“Jamie—”
“I knew when I was hanging there in that warehouse—”
“He hung you up!” Alice roared, anger filling her body. “I’ll bloody kill him!”
“Jackson is in Newgate Prison, and will stay there, my sweet. But thank you for your anger on my behalf.
“But are you really all right, Jamie? You were stabbed, and that was after taking a beating when those men set upon you.” Alice ran her eyes over him, searching for his pain.
His smile was small but reached his lovely green eyes. “I would be lying if I said I was back to full strength. In fact, I’m fairly sure that being run over by a herd of oxen would be less painful. But when I woke this morning, finally clear-headed, my first thought was of you. I rose and dressed with my staff protesting the entire way. My butler told me he would send word to Toby or Anthony if I did not return to bed at once.”
“They care for you.”
“My hope is that you do too,” he said, tugging her hands until her body was closer to his. He then placed Alice’s hands on his chest, one of his lifting her chin until their eyes met.
“I do,” she whispered. “So very much.”
Jamie kissed her then. Gentle and sweet.
“And will you marry me?” He rested his forehead on hers.
“You told my father I would.”
“I’m sorry I told him before I asked you, Alice, but I reacted when I heard how he was speaking to you. He’s your father, and there is every chance I will have to face him across ballrooms and dinner tables, but—”
“He’s a terrible person,” Alice filled in for him.
“We will argue, and our life will not always run smoothly, but know that you will always hold my heart, Alice.”
“My aunt will need a home also, Jamie.”
“Excellent. I’ve always wanted an aunt like Anthony has. If she has no wish to live with us, then we shall settle her in her own townhouse nearby.”
Their words were whispered, faces inches apart.
“We are both strong-willed,” Alice said. “It will not be easy.”
“There will be give or take, but what I love most about you, Lady Alice, is your strength. You are no vapid miss who doesn’t know her mind. Let me share your life, as you will share mine.”
Alice had been alone for so long, the thought of sharing her life with another who would want as much control as she did was daunting.
“Let me help you with funding for your clinic, Alice.”
“Jamie, I don’t want your money.”
“It’s not mine. It’s ours, if you’ll have me. You’ve built something extraordinary, Alice. Let me stand beside you while you continue to do so.”
Her eyes softened. “I want that,” she whispered. Then, after a beat, “But can you truly move on? From Jackson, from the years he stole from you?”
He cupped her face, thumb brushing away a tear. “There will be nights when the darkness still comes. But I believe now I can face it with you beside me.”
She kissed his palm. “Then we’ll heal together.”
No more words were needed. They had not planned to find each other, and she knew their journey would have many twists and turns, but there was no one else Alice would rather traverse it with.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Jamie was runninglate, and today of all days, that was a terrible thing. He urged his mount forward through the narrow London streets. Sunlight speared between tall buildings, and above them, the sky was a startling, brilliant blue.
