Was everyone in the church listening? Did it matter?
“She can have me,” Harry answered, “because my life is not worth living without you. I realized that from almost the moment you walked away from me.”
His words filled her with both joy and fear. “Oh, Harry, don’t say that.”
“I plan on shouting it from the rooftops. I tried to pretend you didn’t matter, that you were just another bed partner. That I didn’t need you in my life. I was wrong. When you refused to let me pretend I was doing what was noble, I was forced to question my motives. And I realized I could no longer hide from what I felt. I love you. Please, Portia, be my wife.”
It was so tempting. And then she remembered Lizzy’s warning. “I can’t. I don’t want to watch you die.”
His eyes took on sympathy. “I know, my love, but the truth is that not one of us will go on forever. And I want to make the days of my life meaningful. I’m a flawed man, Portia. I’ve made many mistakes and usually from my own hubris. You prod me to be better than what I am. You bring me peace. You’ve taught me to accept not only myself, but my fate.”
“I don’t want that fate for you,” Portia said, imploring him to understand. “I don’t want Fenella to win.”
“She won’t win,” Harry said, “not as long as we love. I now understand my brother, Neal. I understand why he has embraced loving Thea. While those on the outside of our family feel we Chattans are being punished for love, we know in our hearts we are the victors. Wechooseto love, and that will always be more powerful than Fenella’s evil.” He held out his hand. “Come to me,mylove.”
Still, she didn’t move. “If you die, I die. I love you that much. The pain would kill me. I must protect you.”
“It’s too late,” he said. He’d offered her his left hand. He now bent the fingers. “Do you think thatmarriage is necessary for love? I felt the first pain last week. Then the other night, it was stronger. The curse knew what was in my heart even as I was denying my feelings for you. I will deny them no longer, Portia. You can go your way, but I will not stop loving you. Come,be with mefor the time we have together. Live in the moment.”
Live in the moment. Fear left her. She reached for his hand, the fear left her. Yes, this was where she belonged.
With a triumphant laugh of joy, Harry brought her out into the aisle and lifted her up as if she weighed nothing. He swung her round and kissed her, right there in the church in front of everyone.
A burst of applause surrounded them.
Even the Scots had been moved by Harry’s declaration to her.
Portia kissed him back, realizing in his arms was where she was meant to be. She never wanted to spend another day as miserable as she had been without Harry.
Their kiss was more than a kiss—this was a welcoming, a promise, a commitment.
And when they were done, they could only stare in each other’s eyes, grinning like two happy fools.
It was the Reverend Ogilvy who brought themback to the moment. “May we continue with the Christmas service now?”
Harry bowed, directing Portia back into the pew and, squeezing his way into a seat beside her, almost dumping the general onto the floor. He held her hand as if he would never let it go—and he didn’t. Not through the service, or the Christmas dinner afterward hosted by General Montheath with her mother as hostess, or through the evening.
For Portia, it was enough to be with him. Her fevered anguish of the past days had evaporated, replaced by more happiness than she had ever known.
While the other guests and her family visited, she and Harry sat quiet and alone, just pleased to be in each other’s company.
But there was one question Portia had to ask. “Did you really see my cat, Owl?”
Harry appeared surprised. “The cat with the deformed ears? Yes, several times. I told you she came to me one night. Why are you asking?”
For a second, Portia was tempted to tell him that they were the only ones who could see Owl, and then decided against it. Whether Owl existed or not no longer mattered.
There was one piece of information she neededto share with him. Portia whispered in his ear that she believed she was with child. Perhaps she was being overanxious. It was too soon to tell, but she knew.
Instead of being alarmed, Harry hugged her, and she could see she’d pleased him greatly.
The curse would have to be brought to an end, but it would not be done so by them. They understood that now.
They had made their decision.
They would love and love well.
They were married by special license the day after Christmas, St. Stephen’s Feast Day.
