Page 31 of Tales of a Society Nothing

“And here I thought you’d be happy to see me,” he panted, echoing her words from a few days ago.

“Ambrose!” She lowered the pistol and crossed the room in two strides. “You’re soaking wet and breathing like you’re Pheidippides just come from Marathon.”

He nodded, bending over to catch his breath.

“Ambrose, you should lie down. You’re still injured.”

He shook his head. “Just give me a moment.”

“Is something wrong?”

“No.” Then he looked up at her. “Yes.” He grabbed her hand and sank to his knees.

Her eyes widened. “I’ll have Vicky call for a doctor.”

“No. I’m fine. I’m better than fine. I was afraid you’d be gone.”

She opened her mouth then closed it again.

“I know you were leaving. I can hardly blame you. All this time has passed, and I haven’t changed a whit.”

“I would never ask you to change.”

“No, you wouldn’t. That seems to be something I do—something Ididfor years during our marriage. I tried to make you into someone you weren’t, and I regret that. Maggie, I’m so sorry that I didn’t appreciate you as you are. That was wrong.Iwas wrong. You must forgive me.” He had to break off and take a breath, but he squeezed her hand.

She squeezed it back. “I forgive you. Now stand up—”

He shook his head. “I’m not done. I should have told you every day—nay, every hour, how amazing you are. How much I love you. How much you mean to me. I should have said it every minute, every second.”

She raised a brow. “That seems a bit excessive.” Her voice was steady, but he saw the way her eyes welled.

“Never. I was a fool. I was—Iam—an idiot. I know you want to go, and I won’t stop you. But I didn’t want you to leave without me telling you I love you. I love you, Maggie.”

She removed her spectacles and wiped at the tears streaming down her cheeks now. “I love you too. I don’t want to leave, Ambrose, but I don’t want to end up hating you. I can’t be the person you want—”

“You’re wrong. You are exactly the person, the wife, the agent, I want. It just took me all these years and almost losing you twice to realize it. I know it seems like I haven’t changed, but I offer you this”—he indicated his position on his knees—“as proof that I have. That I am changing. That I will keep changing.”

She pressed her lips together, and he could see the conflict within her.

“It won’t be easy. You might have to knock me over the head a few times. You might have to set me straight, but I’m on my knees, I’m begging you. Please give me another chance. Giveusanother chance.”

She wiped her eyes again, set her spectacles aside, and sank down before him. “I hate seeing you kneeling before me. That’s not what I want—for you to grovel.”

“No groveling then.”

She smiled. “Maybe a little groveling is warranted—from time to time.”

“I’ll do whatever you want if you’ll just be my wife. My partner.”

She drew in a breath. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited for you to say that.”

“Be my partner, Maggie.”

“Yes,” she said, taking his face in her hands. “Yes.” She kissed him. Ambrose wrapped his arms about her and pulled her close, hard against him. He kissed her back, showing her the emotions he couldn’t seem to express with words.

She pulled back. “You’re wet and shivering.”

He hadn’t even noticed until she said it. “I don’t care.”

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