“Well,” he said after a pause. “That is a relief.”
“Enough about me. I want to hear how things went with Kray.”
“I shall tell you. Over tea.”
They sat side by side at the round table, and over cups of a fragrant chrysanthemum brew, Wei shared the events of his day. The appearance of Mrs. Swann, the asylum, the meeting with Leonard Kray. As Glory listened to Wei’s description of Kray, his conflict over how to mete revenge, and his final choice, her eyes welled. Not with sadness but pride. At his wisdom, strength, and honor.
What a man I’ve fallen in love with.
“You did the absolute right thing, darling.” She placed her hand atop his on the table. “Kray got his just deserts. There was no need for you to stain your conscience.”
“After what he did to my family, I don’t know that killing him would stain my conscience,” Wei said matter-of-factly. “I wish, though, that the bastard could speak. That I could hear him confess that he’d murdered my parents and sister and why he’d done it.”
“I am sorry you did not get all your answers,” she said softly. “The proper closure you and your kin deserve.”
“I may get it yet. Mrs. Swann said that she had some of Kray’s things. She plans to sort through them and deliver any pertinent items.”
“That is helpful of her. She is a woman of her word, and I admire that.”
Wei shot her a dark look. “Steer clear of her, Glory. She’s dangerous. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was somehow responsible for Kray’s present state.”
“Amicus meus, inimicus inimici mei,” Glory said. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
“With friends like Susanna Swann, who needs enemies?” Wei’s expression grew somber. “Regardless of how Kray ended up in that asylum, seeing him that way made me realize something.”
“What, darling?”
“There is justice in the world,” Wei said. “Fate meted out his punishment far better than I could.”
“I am glad you came to that conclusion,” she said softly.
He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. “I came to another one as well.”
“Oh?”
“I don’t want revenge to be my sole purpose any longer.” His gaze was clear and passionate. “I want to live for love. For you.”
Joy spilled like a bowl of sugar, sweetness spilling into every nook and cranny of her being. His certainty triggered her own decision. Made her aware that life was short and love too precious to waste even a moment.
“Then come speak to my father,” she said.
Wei stared at her. “What about his campaign? The bill he plans to propose is important—”
“We won’t go public with our engagement quite yet, but I don’t want to hide our relationship from my family any longer,” she said with resolve. “My papa may resist, but we will convince him that you are the only husband for me. That I will have my wise, strong, and noble shifu or no one.”
“My love.” Wei cupped her face with such reverence that her eyes stung. “You have made me the happiest of men.”
His kiss was passionate and possessive. She opened to him, eager for the feel of him inside her. He growled, and the kiss caught fire. He pulled her onto his lap, her cap falling off and hair tumbling free over her shoulders. He threaded his fingers in her tresses, holding her head steady as he raided her mouth. With equal fervor, she kissed him back, wanting more. Everything.
He tore his lips from hers, breathing raggedly. “Bloody hell, you drive me wild, little tigress. But we ought to stop and get you home before your absence is discovered.”
The brewing need in his eyes gave her courage to voice her desires.
She fiddled with his collar. “I want to stay the night. Here, with you.”
His pupils flared, but he firmed his jaw. “Soon we’ll be able to spend every night together, love. After I speak to your papa—”
“I don’t want to wait to be with you. We are committed to each other, and that is what counts.” Despite his arguments, she felt the hard bulge of his agreement beneath her. “In my heart, I am yours, Wei, and you are mine. What other legitimacy does our love need?”
