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“I’m so sorry—”

She gave a trembling sigh. “Can I rely on you, Rick?”

“Yes! Yes, I swear! I’ll never desert you again. My father was a weak man, and I was afraid I was cut from the same cloth. That I wasn’t fit to be a father. I ran because I knew I was facing the biggest challenge of my life, and I was convinced I would fail. I ran to Ward, because I knew he would help me find the strength inside myself I didn’t know I had. I wasn’t as clear in my mind about all that at the time. It was instinct that drove me. But I’ve had a week to think about it. And that is what I realized. My brothers, both of them, are worth ten of me, and I know it.

“I’ve resented Rob all my life for being perfect when I was flawed. And that is so unfair. Because he was the one who bore the brunt of our father’s weakness. Picking up the slack and taking care of the rest of us. And Ward, well,” his mouth twisted, “Ward doesn’t say a lot, but when he does it’s quite profound. He’s modest and kind and strong as an ox. And he’s always looked after me. He saved my life when I was three, you know.”

“Did he? I’m glad,” she said softly.

“Will you—can you forgive me Cecey?” he asked again, his chest aching as he wiped the tears off his cheeks and sniffed.

Cecey drew in an audible breath and launched herself at him, landing on his chest with a sob. “Oh Rick, I love you so much! I thought I had lost you!”

His heart leaped at her words, and he put his good arm around her as her hot tears fell onto his bare chest. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head said thickly, “I don’t deserve you!”

She sat back wiping her face. “I was so furious with you,” she admitted. “But then Hereward showed up and told me you hadn’t arrived in London, and I was so worried and frightened that something had happened to you. And then Bidenden came and—” her voice broke. “Oh, Rick it was horrible! The things he did and said—”

Rick’s heart clenched, and his stomach turned over. “Did he hurt you?”

“He strangled me to make me lose consciousness,” she admitted.

“My fucking God! If I’d known that I’d have shot him where he stood immediately!” he swore. “What else did he do to you?” Cecey’s face crumpled, and he drew her closer in alarm, fearing the worst. “It doesn’t matter, sweetheart. Whatever it was, it isn’t your fault.”

“He threatened the baby, Rick!” She sobbed openly now, and he held her close, feeling a helpless black rage that he couldn’t kill the man all over again.

“He’ll never hurt you again, my darling. He’ll never be a threat to us again.” He said, hoarse with rage. “By God if I’d known, I would have done more than shoot him. The death he got was not what he deserved. I should have torn him apart!”

“He kept his word, Rick.” Her words broke through his rage.

“What?”

“He told me if I agreed to marry him if he survived, he wouldn’t kill you.”

“I thought he was just a bad shot!” Rick’s lips twitched with the irony of it. Then the rest of what she said caught up with him, and he pulled back to look at her face. “You wouldn’t have married him, would you?”

She shook her head. “I would have stabbed him if I could. I tried, but he was too strong.” She nestled her head into his good shoulder. “He’s gone, and you’re right, he can’t hurt us anymore.”

“Duels are illegal. Technically I could be charged with murder. But I suspect Malmsbury will be unlikely to bring a suit against me. The reason Bidenden was so desperate was because the old man had all but disinherited him. But there is still the scandal to overcome,” said Rick gloomily. “Rob is going to kill me.”

“Hereward seemed to think he would applaud you for your action.”

“We will be lucky if he doesn’t pack us off to Europe. Do you fancy a honeymoon in Paris?”

She smiled and shook her head. “I’d rather stay here and see the harvest brought in. Remember we were talking about hosting a harvest festival? I started planning it while you were away to distract myself. We should hold it on the equinox, the 23rd of September.”

“Capital suggestion,” he said hugging her. “Do you think I might kiss you, Cecey? I’ve thought of almost nothing else since we were parted.”

She reached up and cupped his face and set her lips to his in a soft kiss that rapidly became heated.

“I’ve missed you too, Rick,” she said.

“I’m somewhat hors de combat,” he said. “But—”

“We’ll manage,” she said, pushing the covers aside and lifting her skirts, straddled his hips.

When she finally collapsed forward on his chest, he yelped softly, and she jerked up, full of apologies. Toppling sideways on the bed beside him, she snuggled into his good arm and sighed contentedly.

“How are you feeling?” he asked. “Is the sickness still bad?”