Eventually Drake said, ‘I’m sorry I was not strong enough to allow you to walk away.’ Evie felt him brush his lips through her hair. His voice, hoarse and thick with emotion, pulled at her heart and silenced her. ‘I know what damage can be done when a man comes between a husband and wife. The consequences ripple outwards and affect others for good and bad. I just needed to hold you again.’ He stroked her hair. ‘Are you happy, Evie?’
The shake of her head was imperceptible, but Drake felt it. He lifted her chin and looked deep into her eyes. ‘You don’t love him, do you?’
‘Our marriage was not a love match.’
‘This is madness,’ he said, taking her hand in his and looking down at it. He gently caressed her fingers. ‘My belief in the sanctity of marriage has kept me from you, but seeing you again and knowing the pain I will feel when you leave—’
‘I will feel it too.’
Drake lifted his gaze to hers. ‘—has made me realise that my belief in our future together is stronger than any marriage vow promise not based on love.’
His declaration frightened her, but his searing kiss, which ignited dormant sensations she had long thought dead, wiped all worries from her mind. Pure, vibrant passion filled and nourished her and for the first time in years she felt alive again. She craved for more of Drake’s kisses, fearful for the moment they would part and she would begin to die again as she inevitably would. She sought Drake’s lips when his left hers, she matched the trail of his kisses, with trails of her own. His lips, his cheeks, his neck, his scar tasted exquisite to her. Their insatiable, long denied, hunger for one another were equally matched, finally they paused, breathless and smiling with the joy of it all. Their foreheads touched as their gazes settled on their entwined hands. Drake placed a kiss upon one of hers, before he stole a glance around to see if anyone had seen them. No one had and they shared a fleeting smile, before Drake grew serious again.
‘Divorce him. Marry me. Let the newspapers have their day, I do not care. A few days or months living through the scandal will be worth the fifty years we will have as man and wife.’
‘I have no grounds, Drake.’
‘You said you do not love him.’
‘I do not. We exist, we tolerate each other, but there is no love . . . not like this.’ She bowed her head, kissed his hand and held it briefly against her cheek before straightening. ‘But I have no grounds to divorce him, Drake. He has not committed adultery. And I would also need to prove desertion—’
‘I wish he would leave,’ muttered Drake.
‘—or cruelty . . . or another sin against me. He has done none of those things. He is good to me.’
‘You could ask him to divorce you on the grounds of adultery.’
‘You mean for me to be cited as the adulterer? With you?’
Drake nodded. ‘Of course.’
‘In the eyes of the law a wife is on the same level as her husband’s property. He could sue you for having an affair with me.’
Drake smiled down at her. ‘It sounds as if you have looked into this.’ His smile left his lips as she looked away. He drew her eyes back to him with a caress of his finger under her chin. ‘I do not care,’ said Drake earnestly. ‘If it means we are together it is worth the risk.’
Suddenly it seemed a possibility. There would be a scandal, but did she care? At least she would be free to marry Drake. She could ask Mawgan. Just as quickly as the feeling of elation had arrived, it died. Nicholas. How could she forget her son?
‘What is it? Have I asked too much?’ said Drake, searching her face for answers.
‘I have a son, Drake. Mawgan is named as his father on the birth certificate. He would never let me take him. What would people think of him if he allowed his unfaithful wife to have influence over his son? He is like my father in that respect. What society thinks of him governs everything he does.’
‘What did you say?’ Drake held her by the shoulders, forcing Evelyn to look at him. ‘Why would you say that his name is on the birth certificate?’
A child’s voice called for his mother. It was Nicholas and he was fast approaching. Evelyn pulled away.
‘I cannot risk losing my son. I have to go, before his nanny sees us. I need time to think.’
‘Is he here?’ Drake followed her out of the sun shelter and immediately saw the dark haired boy running towards Evelyn. Drake’s face paled.
‘Is he mine?’ He looked at Evelyn. ‘Don’t lie to me, Evie. Is he mine?’
‘Yes, he is yours.’
Drake turned his attention back to his son. ‘He has my hair,’ he whispered, hoarsely.
Evelyn looked up at Drake. His eyes glistened with both pride and pain from the revelation.
‘I am prepared to shoulder any scandal to be with you, Drake, but if it means I have to give up Nicholas in order to be with you then I can’t go through with it.’
