“No, I don’t suppose it should have,” Lawrence agreed.“But I understand and I do forgive your mistake.”
“Did you at least catch the right man in the end?”Samantha asked.Her voice was steady, though it did sound as though she was gritting her teeth.
“I did.Turns out it was Clive Newton.”
“Really?”Samantha would have sat up, had the physician not used a firm hand to hold her against the table.
“He’s…in a safe place,” Adrian added, already regretting how much he’d said in front of Lawrence and the physician.“I’ll speak with him later, after I help you get home.”
“Thank you, but you don’t have to do that,” Samantha told him.The physician tied off the thread he’d used and placed a compress on top, which he secured with a bandage.“I can easily take a hackney on my own.”
“Absolutely not.”If there was one thing he needed to do for his own peace of mind, it was see her safely back to Clearview.“I’ll escort you as soon as you’re ready.”
“But what ab—”
“We’re not discussing this.”Hoping to avoid additional protests from the stubborn woman, Adrian told the physician, “I’ll pay you whatever you’re owed.”
He made the innkeeper a similar offer before taking his leave, assuring him he’d cover all the repairs if he sent him the bill.Once in the street, Adrian hailed two hackneys, one for himself and Samantha, the other for Lawrence.
He handed Samantha up into the first one and turned to Lawrence.“I’d also like to express my sympathy for your brother.Losing the use of one’s legs cannot be easy.”
“He’s in a terrible state, truth be told.It’s a daily struggle.”
Adrian could only imagine.He nodded.“Once again, my apologies for what happened.If there’s any way in which I can make it up to you, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you.I’ll keep that in mind.”
Adrian nodded and gave directions to his driver before climbing into the carriage.It took off as soon as the door had been shut.
“What the hell were you thinking?”he asked.The dread he’d experienced, briefly buried while he dealt with Newton, pushed its way back to the surface.“You could have been killed, Samantha.Did that thought enter your head even once?”
“No.”She leaned against the opposite side of the carriage, her gaze on the dark view beyond the window.“I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye.When I turned, I spotted a figure leaning through the window across the way.Despite the dark, there was no question about his intentions, and in that moment, my only thought was of saving you.”
Adrian’s heart shivered with some sort of deep ineffable feeling.His arm came around her, drawing her close to his side.He pressed his lips to the top of her head – a gentle kiss to comfort and reassure her.
“Promise me you won’t ever do something so foolish again.”
A soft laugh rippled through her.“You ask the impossible.I cannot curb my instinct.Nor would I forgive myself if I stood by and watched you get hurt when I was in a position to stop it.”
“Samantha…”
“Don’t tell me to do what you yourself would not be able to, Adrian.”
He sighed.Perhaps a different subject of conversation would serve them better.“Harlowe won’t be pleased when he sees you like this.”
“He’s furious with me after last night.Ordered me to stay in my room until further notice.I’m not supposed to be out of the house.”
“Another reason for me to see you home.”He caught her hand and gave it a squeeze.“As your fiancé, I’ve every right to your company, Samantha.I’ll remind him of that.”
She sighed.Her head settled heavily against his shoulder.“He’ll see I was shot and will want to know what happened.And besides, our engagement isn’t real.With Newton caught, there’s no reason to keep up the ruse.”
“Isn’t there?”That deep indefinable feeling filled him once more, only this time it twisted and turned as though trying to free itself from something awful.
He took a deep breath, focused on what it was like to have her back in his arms safe from harm, on the warmth of her hand, the soft exhale flowing over her lips, that sweet scent of jasmine caught in her hair.
“I’d be a liar and a fool if I didn’t admit my fondness for you.You’ve proven a constant friend, beyond supportive at every turn.To be honest, no woman has ever impressed me more.”He drew her a little nearer.“Add to that the fact that we get along, enjoy similar interests, and share an attraction.I believe I’d be making the biggest mistake of my life if I didn’t propose to you in earnest.So I ask you now, Samantha Carmichael, if you will do me the honor of taking me as your husband.”
A brief hesitation followed.It was enough to make his stomach contract.But then she lifted her head, allowing their gazes to meet while she gave him her answer.“I will.”
