“Elizabeth, you just restored my very faith in humanity. And I love you for it, woman. I love you with all my wretched, unworthy heart.”
Her eyes were moons of shock; Milton swallowed his nerves and tried again.
“Luv, I don’t know when, or if I always…” He was bungling this, damnation, when it was imperative he get it right. “I need you,” he blurted. “Not your breeding, not your education, not even your womb. I needyou, Lizzie, because I love you. And I’ve been an arse not to say it sooner, not to admit it even to myself. But I am telling you now how blessed I am to be your husband, how desperately I wish to undo every injury I ever caused you, every time my miserable, deplorable self failed to protect and uphold you, to love, cherish, and honor you.”
Her brow furrowed, for why should she trust his words? Why trust a blackguard at all?
“Lizzie.” He gripped her hands, his body trapping her against the wall. “I achieved all I ever wanted, but it was nothing next to you, nothing I truly needed. No blueblood ever stood up for me like you did, defended me before yourkind.” And it was true. It was suddenly the greatest truth he knew. “No one ever spoke so strongly on my behalf.” His eyes misted as he swallowed and blinked.
She gripped his hands back. “I’ve failed you too, Jasper.”
She took him utterly by surprise.
“I misjudged your motives and intentions, forever assuming the worst. I was rash to enter Finch’s lair alone with Annabelle, and impatient when you needed time and space to heal. I should never have given Bella your mother’s necklace, should never have entertained Paul Kilpert behind your back. I have disobeyed every one of your six rules so often I?—”
“No.” He shook his head. “You were never in the wrong, Elizabeth. I alone?—”
She held his hands, his eyes captive. “If you love me as you say, you must accept my apology, Jasper, because that is how love works. You must love me without bluster, without beating yourself to bits.”
Whowasthis woman?
“I am your wife, sir. And as your wife I will speak my mind.”
More like she read his mind.
“You will take my apology with grace,” she ordered.
She—ordered—him?
Milton bowed his head. Her forgiveness was too much.
“Permission to touch you, sir?” she asked.
“Christ, Lizzie, I was a beast! A cad! As evil as Finch or my father to order you and Paul to?—”
His heart hammered so hard his chest physically hurt. “I regret that day more than any other. It will always be a stain, a blight upon my soul.”
“Jasper, I do not excuse your actions, but I forgive you for them. As, I am sure, will Mr. Kilpert.”
She wasn’t real. And he sure as shite wasn’t worthy. He wasn’t?—
“You must also forgive yourself.”
“Never.” He vehemently shook his head. “But I’ll make it up t’ you. I’ll be the man y’ deserve, no more bloody rules. And none of society’s damn rules either. To hell with theTon, Lizzie, I’m done.” He didn’t care his speech slipped. He’d be himself, for fuck’s sake. “Y’ freed me, woman. Rescued me not just from Finch but from years o’ being slave t’ me own desire fer revenge.” His thoughts raced faster than he could form the words. “One slap, luv, one sweet, hard slap laid low me rotten sire an’ proved me worth t’ every nob in London, to th’ very world that bloody Duke upholds. An’ y’ did it better’n I ever could’ve, Lizzie, fer which I am more grateful than you will ever know.”
“Jasper—”
“I want naught more than t’ return all I stole from yer, wife. I’ll give it all back, pay yer father a thousand times over if you’d but?—”
Her lips locked on his with a passion he was overjoyed to discover. Elizabeth kissed him with such relish that when she finally tore free, her eyes demanded answer.
“I don’t think I can wait, luv.”
“Nor I, husband,” her lips quirked.
Milton kicked open the door beside them and hauled his wife into the room. They’d consummate their marriage for real this time, in his father’s bloody house.Fuck him.
***
