Miss Leigh merely gave him a placating smile that was as false as paste stonework. “I am well aware of marital status and appearance, Mr. Archer. And you needn’t apologize for your natural reaction to my unattractive self. You are free to feel as you wish without needing to beg forgiveness. It is no mortal offense.”
David moved before he could think better of it, pulling her flush to him and encircling her in his arms. Miss Leigh’s gaze widened, and he dipped his head closer, stopping a hair’s breadth from seizing her in a kiss. No matter what he wanted to do, that would not help matters at present.
But with her full attention on him, he spoke in a tone that, though low, held all the conviction he felt. “You are not plain, and I will not stand here and listen to anyone disparage you—even yourself.”
Miss Leigh’s brows rose in challenge. “No number of hollow compliments will make a lie the truth, Mr. Archer. I heard what you said about me.”
The words were spoken as though it was a gauntlet thrown, awaiting a response. She was so certain in it that David’s stomach began to sink.
“I do not know what you are referring to,” he said.
“You and Benjamin were discussing your possible Mystery Lady—that pinnacle of womanhood—and you couldn’t believe for one moment that I could be that goddess among mortals. She was so perfect and lovely—”
“I couldn’t believe it because you weren’t dressed in a costume. I saw you with my own eyes, so you couldn’t be that masked lady, and surely you would’ve given some sign that it was you,” said David with a frown. “It was a shock to consider you in that light simply because it hadn’t crossed my mind. I freely admit I was a lackwit for that.”
His toes were on the edge of a precipice. One more step would launch him into the unknown. With so much damage done to her poor pride, he knew what needed doing, but his throat clamped shut. Though it was clear that Miss Leigh felt something significant when it came to him, only a fool would trust a declaration would be well received at that moment.
Where did her heart lie? Was it merely pricked because of the supposed rejection? Or did she feel more for him? The odds were too distorted for him to feel comfortable placing any wager on it, but David knew there was no chance this would end well if he didn’t try.
Miss Leigh stood like a statue in his arms, but her gaze held his, those lovely eyes of hers saying more than her lips. He could see the stony resolve faltering, and he prayed that he would know the proper words to say.
“I know I have been blind, and that you’ve watched as I’ve searched in vain for some phantom of a lady, thinking her the perfect partner for my life, but the expression of disappointment you saw that night wasn’t because I didn’t enjoy the kiss.” He paused, drawing in a fortifying breath before hurrying to say, “It was because I had wanted you to be her.”
Her hands rose and pushed against him. “And what does that matter? Am I only worthy of your affection if I am some fantasy, come to life? Otherwise, I am invisible—the plain old Katherine Leigh—”
“No!” he said, the word sharp. “Do not say such things—”
“But they are fitting. I am like an older sister to you.” Though her chin did not tremble, her words wobbled just a touch. “After you laughed at the prospect, you said those very words, Mr. Archer.”
Closing his eyes, David dropped his head with a sigh. Truly, he was a fool. How many times had he cursed all the thoughtless people who caused her pain? And yet in the end, his careless actions and words had done more damage. His throat tightened around his words, though he didn’t know which ones to offer up.
“I do not know what to say. What penance to complete. What reassurances I can offer or explanations to give. I have always respected you greatly, Miss Leigh, but I do know that I have made some terrible mistakes.”
With his hands resting on her back, David couldn’t help but brush his thumbs against her, gathering the strength he needed.
“I took you for granted, Miss Leigh. You were my friend and companion for so long, slipping into my life with little fanfare, invading every part of it before I knew what was happening. I can’t even say when I fell for you, but I know now that I love you. I have for some time, even if I was too blind to see it.”
Miss Leigh’s muscles loosened, her eyes widening as she gaped at him.
“I admit I was fixated on that silly Mystery Lady because I wasn’t thinking of romance or marriage before she swept into my life,” he said with a shake of his head. “My thoughts were full of my family and all those responsibilities, and she opened my heart to the possibility of what I could have. And as I searched for her, I came to see that I’ve had that for so long—with you.”
David’s mouth dried, his gaze lowering to her collarbone as his fingers grazed her back. “And when I kissed you, I hoped you were the same lady who had inspired those feelings. That there was one lady only who captured my heart. That the answer is and always was you.”
*
That certainly painted her memories in a new light. Katherine struggled to sort out her realities, but her thoughts couldn’t seem to make any sense of them. Not with Mr. Archer’s hands caressing her back in such a manner whilst he said such tender things.
He loved her?
As much as she’d longed to hear those very words, Katherine couldn’t believe he’d actually said them. Had it been her imagination? Was she asleep and her dreams had simply conjured this moment? But she didn’t think even her imagination would create such a scenario, with papers and books crumpling in her arms as she struggled to breathe properly.
“Please do not leave me,” he whispered, his head lowering closer to hers. “I cannot bear to lose you.”
Lightening broke from the heavens and struck Katherine’s heart, shattering it whilst the fog in her mind cleared to show her the truth standing in front of her face—Mr. Archer knew of her plans and didn’t wish to lose his chum.
Katherine Leigh truly was a fool of the highest order. Despite having known his feelings from the start, her silly little heart couldn’t help but pitter-patter with him so close. It was merely the memory of his other embraces that had her pulse racing so, but one’s decorum shouldn’t be so easily disrupted. Mr. Archer had kissed her a few times now, and it had altered nothing. Not for the better, at any rate, so there was no need to allow it to sway her now.
“Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Archer,” she said, freeing one hand to pat him on the chest as though he were a puppy, and that helped her breaths to deepen. “You’ve always been a stalwart friend.”
