A Midsummer's Sin(24)
Her heart stilled then jumped into a rapid beat. She nodded slowly. “Yes.”
His eyes seemed intent on stripping her to the bone.
She shifted in her seat. “But I…I don’t expect…”
She bit her lip.
He pushed his chair back, stood and came to her, still studying her with a curious expression. He held out his hands. She placed hers in them and allowed him to pull her to her feet. He slipped his hands around the small of her back.
“What don’t you expect? You don’t expect me to be yours in return?” He smiled. “I always was, you know.”
“I am not the wife you need or desire. I know this. I am not of your faith and I never shall be.”
“You work hard. You know how to be dutiful. You love God, you are good and kind. You will teach my daughter to be gentle, loving and giving by your own sweet example. That and loyalty, that’s all I require in a wife.”
She laughed softly. “Who told you these things about me?”
“I had no need for anyone to tell me. I saw them with my own eyes.” He pulled away from her. “You are the wife for me. The only wife for me. If you won’t marry me, I shall be forced to be alone all the rest of my days.”
His green gaze shone with sincerity. She couldn’t doubt him any longer. A feeling as if she’d been holding her breath for over a year and just let it go overcame her. Warmth spread through her, building into elation. A smile tugged at her lips.
“In Cambridge village, I shall keep a farm as well as teach. In time, I expect to be very well-off. Yes, there will be hard work. But I can afford servants. You won’t have to do it all. It should be a very comfortable life for you.”
Her smile spread wider. “So you told me before.”
“It’s my offer, Rose, the best I can give.”
“You don’t owe me any promises. There is no debt here just because we’ve been lovers.”
“But there’s something even more important I have to tell you.”
“And what’s that?”
“I love you with all my heart. I see now that God has sent you, the perfect woman for me, to be my wife and helpmate. I know we shall deal well together.”
She gaped at him.
“Rose, please, don’t look at me like that. Say something.”
She searched his gaze for any sign that he was simply telling her what he thought she wanted to hear. She saw only sincerity.
His expression sobered. “All right, then. I understand your hesitance. You don’t love me, not like that, not yet. You said the things you said last evening because you felt pity for me and now you don’t know the way to take them back.”
“Oh, Thomas…” She moved from her chair and went to kneel beside him.
He smiled down at her, caressing her hair. “We have a special bond, you and I. We could be happy together. You could learn to love me in time.”
She gazed up at him, warmth filling her heart to rival the sunlight filling the kitchen. “But I do love you. I have always been in love with you. I want no other man.”
He seemed frozen a moment, his hand paused on her head. He looked as stupefied as she had been but a moment past.
“I want to marry you, Thomas.”
He pushed back his chair then reached his arms out to her. “Come here, my beautiful love.”
She took his hands and let him draw her into his lap. She put her hands on either side of his face. His rough stubble prickled her.
He smiled more broadly. “Let us be wed as soon as possible then.”
“Yes, oh yes, just as soon it may be arranged,” she said, leaning down to put her lips to his.