded hesitantly.
“Emma, I fell in love with you because you areyou. Loving, loyal, and with the strength of will to take me on, demons and all.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I don’t give a damn what you do as long as you’re mine.”
She felt tears well again. “I do love you so.”
