James studied him carefully. “You do realize I’m the heir and that nothing will change that?”
“I do.”
“So you would in effect be acting like a steward, of sorts.”
“Seeing as I amyourheir,” Michael said with a smile, “I would consider it time well invested in our family’s future.”
“It would certainly be a great help to your grandpapa,” James admitted “As for me, I’d be able to keep on working, provided my career can still be saved.”
“And if it can’t?”
“Either way, I’ll figure things out with Mina.” Whichever decision he made, it would affect her too, so he had to make certain he had her approval.
The carriage drew to a halt outside Doctors’ Commons and both men alit. Half an hour later, they had the special license. An hour after that, they’d made arrangements with the priest at St. James’s Church and agreed that he would stop by Cynthia’s home the next afternoon to officiate the wedding between her and Michael.
“Would you allow me to have another word with your daughter before we go?” Michael asked Wilhelmina once he and James had provided her with an update a short while later.
“Of course,” Wilhelmina said. “I’m sure Mrs. Rubins would be happy to show you up.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Lawson.”
“Please call me Mina,” Wilhelmina said.
Michael agreed to do so from now on and followed the maid up the stairs.
21
Wilhelmina reached for James’s hand and drew him into the parlor. “I’m ever so grateful to you for helping secure the special license and making sure the priest can come by as soon as tomorrow.”
He wove his fingers between hers and smiled with so much warmth it filled her heart to overflowing. “Think nothing of it, Mina.”
“But I do. Considering how opposed you initially were to their marrying, your change in stance deserves my sincerest thanks.”
“A great deal has changed since you and I first met. And I wager much will continue to change in the coming weeks, not only for Michael and Cynthia but for the two of us as well. Which prompts me to ask you a pertinent question.”
“Yes?”
“If your reputation were restored, would you want to remain in London, or would you rather return to Renwick?”
“That depends,” she said after careful consideration.
“On what?”
Noting the keen expectancy in his eyes, she took courage and said, “On whether you and I are married or not.”
“I’ve already told you I plan to propose.”
Her heart beat faster. “Then I suppose I’d choose London since this is where you’d need to live in order to be near the courts.”
“Mina, after everything you have sacrificed in your life, for your daughter and for Mr. Hewitt and his new wife, I think it would wreck me if I believed you were giving up more for me.” He drew her into his arms and held her tight. “I want your happiness, Mina.”
“And I want yours.”
His chest rose and fell against her breasts. Drawing back, he gazed into her eyes with such overwhelming affection it stole her breath. And then he kissed her, slowly and lovingly, as if determined to make her believe he would always be by her side from now on, no matter what.
“My career has suffered because of Cloverfield, and I’m not sure it will survive the damage he’s caused. But maybe that’s not a bad thing.” His expression grew pensive. “What would you think of the two of us moving into your cottage in Renwick?”
His suggestion rendered her speechless for a moment. Since realizing she and he would form a more permanent attachment – that he intended to offer marriage – she’d been contemplating what to do with her cottage and had decided last night that she’d probably have to sell it. Which of course meant giving up on her new business. But if James wished to live there then…
