“I was hopeful,” she admitted. “I did not tell anyone where we were going but trusted that you would understand the clue.”
“There is also a lot of coast to search,” he told her. “What if I had gone somewhere else?”
“That is the reason I chose the most direct route and assumed you would as well.”
He chuckled. “How is Cait?”
“Sad and thoughtful, I suppose.”
That was not helpful.
“Where is she now?”
Lady Priscilla pointed to the beach.
Julian took a deep breath and made his way to the sand then looked around until he spotted her sitting upon a boulder, her cloak folded neatly beside her.
He approached quietly from behind and when he was near enough, he snatched the cloak away and Cait whipped around with a gasp.
“If it were possible, I would keep this so that you were required to fall in love with me and remain by my side. I would hide it so well that it could never be found.”
Tears filled her eyes, and he was afraid to ask why.
“A gentleman should never take a selkie’s tail. It is unfair.”
“Even if that were true or even possible to keep you, I would only want you with me by choice, not force.” He placed the folded cloak beside her again. “I am sorry that I hurt you, Cait. I am sorry I did not tell you everything in the very beginning so that you understood the full truth of what was being asked of me, but I am mostly sorry that I did not come to you the moment I was free.”
“Perhaps not at that exact moment as that would be beyond the pale.”
Was she teasing him?
“I do understand, Julian. You were put in impossible situations, and I cannot claim that I would have made better decisions. I have thought on everything that you have told me and truthfully, I do not know what I would have done had I been you.”
Was she giving him hope?
“If your father hadn’t threatened to reveal the truth behind the Devils, would you have married Miss Hooper?”
“No.”
“Even if you would have been poor, destitute?”
“Even then, but I would not have known what to do. And, if I am to be honest, I could not have asked you to be my wife until I knew that I could provide for you and a family.”
Her frown was slight as her emerald eyes clouded with sadness. “Even though I possess ten thousand pounds.”
“Even then, Cait.” He stepped forward and took her hands in his. “That does not mean that I would not have continued to love you with my whole heart.”
“You would have allowed pride to get in the way.”
Julian knew this was a test. “I would have allowed pride to blind me, and likely lost you.”
The corner of her mouth tipped. “Or, I would have seduced you and then you would have been forced to marry me.”
“If you wish to do so now, I have no objection.”
“Your opportunity was five years ago.”
Did she mean just the seduction or her love and their future? It was a question he was afraid to ask, but he needed to know.
