“Well,” he said. “That’s a very large package.” He tested the heft of it, then smiled up at her as he began to open it. “A new saddle?”
“You don’t have a horse.”
He moved aside the paper and pulled out a shirt. Not just any shirt, but one made of the finest linen money could buy. “Because your good shirt was ruined that night.”
“Ah. Indeed it was.” He held it up to examine it. “It is perfect. Thank you, Hollis.” He put one arm around her and kissed her cheek. “Now may we talk about what happened tonight?”
Hollis pressed her hands to her abdomen. “Whatdidhappen?”
Donovan laughed. “The stuff of dreams, love. A man declared his love for you and asked you to run away with him. You cannot imagine how many times in my life I’ve dreamed of that very thing. And there you were, standing like a simpleton—”
“A simpleton! I was in shock!”
“And letting the poor chap lubber on.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “I was speechless!”
“Aye, of course you were. Didn’t think Brendan had that sort of surprise in him.” He grinned, thinking about it. “You’re going to go, aren’t you?”
Hollis instantly sobered. “No. How can I? My family is here.”
“Here? No. Half your family is in Alucia, which, I dare say, will be easier to reach from Wesloria than from England. The other half is dispersing to the country. And if you want to know what I think, your hesitation is not about your family at all. I know what keeps you from making this your Christmas wish.” He sat on the settee, his arm stretched along the top of it.
“What?” she asked, sinking onto the settee beside him.
“Me. Ruth and Mr. Brimble, of course, and Mrs. Plum. But mostly me, I believe.”
She couldn’t deny it. She loved Donovan. And if she wasn’t here, who would protect him? Who would love him? Where would he live? “You’re right,” she said morosely. “I can’t leave you, not after what you did for me after Percy died.”
Donovan picked up her hand and kissed it, then held it tight. “I think we might start there. I love you, Hollis, I do. The reason I stayed when he died is that I couldn’t bear to see you with all that grief. And then—then our friendship blossomed and I didn’t want to leave you because I cared about you and didn’t want to see you alone.”
“But now?”
“But now, you’ve found someone who loves you better than I ever could. I want you to have that.”
“But what about you? I care about you, too, Donovan. I don’t want to leave you alone.”
“Well that’s the beauty of this, then. I won’t be alone. What have I always said?”
He’d said so many things. “Don’t fret?”
“Aye, don’t fret for me.” He shifted forward. “Where do you think I go in the evenings? Thereissomeone, Hollis. There has been someone for a long time.”
Someone. What did that mean? Why had he never said so? “What are you...? Do you mean you have a...?”
“Lover,” he said for her. “Someone I care for very much and have for a year or so now. In Maida Vale.”
Hollis gaped at him. How could she not have known? She suddenly pulled her hand free and backhanded his shoulder. “Why did you never tell me?”
“And have you fret?” He reached for her hand again. “Trust me, love, it is better for you if you know very little. I would never have you involved in anything I’ve done.”
“But I—”
“Listen to me, Hollis. This is not about me—I will not be alone and I’ll be perfectly fine. This is about you. You don’t want to be alone, but you might be if you hesitate. You love him, don’t you?”
She gulped down a sob and nodded. “Very much, I think.”
He smiled as if that genuinely pleased him. “I will miss you as I’ve missed Percy, but go, love. Find your happiness again. You were the best wife to a good man. But you could be a better wife to this man. And he could be a better husband to you.”
