Her throat worked. “Of course they have,” she breathed. “But that doesn’t change reality.”
His hand came up to cradle her face, thumb tracing the faint curve of her jaw as if he were memorizing the feel of her. “Reality,” he said softly, “has done nothing but stand in my way since the day I met you. Reality is negotiable."
"Not this reality. Gabriel, I care for you too much to let you destroy your life for me."
"And I care for you too much to let you walk away without fighting for you."
"There's no fight to win. This isn't a battlefield where courage and determination can carry the day. This is society. Where the laws of decorum are quite unyielding.”
“Conventions are made only to be defied by those with spirit.”
"Not these rules. Not without consequences that would destroy us both."
He kissed her then, desperate and passionate, as if he could convince her through touch what words couldn't achieve. Clara kissed him back, allowing herself to feel everything she'd been suppressing all day, the jealousy of watching him with Miss Ashworth, the fear of Lady Agatha's threats, the devastating knowledge that their time was running out.
When they finally broke apart, both were breathing hard.
"Stay tonight," Gabriel said. "Just tonight. Let me hold you."
"That's what you said last night, and the night before."
"And I'll keep saying it every night until you leave."
"Gabriel…"
"Please, Clara. Give me these three weeks. After that, if you want to go, I won't stop you."
“Do you give me your word?”
“I shall allow you to make your own choice when the time comes, upon my word.”
"That's not the same as promising not to stop me."
"It's the best I can offer."
Clara knew she should refuse, should pack her things and leave that very night before the situation grew worse. But the thought of three more weeks in his arms was too tempting to resist.
"Three weeks," she agreed. "But we maintain boundaries."
"The boundaries have already been destroyed.”
"The important one isn't."
"Is it so important?"
"Yes. Because when I leave, I need to know that what we had was more than just physical desire."
"It's already more than that."
"Then prove it by respecting this one limit."
Gabriel pulled her closer, resting his forehead against hers. "You're asking me to be a saint when every instinct is telling me to be a sinner."
"I'm asking you to be the gentleman you pretend not to be."
"That's even harder than being a saint."
"I have faith in your ability to surprise yourself."
