Mr. Thornton’s heart leaped with a flash of hope, but he swiftly suppressed it. He would not be made a fool twice.
Mr. Hale was done with his duty and led Mr. Thornton to the parlor door. He cleared his throat upon opening it. “Mr. Thornton is here, Margaret,” he announced. “I’ve spoken a few words to him.”
Margaret remained turned to the window, silent.
“I’ll leave you both to settle the rest,” Mr. Hale mumbled. “May those who love the Lord seek to do His will,” he pronouncedin an awkward benediction before hastily withdrawing from the room, closing the door upon them.
All that Mr. Thornton longed for stood in front of him. Being in her presence was still a searing pleasure. As he gazed upon her, he admired every aspect of her graceful form even as indignation rose in him. Was he so repulsive to her she could not look upon him?
He resolved to explain himself quickly and leave at once. “I know this must be difficult for you—“
“You know nothing of my feelings,” she interrupted, her back still turned to him.
His brow creased in consternation at how brusquely she tossed his words away with hers. And yet they had been softly spoken. He waited, suspended in guarded expectation to hear what she would say.
She turned and flashed sorrowing eyes at him before bowing her head. “I have been foolish.”
His very breath stilled, and every muscle tensed. He could not move for fear he would break the spell of her contrition.
“You must forgive me. I spoke to you cruelly yesterday. You saved me from danger, putting yourself at risk, and I never thanked you.”
He stepped forward to speak.
“No!…please…let me finish.” She glanced at him briefly before returning her gaze to the floor.
“When we first met in London…for weeks afterwards whenever I went to a soirée or dinner party…I would look for you. Although I knew very well you lived far away,” she confessed haltingly.
She had looked for him?A rush of hope flowed through his veins, quickening his pulse.
“And when we met again here, in Milton, I was frightened…” she peeked at him from under her lashes with blushing cheeks.
“I was frightened because a part of me wished to say yes.”
He waited no longer, but swept forward, snaking his arms around her waist and drawing her close. “You will marry me…because you care for me?” he asked in a hoarse whisper, searching her face desperately for her answer.
Her mouth curved into a smile, her face inches from his. “Yes,” she uttered breathlessly.
Piercing joy charged through every part of his body, obliterating all his wounded pride. The change from his previous misery was so profound, that he blinked away the onset of tears.
He studied her face hungrily, incredulous that every curve of her cheeks, and chin, and lips was his to adore. He brought up a hand to cradle her face as some precious possession, caressing her check with his thumb as she trembled beneath his touch.
He brought his lips to hers, kissing her with an aching gentleness at first, then more desperately as her sweet submission to him flamed the fire of his desire.
He broke from her to place her arms around him as she had done the day before and clasped her close.
“Your father will be pleased,” he said, their noses almost touching.
“And your mother?” she taunted, her face still flushed from their delicious silence.
“My mother will approve of you, if you are pleasant enough to me,” he teased, unable to contain a wide smile.
“And what if I am saucy or contentious?” she asked, jutting her chin upward in mock defiance.
Her brazen playfulness ignited his burning passion. He pulled her body tight against his. “Then she will discover the truth—that you govern me completely.”
Chapter thirty-one
Margaret opened her eyes to the morning light. She glanced around at the walls, the framed pressed flowers from Helstone, and her childhood furniture. All these things were the same, and yet—everything had changed. She smiled at the recollection of all that had taken place the previous evening. She closed her eyes again to remember the tingling magic of his tender kisses.
