He took her hands into his big, warm palms. “But I’m glad to help ye out. Ye know I wish to see ye again. Ye know I wish for much more.”
She nodded. “I know.”
He sighed and released her. “And ye, Miranda—do ye wish for something more than a convenient escort?”
She pinched her lips and her hands began to tremble because she wanted so much to admit how deeply she cared for him.
But to take the leap and marry him?
This cursed fear still overwhelmed her. Would he continue to hold her in admiration once the beautifultondiamonds began to flutter around him?
“Let’s see how we do once we reach London and fall into our routines,” she replied with an indulgent smile that felt as false to her as it must have appeared to him.
He rose and escorted her back to the guest room she shared with Gwenys. “Och, when are ye going to trust me?”
“I do trust you. Oh, Bram…” She was going to cry again if they continued this conversation.
He sighed. “Dinna give me tears. I’m no’ going to leave ye. Nor will I ever disrespect ye. Iwantye by my side. Do ye no’ see how good we are around each other?”
She blushed. “I do see it. I do want this, but I had this same feeling before.”
“When ye were an innocent lass of eighteen and easily tricked,” he muttered. “May I add that yer husband had to be the biggest horse’s arse in existence to ever choose Lady Trowbridge over ye? Seriously, he must have been kicked in the head by a donkey when he was a lad, because that woman is poison and no man in his right mind would ever choose her, even on pain of death.”
She laughed. He made her feel so good. It always felt so easy to be around him. “Bram…”
“Aye, love?”
She took a deep breath. She wanted to tell him that she loved him. But the words would not come out yet.
“Pleasant dreams, and thank you for helping me out with Gwenys.”
She hurried back to her room, unable to bear the disappointment in his eyes.
Why could she not get over this hurdle and choose happiness?
But that was the problem. Did she dare trust this happiness would last?
Chapter Twelve
“We’re here,” Mirandasaid with excitement, her face against the window of Bram’s carriage as it rolled to a stop in front of a stately townhouse in London’s elite Mayfair. Bram noticed that the wisteria bowers framing the entry doors were beginning to bud and would soon be in full bloom. This made him think of the purple heather in the Highlands, and he yearned to be back home even though he had just arrived here.
Having heard so much about Duchess Square and the neighbors who had become Miranda’s good friends, Bram was eager to learn more about this elegant enclave and meet the ladies she had come to regard as sisters. “Wait for the carriage to stop before ye leap out, Miranda,” he said with a chuckle, although he was not really feeling much amused.
He and Miranda would now part ways. This moment he had been dreading for days was rougher on him than he’d thought. She had worked her way quite deeply into his heart.
As for him, he would leave a piece of his heart behind with her once they separated.
Last night, he’d thought for certain she was going to tell him that she loved him. She was almost ready to take that leap.
Almost.Just not yet.
Bram climbed down first and helped the two ladies alight.
Gwenys immediately tore next door when she noticed a lady stepping out of a neighboring residence. “Gwendolyn! We’re home!”
Miranda watched her niece sprint off and chuckled. “Oh dear. We’ll have all our friends rushing out to greet us now.”
Within moments, her words came true. Several ladies emerged from nearby residences and darted across the small, flowered park situated in the center of the square. They raced toward Miranda with squeals of delight and broad smiles.
