Victoria’s heart soared, racing through the heavens, and she met his ardor with her own, giving him the only thing he’d ever asked—her love. There was no stopping herself as she surrendered to the moment, for no one would be able to turn aside from such adoration.
Her chest heaved as the kiss slowed, but her breath and heartbeat sped when he spoke.
“I will not give up on us, Victoria.” The words were a pledge as fervent as any ever given from a suitor to his lady, and Elijah’s bright eyes glowed, echoing his words.
“But I am not free.”
“You are not married, so you are still free,” he replied.
“I will marry Mr. Kingsley if he will have me—”
Elijah silenced those words with another heady kiss, stealing Victoria’s few remaining faculties. When he released her again, she struggled to know what it was she’d been saying before.
“I will not give up on us, Victoria,” he repeated.
“That is not fair of you,” she mumbled. “How am I to think when you keep—”
A teasing grin flashed across his face before Elijah snatched her in another kiss. The one remaining shred of logic told her she ought to object, but rationality was drowned in the sheer bliss Victoria found in Elijah’s embrace and the bone-deep desire to remain there for all time.
When he released her lips, Elijah framed her face in his hands, holding her attention to him as he whispered, “My heart belongs to you.”
Heart filled to brimming, she felt his love burn through her veins, strengthening her as nothing else did. Elijah was everything she wanted, and there was no doubt in her mind that theirs would be a joyous pairing full of all she desired and dreamt of. For one brief and beautiful moment, Victoria allowed herself to dream of marrying him.
And yet…
Those insidious words crept into her mind, tainting those vain imaginings with the truth.
Elijah leaned in again, but Victoria pulled her face free of his hold.
“Please stop.” Her heart trembled in her chest, but Victoria clung to thoughts of her sisters. Steel threaded its way through her tone, giving her words a bite to them. “I am not free to welcome your overtures, Elijah. Can you not understand that?”
But rather than look repentant, angry, or anything sensible, Elijah dared to give her a tender smile, his hands dropping to her shoulders and drifting down to wrap around her waist.
“What I understand is that you are sacrificing your happiness for your sisters’ sake, providing for them while denying yourself. If you were merely ashamed of my low birth, then it would be easy to feel indignant because of your rejection, but you only care how it will affect your sisters’ prospects.”
Pressed close to him, Victoria felt his chuckle more than she heard it, and his smile turned wry. “Even though it runs contrary to my goal of securing you as my wife, I cannot help but admire your tenacity and dedication to your family.”
The mirth fled his expression, his eyes burning into hers as Elijah said with absolute conviction, “But I will not give up on us, Victoria. I will not force your hand, but neither will I surrender. And even if you should marry another, I will go to my grave with your name written upon my heart.”
No lady hearing such a declaration could remain firm. More than the words, Victoria saw his unwavering adoration in every facet of his expression; it burned in his eyes and radiated from his touch. Sending a cry heavenward, Victoria prayed for forgiveness; she was not strong enough to withstand it. Closing her eyes, she forced aside all thought and brought her lips to his.
***
Fishing was a diverting pastime, but Oliver couldn’t focus on it while his thoughts were so tangled. Stepping away from the other gentlemen, he gave all assurances to return shortly, though Father answered with a distinctly unhappy look that held more than a touch of warning. Letting out a sigh, Oliver shoved his hands in his pockets and tromped into the forest in search of a bit of quiet, as there was no peace to be found.
Oliver adored and respected his parents, but they were being so ridiculous. Though they no longer scolded him for his friendship with Miss Sophie, they gave him plenty of silent reprimands. Father was forever sending him hard looks that demanded Oliver’s obedience, while Mother’s eyes were filled with despair, as though he were careening towards utter destruction.
Couldn’t they see Miss Sophie was different from Mrs. Banfield and the rest of her family?
Though in all honesty, Oliver wasn’t even certain why his parents were so set against that family. Certainly, they were not the sort with whom he’d wish a close acquaintance, but what he’d seen of the family, they were not deserving of such animosity. Perhaps it was due to some misunderstanding. It wasn’t unusual for feuds to begin over minor irritations or miscommunications, and if Oliver could merely discover the source of the trouble, he might be able to mend the breach.
But then what?
Oliver halted in his tracks and shoved his hands in his pockets with a sigh. This was all pointless; it was not as though Oliver could maintain a friendship with Miss Sophie once his marriage to Miss Caswell was settled.
“Come to clear your head, Mr. Kingsley?”
The voice had Oliver jumping, and he whirled around to see Mrs. Banfield standing behind him. With a glance, he realized he’d wandered farther from the river than intended, and they were well out of sight.
