Alexander pulled her back to him, tucked her in against his side like he couldn’t get her close enough. “Laurence may be many rotten things, but he knows what happened tonight. And he got his freedom, at last, just as I did. Though that wouldn’t have been the way we chose it.”
Julia felt the tension in him and stroked his back gently. She looked at her brothers-in-law. “You should go back home. Let Arabella and Evie know I’m well. I think Caroline had gone before I was taken, yes?”
“She went to tell Simone about the baby, I think,” Silas said, running a hand over his face. “I suppose they came back and found out about the trouble. They’ll want to see you, to know you’re well.”
She nodded. “I know. And I’ll come tomorrow and show them. Right now I need to…” She trailed off and looked at Alexander. He appeared so blank. “I think he might need me more.”
That shook him from his distraction. “No, I?—”
“I’m sorry, Castleton,” Silas said, and held out a hand. “It’s an ugly business. You two go home and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes,” Vaughn said, also shaking his hand. “And don’t worry about the horse. I’ll have one of my men get him. I think your cousin said you could have use of his carriage for Julia.”
Alexander nodded and they all walked out together. Said carriage was already waiting and they watched Silas and Vaughn ride away before he helped her up into it and joined her. She tucked herself into him as they rode away, back to Arabella’s old home.
She smoothed her hand over his chest. “I’m so sorry, Alexander. This was a terrible night.”
He looked down at her. “It was a wonderful night. You’re alive. That’s all that matters to me.”
“It is,” she agreed. “But it isn’t. Your grandfather was a horrible man, but he wasyours. I don’t for one moment think what happened isn’t devastating to you. And freeing. And crushing. And relieving. All those things all at once.”
He was quiet a moment and then nodded. “I don’t recall a time he was ever…good. But he wasn’t always evil. Tonight he was that. And all for control. What a waste.” He smoothed her hair away from her face. “I hate that you were hurt.”
“The bruise will heal,” she whispered. “And you saved me from the rest.”
“Even though you said not to,” he said. “As if I’d walk away from you, Julia. As if I wouldn’t take a bullet and then happily walk through fire for you.”
She leaned up and kissed him gently. He let her and then hugged her tighter as they rode in silence the rest of the way to her home. They got down together and went to the door. It took a moment of knocking for Parsons to answer and he was dressed in a nightcap and gown when he did.
“Forgive me, Miss Comerford, we thought you’d stay with—oh, miss your face!”
Julia reached out to squeeze his hand. “Dearest Parsons, I’m well. And Lady Blackburn is delivered of a healthy baby girl. You needn’t trouble yourself. Mr. Castleton and I will go upstairs. Go back to sleep.”
The butler didn’t look certain, but he left them and they walked upstairs together and into her room. There Alexander sat down on the settee before the fire with a long exhalation of breath that revealed just how exhausted he was. She moved to him and settled on her knees before him. He leaned forward and she cupped his face in her hands. “What can I do?”
“Just be here and whole and safe and alive.” When she tilted her head, he smiled. “You want more? Well, then tell me why you wanted to see me alone on the terrace before all hell broke loose? That was the last moment of joy before the world crashed down tonight. What were you going to say to me?”
She tensed. That felt like a lifetime ago. Her certainty that she could take what she want felt a little shakier now. But then she thought of the moment that gun had been pointed at her heart and she had feared she’d never see this man again. Never get to tell him how much she loved him.
And as she had that thought the first streaks of light from the dawn of a new day broke through her open curtains and hit his face, bathing him in a glow. And how perfect was that? They had come through the darkest night.
She’d been given a second chance. She’d be a fool not to take it now.
Alexander could hardly breathe as Julia stared up at him, her expression so filled with emotions. This had been the longest, more charged night of his life. He’d worried for her, prayed for the best outcome for Evelina and her child. He’d been torn apart by Julia’s kidnapping and the death of his grandfather. His entire life had been flipped upside down and now somehow he was alone with the woman he loved and he had no idea what she wanted to say after everything she’d been through.
She took a shuddering breath. “I should have told you that your grandfather called me to his home, almost two days ago now. He offered me money to leave you.”
He stared at her. “He did?”
She nodded. “I told him I would consider it. I suppose Ididconsider it, even planned to take the offer so that I could protect you.”
“Julia!” he said, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “My God.”
She surprised him by grabbing his lapels and yanking him down to kiss him. When she pulled back she shook her head. “I’m sorry, I just need you to be quiet. I’m not finished.”
He let out his breath. “Fine. Continue.”
“I-I love you,” she whispered, her voice broken. “I didn’t discover that when I was threatened, but before that. I knew the moment I held my niece and saw all the beautiful future she’ll have. That shedeservesand I started to believe I could deserve it too. And that Iloveyou. It’s sudden and sharp and beautiful and terrifying, Alexander, to love you. It’s everything and I never truly thought I’d find that, not even with all my novels and plays and romantic daydreams.”
