“I didn’t know,” he repeated over and over.
“Of course you didn’t,” she said at last.
He told her about England, about his efforts to create anti-slavery propaganda. “It isn’t enough,” he said in the end. “It will never be enough.”
“In many ways, no, but you are a different person now, a better one,” Nora said.
Seeing it in her eyes, he believed it. He leaned to her, never breaking eye contact. She met him halfway in the kiss he longed for, a kiss full of forgiveness and promise. His arms tightened around her; she slid her hands up his back to tangle her fingers in his hair.
How long they might have lingered in healing embrace, he would never know. A lyrical voice interrupted them.
“Uncle Jamie! You’re back!” Isabella bounced into the middle, hugging them both.
“Princess, back from Santo Spirito so early?” he laughed.
“I knew you would come. I told Mother you would, and she let me go.” Isabella sat up straight, shook her head until her black curls trembled and pointed her finger at him. “You left yesterday without coming in. You are very naughty.”
“I’m sorry, Princess,” he said, as joy welled up inside him. “It won’t happen again.” He looked at Nora. “I’m never going to leave again.”
Chapter Forty-Five
“She’s off to school,” Jamie announced, popping the last bite of a lemon biscuit into his mouth. He climbed back into bed. “I promised gelato this afternoon, or she might never have gone.”
Nora smiled up at her husband, content to look at his brown eyes and see them free of shadows, secrets, and sorrow, filled with love for her.
Jamie snuggled close. “How shall we spend the day?” he teased, kissing his way from her chin to her breast.
“I don’t know,” Nora teased back, her voice thick with pleasure. “Don’t you have to look for work?”
He flopped to his back. “I did promise the court, didn’t I?”
She nodded, running her hand up his flat belly to his chest, reveling in the textures.
“Mm,” he moaned. “Keep that up, and I will forget to tell you.”
“Tell me what?” she demanded.
“I don’t need to look,” he said. “I have work.”
She sat upright so fast the sheets fell away.
“The most beautiful sight in Rome,” her husband sighed, leering at her.
“Tell me,” she demanded.
“You are very distracting,” he said, slipping a hand between her thighs.
She slapped his hand away. “Tell me first,” she demanded.
“First?” he asked, cupping her breastwith one large hand.
“Jamie! Stop teasing.”
“I’m not teasing. I am very serious.” For several moments he concentrated on what he started.
When he pulled away abruptly, she fell down on her back with a moan of frustration.
“Very well,” he said, giving her a quick kiss on the lips. “We are free to linger in bed a few more mornings.”
