“I am,” he declared, though he didn’t know if it was true. “I am. My apologies. Thank you.”
The butler appeared uncertain as he stepped from the room and Roderick took a moment to look at himself in the mirror. “You must allow her whatever time she needs with this. It’s a war and there will be battles lost and won for her heart,” he said.
The words didn’t make him feel better.
He straightened his jacket and then stepped into the hall. He made his way upstairs to their chamber and stepped inside. The door to his room was closed, but hers was open and when he locked the door behind him, she called out to him. “Roderick, I’m in my chamber. Please join me.”
His heart was pounding so hard, he wondered if she could hear it. He drew in a few ragged breaths as he stepped into her room. And then he stopped breathing at all. She stood at the foot of her bed and she was wearing the pink dress he’d chosen for her. He staggered at how beautiful she looked in color, how she shone as she smiled at him gently.
But she said nothing. She simply picked up her copy ofThe Mirror of Gracesfrom its place on her side table. She walked around the bed to the fireplace and then turned. Never breaking her stare from his face, she tossed the book into the flames.
He rushed forward a step, watching with her as the tome slowly burned.
“Clarissa,” he breathed.
She moved toward him. “I clung to those rules because I neverthought I could be enough. But—but then I see myself in your eyes and that’s who I am. Who I want to be.” She moved closer. “Yours.”
He nearly buckled. “Mine?”
She nodded slowly. “You told me earlier today that you loved me. The fact is that I-I love you too.”
The way she stopped talking and her breath became shaky made it clear that this idea was as terrifying to her as it was to him. How he loved that they could support and navigate the unknown territory together. Together because she loved him.
“Could you truly love me?” she whispered. “It seems a dream.”
“Itisa dream,” he said, and now he came to her, drawing her against him, loving the feel of her, the look of her as she stared up into his eyes with such adoration. Such love that she no longer hid. “But we’re both awake. I love you with all I am, Clarissa. All I am and ever shall be.”
“Good,” she said, and lifted up toward him. “Then there is nothing in the world that could ever break us apart.”
They kissed, their arms tightening around each other, their soft sighs of pleasure and love and surrender merging as they fell into her bed and into each other.
And all the lightning he’d ever desired struck all over again. It would strike every time he touched her, he realized. For as long as they both lived.
EPILOGUE
Roderick watched Clarissa across the room of their friends and family, his hand tightly gripping his glass of port. She was standing with her parents, as well as Lady Delacourt, but for once his wife seemed not to be troubled by whatever they were saying. The Lockharts had softened since their confrontation a few weeks ago. Roderick believed that had more to do with their desire to be financially supported than with any real emotion, but as long as they treated his wife well and it was what she wanted, he would let it stand.
“Are you planning on ripping my uncle and aunt to shreds?”
He turned and smiled as George stepped up. “If I said yes, would you call me out to protect the family honor?”
George chuckled. “The only family honor I care about in this room is Clarissa’s. And you seem to be a good guardian of that. It seems from the way you look at her and she at you that your lightning struck after all.”
“It did,” he murmured as his wife met his eyes and a little pink entered her cheeks. Perhaps she was thinking of what he’d been doing to her in their chamber even as their guests arrived. What he intended to do to her again as soon as they departed.
“I’m glad. I might not believe in love, but I certainly am happy to see those I care about find it.” George let out a little sigh.
“You might find it yet,” Roderick suggested as he nudged his friend.
George glanced at him and there was a brief flash of sadness in his stare. “My mother has arranged a marriage. I’ve agreed. It’s time, I think.”
Roderick’s lips parted. “George?—”
“Don’t trouble yourself,” his friend said softly. “I never expected or wanted what you have. And I’ll be happy.”
Roderick wasn’t certain of that, but he had no intention of getting into it with George at this moment. Not when Clarissa had extracted herself from the others and was coming across the room toward him.
George smiled. “I’ll leave you to her and go keep my uncle and aunt busy.”
