He stared at her and said nothing.
“I will not let you be alone, you cannot expect such of me after what I have just seen,” she repeated.
“You don't listen, duchess,” he declared. “Why is that?”
“Because I am yourwife, Colin!” she replied with no hesitation, her loud tone surmounting his. “You chose me as I did you, and heavens know, you surely did not pick me for my malleability! So I would advise you to accept your fate and sit back down!”
Colin’s jaw titled slightly, “I beg your pardon?”
Yet, Jane did not acknowledge his words, pushing on with no hesitation, “No matter whatever circumstances led us to this moment, I will be your support. No matter how hard it gets, I'll stand by you through thick and thin, as I promised!Thatis my duty!"
Her tone turned pleading. “Do not push me away, I will not let you.”
As she finished, her chest heaving and gaze locked on his eyes, a silence settled over them, echoes of the argument bouncing about.
Colin could not pull his eyes from the angry, beautiful woman before him.
He pondered on her words for a brief moment. Colin knew that she was right— that he needed her but his pride was in his way.
It took everything in him before he was finally able to summon the courage to accept defeat. To actually admit that for the first time in his life, he needed someone.
“You’re right.”
Shocked, Jane's eyes widened.
“Pardon?”
“Don't make me repeat myself,” he said softly, watching as a grin flashed across her face. “I owe you an apology.”
She stood there, waiting to hear him say those words even though she was still a bit surprised by his acceptance of defeat.
“I understand what you're trying to do, I really do.” He sighed. “It's just…I am not used to this— letting people in.”
“I know,” she said with a calm, soothing voice, “But I am not‘people’,Colin. I am your wife.”
“You're right.”
The weight of his confession hung in the air as he continued in a subdued tone, his eyes unable to leave hers.
“Can you stay with me, does the offer still stand?” At last, his plea revealed the depth of his emotions, his chest feeling lighter almost instantly.
“Of course, husband,” she replied, staring into his eyes. “I am not leaving your side.”
He felt a wind of relief wash over his face at the sound of her reassuring words.
Colin's internal struggle intensified as he now wrestled with the forbidden allure of his wife's presence.
The smile, love and affection so evident in her eyes seemed to beckon to him towards her. Colin cared deeply for her and she did not deserve the coldness he'd shown her earlier. Regardless, she still innocently offered him comfort.
She looked so beautiful and her alluring form caught his eyes but he knew this wasn't the time to get distracted by her physique.
"Tell me about your nightmare.”
Colin's expression shifted, a veil of pain descending over his features as he revisited the harrowing images from his dream.
"I fear it is far too gruesome details for a lady to hear," He hesitated, his voice tinged with reluctance.
"Then we shall call it a good thing you said it yourself; I'm nothing like a normal lady."
