The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2(193)

"Remember, my love?" he asked in surprise. "Remember what?"



"The wedding was so wonderful, I almost knew it could become a nightmare. I was so happy, and then, well, I overheard all the horrible things they were saying about you, Will, my love, and instead of confronting them or you, I ran like a little girl. But I was so frightened," she admitted in a ragged whisper.



"I wanted you so much and it seemed like a dream come true. A little voice inside my head wanted to believe you, trust to love, but, well, when I heard what seemed to be common knowledge amongst the wedding guests, well, I suppose in my heart that I believed you were too good to be true. I thought I'd been tricked like Jane. That you were some vile, lying seducer only out to get my fortune. Or worse.



"I tried to find you, to talk to you, tell you what they were saying, only to find Parks speaking to the rest of your friends about how you had shot your former wife. When I heard that, I truly panicked. I wanted to run back to Somerset and hide from the world."



"I don't blame you. But blast it all if it wasn't the worst piece of timing ever."



She nodded. "But it's my fault too. I was such a fool. I wasn't just running from you because of what I had overheard from Fitzsimmons and Parks. I think I was really running from myself, from the incredible desire, magic, whatever it is that happens to us whenever we're together. It's just so powerful, it sets propriety, reason, and commonsense completely at naught."



Will took her hand and kissed it gently. "Oh, Elizabeth, it's like that for me too."



She snuggled closer to him on the window seat. "I thought it was the cave that was magical. Now I know it's us. Inside of us. An eternal love we share. I look at you and I know in some other time and place we've loved and laughed and been happy. And I feel that Vevina has watched over both of us, and our children, like a guardian angel."



Will nodded. "I don't know how or why. All I know is that I feel sure we belong together, my love. Now and always."



"You brought me back from the brink of death. You had faith in our love when everyone else had given up hope."



"There's always hope. And it was the least I could do when you had given it back to me after so many desperate years at war."



She stroked his cheek tenderly. "I think I do have one clue about some of this."



He kissed her brow. "Oh?"



"You may have talked a great deal about my brother to me, but there's one thing he might not have mentioned. I was born here. My parents were visiting here, and I was very early. It was completely unexpected. So this is truly my home. I've come back at last. And here I shall stay, with you, my love. I've come full circle. I think we both have."



He stared down at her. "What about Joyce Hall? I wanted to—"



She shook her head. "It's only a house. A very old one. Dark. I want to be in the light."



"Whatever you want, love, you can have it."



She hugged him tightly to her. "I want you to tell me you love me, darling, and that you won't take any foolish risks."



"I won't," he vowed. "I love you too much to lose my chance of happiness with you now."



They kissed heatedly for a time, until Will pulled away. "You're not well enough yet."



"No, not yet, but soon."



"Is there anything else you need to know about me, darling, so that you can be sure of me, of us and our marriage?" he asked in a gentle tone.



She shook her head. "No. I don't think so. Except if you want to tell me about your father, and Rosaria."



He sighed heavily. "There's not much to tell. Pa's heart gave out during the so-called questioning. Torture, so it was. It was bad enough having them do it to me. Seeing it happen to another person, someone you care about?"



He shook his head. "God forgive me but I was tempted. I thought of every single person I had ever disliked and thought, why not tell them what they want to hear? Give them names. Anything to get them to stop what they were doing to--"



"Sush, it's all right," she soothed, embracing him tenderly. "You didn't give them any names. That's the main thing."



He sighed heavily. "But even worse than watching what they did to my poor father was the thought of what they were doing to Vevina."



"Did they?" she gasped, her eyes wide.



He patted her on the shoulder reassuringly. "No, thank the gods. Samuel wanted her in order to further his plot. He tried to consummate the marriage, but I escaped and helped her get free just in time."



"You're a very brave man, Will."