He sighed. Maybe she thought she did at that moment, but she might not tomorrow or the week after.
“I will leave the shop and go wherever you wish,” she insisted, the tears falling from her eyes, “because you are the most important person in the world to me.”
He was taken aback by her vehemence. After all, he knew how she adored her family.
“And because I won’t let you believe for another moment you’re not wanted.”
With those words, cutting to the heart of the anguish he’d felt for so many years, he set her from him. When she dashed at her tears, he produced a handkerchief and wiped her wet cheeks gently, then handed it to her to hold.
“Charlotte, I cannot forget what I saw.”
“You saw me telling a man how much I loved you and that I wouldn’t be blackmailed into giving him money. He wanted to tell you untruths about me, but I wasn’t scared for a moment. I know deep inside you trust me. You must, elsewise how could you love me as you do?”
Tears pricked his own eyes. He did love her with his whole heart and until that terrible moment in the park, he had trusted her implicitly.Why had he stopped?He should have given her a chance to explain.
“Now that I’ve told you,” she continued, “he cannot blackmail me. And after you clobbered him like that, I believe he understood you were not a man with whom he should trifle. After all, you are a barrister, and he is only an artist, and not a very good one at that.”
An artist!The passionate, poetic, dashing creature he’d imagined women admired. But not someone who could take a punch — that was certain.
“I shouldn’t have jumped to a conclusion that flew in the face of everything I know about you.” It was a miracle she had come after him.
“Dear Charles,” she said, blinking up at him. “I’m so glad I caught you. I would have followed you to the ends of the earth to make you understand how much I adore you.”
Reaching for her, he drew her once more into his embrace, bent down, and kissed her. Ignoring someone clearing his throat and another person exclaiming about her sensitivities, Charles felt Charlotte’s warmth race through him, easing his pain as she thawed his heart.
“Oh,” she exclaimed when he lifted his head. “I can feel your love tingling down to my toes.”
Her words, so artless eased the bands that had been squeezing his heart for two days. Besides he felt the same way, except it was more of a sizzle. Glancing down to see if his toes really were on fire, he realized the deck was tilting under his feet. They had departed the dock, and the people around them had moved to the railing on the other side of the ship.
At the same time, Charlotte let out a slight squeal before exclaiming, “Gracious! I don’t have a ticket. I gave the sailor confectionery.”
“Of course you did.” His delightful fiancée, for he had never stopped thinking of her as his, naturally paid people in sweets. “I will pay your passage.”
“And what about Delia?” she asked, her brown eyes filled with worry.
“I’ll pay her passage, too.”
“No,” Charlotte said, shaking her head and peering back the way they had come. “I left her on the dock.”
He couldn’t help laughing at her morose tone. Nothing seemed sad anymore. He couldn’t dredge up an ounce of worry or fear. He had the woman he loved at his side, and they were going to France.
Dear God!They were going to France, unmarried, having just kissed in front of a ship full of people. And she had no chaperone. What’s more, they would have to spend the night in a hotel and return via the morning’s vessel. Her reputation would suffer no matter what they said or did on the Continent. Unless...
“Charlotte, will you marry me?”
She giggled. “I already told you I would.” She reached up and stroked his cheek. “Have you been in the seaside sun too long?”
“I mean will you marry me when we get to France. You have family there as I recall, and then we can return to England as husband and wife.”
For a moment, she sunk her teeth into her full lower lip that he loved to nibble on.What were her thoughts? Did she have doubts?
“I suppose my parents have had the enjoyment of two church weddings for my sisters. As long as we have a splendid party when we return, then I see no reason why not.”
Then she frowned. “But what of your father? Won’t he be disappointed not to witness the marriage of his only child?”
Charles couldn’t help grimacing. “My father will definitely not be sorry to miss a wedding. They are among his least preferred events. In fact, we will be doing him a favor by getting it over with.”
“Then, my dear viscount, I say yes to France. We must go directly to my grandparents. They have a large apartment in Paris. Also, a farm that my father inherited when his older brother died last year, but I doubt we shall go there. Unless you want to. Oh, you will love the Foures, such warm people.”
