Alex’s body froze, and then he heaved a sigh, and one bemused eyebrow rose. He let out a measured breath. “Forgive me. What did you wish to say?”
His roguish half smile did her in.
She did have so much she wanted to say. Everything. She loved him. She wanted him by her forever. George was on the mend, she’d begun to forgive Christopher, she trusted God, and she yearned for change—and yet she could say nothing. Alex continued to study her, and she felt herself wanting nothing more than to fold into his embrace. And so, as her tears fell, she closed her eyes and stepped toward him, placing her head on his chest. He reciprocated the gesture, pulling her tightly to him.
Her tears flowed as she breathed in his scent and took strength from his touch before she finally had the mind to pull back. “You were wrong,” she managed. A perplexed gaze stared down at her. “About the stone.”
He tilted his head to the side.
She heaved a quick breath. “That stone wasn’t the only thing you stole.”
Alex didn’t move but continued to study her.
“You stole my heart, and I knew when I read your letter that you could never give that back, no matter what your letter said. The only remedy was to find you, to beg you to consider a life with me. If Christopher hates me forever, so be it. I am trying to forgive him. As for my other brothers, I will find a way to care for them once Christopher has become consumed with life in London like he usually does.”
At this, Alex stepped back. “Oh, Charlotte.” His voice was strained, wary.
One look at his pained face, and she saw the worst in his eyes. Why had she been so bold? Her mouth was always saying the most idiotic things. She tore away from him. “Forgive me. I... if your heart no longer feels as mine does, forget this ever happened. Here you came, in good faith, deliberately trying to rid yourself of everything, ready to move on...” Her hands started to shake, and she strode toward the castle. “I am so foolish.”
“No,” Alex said, running the short distance and grasping her hand.
His fingers around hers sent a hopeful sensation up her arm, but she turned her head and stopped. “You can tell me to leave.”
Alex stepped closer and closed his second hand over hers. “What I wanted to say was that I never,everstopped loving you. I have always wanted to be with you. I only held back in respect to you.”
“You... you mean it?”
“Yes,” he said, nodding emphatically. Then his shoulders fell. “But the last time we tried to be together, people were nearly killed. I should have taken that bullet, and George—”
“George is improving. And that wasn’t your fault. I don’t know if Christopher will ever come around, but I know now I will not leave my other brothers, and I can take care of them and be with you. You are what I choose.” She studied his eyes, which had grown relieved at the mention of George but now appeared dark again.
“I have no job, Charlotte. I will not work for Mr. Cartwright any longer, and Christopher has ruined my other chances here. I think it best I move to London to look for work.” He swallowed and studied the ground, as if trying to hide his humiliation.
“There must be some way,” Charlotte breathed. “Maybe we can stay at the Laurences’ until I figure out a way to make sure all of my younger brothers will be taken care of. We could go there on foot tonight and be married.” Her cheeks warmed at the boldness of her last statement. “Or I can find work somehow, and we can save and prepare for our marriage that way.”
“You deserve so much better than me. I have very little to offer you.”
Charlotte winced, and every part of her body screamed how wrong he was. “You have everything to offer me. You are the only person who’s ever understood me and truly cared about me. Please—I love you.” She let out a tight breath. “I realize now that proposing marriage right away was too much. I am happy to wait, to find work and save.”
Alex’s eyes widened, and something within them changed in an instant. He tugged her close to him and planted a kiss squarely on her mouth. “Your first plan was better,” he said, drawing back and then kissing her again. “I don’t know what you see in me, and it will not be easy, but we must hurry.”
He led her quickly to the edge of the park, where the path gave way to the castle, their feet crunching softly on the gravel. “This is the fastest way,” she said, squeezing his hands.
She took one step toward the castle when Alex threw his arms around her and yanked her back into the darkness of the shadows.
“Shh,” he whispered, clamping a hand over her mouth. “Someone is coming from the castle.”
Charlotte gasped, the sound of it only partially muffled by Alex’s palm. He kept a tight grip around her, and together they moved backward, deeper into the shadows.
Charlotte’s mind filled with dread. The silhouette could be none other than Christopher, and he was charging forward with full, emblazoned strides. How had he known? And who was watching George? She couldn’t be sure by the outline what it was, but in his hand he held some object. “Do you think he’s armed?” Charlotte whispered.
“Don’t speak,” Alex whispered back, pulling them into the shadow of a large tree. His tense grip seemed to confirm her own fears. Charlotte’s chest heaved up and down, her heart beating erratically. She uttered a silent prayer, hoping Christopher wouldn’t be able to find them.
The heavy fall of boots sounded through the crunching leaves. “I saw you here,” Christopher called out. “Charlotte, make yourself known. I heard your windows clattering and checked your room and found you gone.”
Charlotte didn’t move. This was her chance to be free of him forever. But if he was armed, there was no way to protect Alex.
“Jenkins, I saw you too.” Charlotte involuntarily shuddered at the tone of his voice.
