Chapter Twenty
Josephtore open the note, his eyes quickly scanning the contents.
It was from Milly.
You said I did not trust you with the truth before. Said you would have helped me. Well, I am asking for that help now. Meet me at the cemetery, you know where.
He armed himself and left the house. Looking skyward, he saw the day was not far advanced, as it had been the morning four years ago when she had left him. He rode through the streets to the cemetery, and tethered his horse.
He had handled everything badly after he had made love to Milly. He should have told her what lay in his heart; instead he had been brusque and said nothing. In fact, he had behaved earlishly, as Charles had accused him of doing. He had been a coward, hiding his emotions behind the man he had always been, but no longer.
He felt his heart beat faster in his chest as he walked through the gates. This time it would be different; she would never leave him again. Not now, not with his love for her consuming him.
“You came.”
She appeared in front of him as before, cloaked and with her face concealed by the hood.
“Surely you did not doubt that.” Joseph stepped closer. He cupped her cheeks and kissed her hard. “I love you, Milly. Not the gentle love of before. This hurts. It is both light and dark, and fills every place inside me. I would not survive were you to leave me now.”
She sniffed loudly and he watched as the first tears fell.
“I should have told you that day after we made love. Forgive me.”
“Oh, Joseph.”
“Oh, Joseph, I love you too?” he asked.
“How can you doubt it?” Her words were angry now. “It consumes me, this love I feel for you. ‘Tis most unpleasant.”
He rested his forehead on hers as he laughed.
“God, you are wonderful. Never leave me, Milly. Promise me that if nothing else.”
“I promise.”
Their kiss was soft and lingering.
“Now explain yourself, woman. Why am I here and not in my bed, dreaming of you?”
“I could not speak of it at my house, in case my aunt should overhear. I had no wish to frighten her.”
“Overhear what?
“Him, that man who drove me away. He confronted me yesterday.”
“Where?”
“I-I received word about a woman. She was supposedly alone, and in desperate need of my support. I went, and he was there. He grabbed me, and I recognized him as a man I saw at the opera that night.”
“God’s blood. Don’t tell me you went alone to see her.”
Her silence was confirmation of her guilt.
“Christ, Milly!”
“Now is not the time for that. I escaped, no more need be said on the matter. Now it’s time to get this fiend who is behind our torment, and punish him.”
“Amen,” Joseph whispered as he pulled her into his arms and held her close. He breathed in the woman who was now his life. His one and only love.
