“Ruth, there are so many things I’ve yet to say.” He stretched and again threaded his fingers with mine. “My father wasn’t happy at me demanding to marry you. He’d picked out an heiress, a Mayfair neighbor’s daughter.”
I reared back, smiling big and proud. “I’m an heiress. When my papa calms down, you could discuss a dowry.”
“No, Ruth. I don’t want his money. My father begrudges me nothing, but he wants me to have a safe life. He wants me to assimilate into theTon, to pass for something I’m not. He’d hate me having to sneak you into inns or seeing you sit in the rear of St. George’s.”
The passion, the angst in his voice barely masked his pain, feelings he’d never expressed. He’d always had jokes and punny phrases.
“Adam, you’re working yourself up. What is it that you are trying to say? You’re unhappy with me? You already have regrets?”
“Never think that. I could die a thousand times and will awaken in glory always loving you. I think I’ve outwitted Uncle Soulden. We just need to be undetected a little longer so my father can dismantle the dangerous man’s business.”
My husband was trying again to dissuade me, but this tactic wouldn’t work. I’d offer him a compromise. “Once we see my parents, we can leave. You can take me anywhere. I’ll go anywhere with you.”
“No one can see us but your parents. My sister Cicely has been sent away to school to keep her safe while my father seeks legal redress against Uncle Soulden.”
There he was using those big words, biting that wonderfully soft lip which he should save for kissing. My husband, thoughtful, educated, and in love with me. That was all that mattered. “Our love is enough. We can do anything.”
I smoothed my hands against his waistcoat. “Always so serious, always checking corners, watching for evil that never comes. You’ll fret yourself into a head of gray hair, or worse, it will all fall out.”
His tell-tale full lips drooped into a deeper frown. “You wouldn’t adore me if I were bald?”
“Of course I would.”
He smiled for a moment, then peeked out the window.
Were we being followed?
“Adam, when will joy hit you? I’ve spent five days as Mrs. Adam Wilky. I’m happy.”
He retook my palm and played with my thumb.
My heart beat like a drummer boy.
“Sorry. I’m going to be like this until we get to London, see your parents, then disappear. Then you’ll promise to listen to my cautions.”
“Yes.”
“No more making me rethink my plans?”
“Why would I agree to that? You need someone to keep you from brooding.”
A hiss siphoned through his lips and fluttered one of my drooping curls.
“Brooding but lovable.” Adam embraced me, wrapping his rail-thin arms about my waist. “I love you. I’ll love you forever.”
“When we settle, sir, point me to a kitchen. I’m going to fatten you up, make you overflow with happiness and tender beefsteak. You’ll never regret choosing me, to live like me. And I’m going to do my best to keep you distracted from nonsense.”
“You will, aye?” He kissed my nose. “Ruth Elizabeth, myloosey-gooseyRuthy, my queen. You’re my heaven. How can I fear anything when you finally promised to be mine?”
His head dipped. I sniffed more of his savory cologne and the daisies I so loved.
Then he took my lips.
His kiss made everything right.
Our happy forever had begun.
Chapter Three
