“Brawling here, too, Lord Devon?” she asked.
“No.” The word jumped out of his mouth.
“We’re not brawling, Lady Pennworthy,” Arthur said. “Merely brotherly diversions. But as fun as they were, I believe I’ll be leaving now. Visit me tomorrow, Devon, and we’ll discuss the details.”
Devon nodded, his gaze never leaving his wife’s face.
Lillian watched Arthur leave, bobbing a short curtsy as he passed.
“You don’t have to curtsy to him, Lil,” Devon said.
“So I’m told, but I can’t seem to help it.” She turned to him, her eyes alive and swirling with steam and heat, coffee and cream. “What can you mean, offering to pay Lord Needleham’s debt? Did he accept?”
“He did.”
She put a hand to her brow and swayed. He had her in his arms in moments, pulling her to Arthur’s abandoned seat. “Are you unwell?” He scraped a chair closer to her and took it, their knees interlocking as much as her skirts would allow—his, hers, his, hers. “This is all my fault.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I’m so sorry, Lillian. I did not behave as I should have. I ruined everything for you, and all I want is to give you everything. Because to me,youare everything.”
Her hands laid over his, and she pulled them from her cheeks, tangling their fingers together between their laps. “You cannot give your money to Needleham.” She stamped her foot. “I refuse to let you. What about Frederick’s? Your dream? I’ll not let you sacrifice it. I want to help others, but not if it means I cannot be who I am, and say what I think, and do as I wish. If I must turn my nose up at my husband’s attempts to defend my good name, I’ll not do it.” She stamped her foot again. She apparently meant business. It was damned adorable. “I’llnotdo it. I thought I wanted to be seen, but now I know I’d rather be heard.” She poked his chest. “Do.” Another poke. “Not.” Yet another poke. “Do it.”
He caught her hand and held it against his heart. “It’s already done, and I do not regret it.”
Her gaze sliced to him.
“Perhaps, honestly, I regretted it for a moment,” he amended. “A single one. But nothing is lost. Arthur just agreed to lend me the money to buy Frederick’s. It’s mine. Your wallflowers will be yours if you still wish. Needleham promised not to interfere and to help quell any rumors he hears. With that starchy prig in your corner, you’ll recover your reputation in no time.”
“I think I need a coffee. That is quite a bit to take in all at once.”
Devon rushed to the bar and brought her back a steaming cup.
She blew at the dark liquid, her eyes clearing behind the steam. “Hmph. Needleham could have said as much.”
“You spoke with him?”
“He was most obscure.”
“He does not wish anyone to know. His pride, you know.”
“What aboutyourpride? You wanted to earn Frederick’s on your own, with your own wit and will.”
He brushed her soft, sweet hand aside and reached into his inner jacket pocket. He found the letter where it always rested and held it out to her.
Her face softened. She recognized it immediately. “My letter. You should throw that thing away already.”
“Never. It taught me much. You’ve taught me much. I would not have this coffeehouse if not for you.”
“I did nothing. It was your own sweat and intellect and—”
“I might still be pickled through and through without you, Lillian. Your letter woke me up and made me feel something other than sorry for myself. It set me on the path to my invention, to Frederick’s, and to you. I’ve recently learned that men are not islands.”
“Of course not, they’re men.”
He laughed, a true, hearty guffaw.
The philosophers turned their way and lifted their mugs. “Huzzah!” they chorused.
Lillian laughed and smiled. “Why am I laughing? Why are you laughing?”
“Because I said much the same to your father. I think what he meant is that we rarely do things without the help, in some way, of others. You have helped me in innumerable ways, and I hope to spend the rest of my life giving back to you.”
