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Removing his arm from around her shoulders and straightening his stance, he took a moment to observe her. Sure enough, her eyes sparkled, and he couldn’t look away.

For years, he’d told himself that there would never be a female he loved more than his love for observing birds. But now he’d been proven wrong. Absolutely wrong. He was left with two choices. He needed to either give up his love for Miss Fernside and continue with his expeditions, or he needed to marry her and give up all he’d built for the last half-decade.

Such a decision should have been painful. Impossible, even.

But as he caressed her features with his eyes, watched as another tear trail downed her skin, Mr. Shepherd’s words echoed in his mind.

“What would be the purpose in partaking in an activity like this if I cannot share it with the one I love?”

Henry had always loved bird observing. But never more than this last excursion. Instead of the standard joy he felt when finding a new bird, Miss Fernside’s joy doubled his own. The same went for his excitement over each bird pursuit, each conversation, each rescue, and each new sighting. He felt all the same emotions, but they were multiplied to the point where he could hardly bear it.

Mr. Shepherd had been absolutely correct.

Why in Heaven’s name would Henry ever choose to give up a life with Lark Fernside when it would be exponentially better than anything he’d ever experienced alone?

He wouldn’t give it up. It was as simple as that.

But would Miss Fernside wish to do the same?

She must have felt his gaze on her, for in the next moment, she met his eyes. The very air between them pulled them closer, and Henry faced her more directly. When she did the same and her eyes dropped to his lips, a pleasant, nervous energy surged within him.

He took a step toward her, wanting to feel her kiss on his lips again, wanting to feel her in his arms forevermore, and more than anything, wanting to know what it felt like to kiss the woman he now knew he loved.

Before, he’d taken their kiss in steps, needing her approval, needing to test the waters of her affection. But now, the desire in her eyes was clear. Now, hesitance for what the kiss might do vanished.

For he was ready to give up anything and everything to be with Lark Fernside. He wouldn’t stay back a moment longer.

Lark saw the switch in Mr. Branok’s expression. Something warm had held his features before—a kindling of desire, but now fire flashed in his eyes.

In an instant, he closed the distance between them. His right hand slid round her waist, settling at the small of her back as he pulled her toward him. His left fingers slipped through her hair, cradling her head in his palm. Then his lips were on hers.

Lark only took a second to respond. Her arms wrapped around him, his firm back beneath her fingertips as she tipped her head to the side, kissing him with as much fervor as he kissed her.

Their mouths pressed against each other, working in unison, both of them expressing their desire to continue the affection for as long as possible. Lark’s heart had never beaten so powerfully, so wildly. But then, that was because she had never felt such love before—for Mr. Branok and from Mr. Branok.

Seeing the nightjar had been a dream come true. But sharing this moment with him was heavenly.

At the thought of him truly loving her, an overwhelming sensation of joy and peace rushed over her. How was she so fortunate as to have won his affection? She’d never known such a love could exist. It furnished her desire to be closer to him, to remove any remaining distance between their souls, just so she might connect even deeper than before.

She moved her hands from around his waist to slide up his chest before wrapping around his neck, bringing her as close as possible to him. He sighed in response, securing both arms around her, splaying his fingers across her as he felt every inch of her side and back, though he never strayed from propriety—for that was just the sort of gentleman he was.

For a moment, he broke off from their kiss, allowing her to catch her breath as he trailed his lips around her cheek and brow before capturing her mouth once more.

Lark couldn’t help but compare this kiss to the one before. Where once he’d been reserved, now he commanded attention. Lark was more than happy to surrender, if only because she trusted this man with her whole heart. She loved him with her whole heart.

Tonight had been perfect. Her time with him had been flawless. Old wounds had been laid to rest. Bridges had been mended. Hearts had been sealed together. And now, she and Mr. Branok would be able to…

To what? Have a future together?

The question slipped past her euphoria, shooting thorns of doubt onto the flowers of their affections, and her mood plummeted.

They had no future together.

Mr. Branok pulled back slowly, clearly sensing her shift just like before. He stared down at her, his eyes alight as he took her hands in his.

She couldn’t allow this to continue.

“Mr. Branok…” she began.