Page 102 of The Lady Needs a Rogue
God above, he’d never loved anyone like he loved Macie. She was a beauty. Brilliant. Witty. Headstrong. She was bloody perfect. And by some bloody magnificent stroke of luck, she cared for him. That much was certain. Did she crave his nearness just as he craved her? Did she feel a longing for him, just as he longed for her?
He was right for her. In his heart, he knew that elemental truth. He’d love her until his last breath. And above all, he did not want to change her, not one whit.
But would she be content with a life with a man like him? Could she? He’d been born to a merchant’s family. He was neither a noble nor a tycoon. He would do whatever it took to offer her a good life filled with passion. Filled with love.
But would that be enough? For Macie? For her title-hungry father?
Damnation, why was he giving so much as a thought to what her father wanted? Macie was a woman—a gorgeous, headstrong woman. She’d make her own decisions. And she’d made it clear she had little regard for the noble nobs who chased after her.
Rolling over, he gave the pillow an extra thump. He’d told her she was beautiful. He’d told her he wanted her. But like a fool, he’d hesitated to tell her the one truth that truly mattered.
He was in love with her.
Would his love for Macie hold her back from her dreams? He hadn’t wanted to take that chance. But now, lying here, he knew he couldn’t go another day without telling her how much he loved her.
From there, they’d figure out the rest.
If she loved him.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Finn’s restless nightwas followed by an even more tension-filled morning. After eking out some sleep, he’d awoken with an edgy energy. Blast it, he didn’t want to go one more day without telling Macie the truth. But the time had to be right. It wasn’t as if he could simply blurt out his feelings over the meal Mrs. Tuttle had prepared, much less with the women clinging to every word.
“Did you sleep well?” Macie asked as she dabbed a bit of jam onto her toast.
He reached for his tea, needing the fortification. “Is it so obvious?”
Seated by her side, Nell fixed him with a narrow-eyed look, no doubt taking in the dark circles and small cuts on his chin from his rushed, haphazard attempt at shaving. Bollocks, he must look like a man who’d spent the night carousing rather than lying alone in a bedchamber, unable to quiet his own thoughts.
“Actually, it is,” Macie said. “I do hope Cleo did not disturb you. She possesses a surprising ability to open doors and creep inside.”
He shook his head. “The cat did not decide to pay me a visit. Actually, it might’ve been better if she had. The purring tends to put me to sleep.”
“Cleo has taken a shine to you. A rare thing, indeed. She’s rather finicky about the humans in her life.” Macie’s soft smile reached her eyes. “Nell and I will be leaving shortly to payAmelia a visit. Mrs. Johnstone is coming with us. She’ll be arriving with her phaeton shortly.”
“Ye’re going to chance riding with her in that little carriage?”
“I’m eager to give it a try,” Nell said. “I may just purchase one myself. Another thing to give my illustrious papa gray hairs.”
“She drives like she’s rushing to a fire.” Finn pretended to shudder. “Ye’re braver than I.”
Macie flashed a brief grin. “I imagine you’ll welcome a bit of peace and quiet, away from the female of the species for a bit of time.”
Truth be told, his reaction was entirely the opposite. But he didn’t need to tell her that. She’d enjoy the moments she spent in Amelia’s company, free from herbodyguard. He’d waited this long to tell her what was in his heart. That evening, he would take her to a fine establishment and tell her he wanted no other woman. He needed her. And her alone. For the rest of his days.
*
“Mr. Caldwell, youhave a visitor.” Clutching her feather duster, Mrs. Tuttle eyed him with undisguised annoyance. “It seems I spend more time acting as your butler than attending to my own duties.”
“My butler?” Looking up from the architectural plans he’d been reviewing, he considered the notion. “To tell the truth, I’ve never had one. So, I must admit, this is a novel experience.”
“That lad from the tavern is here to see ye. Says his name’s Tim.”
Finn jolted from his relaxed solitude. “Send him in.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt ye, Mr. Caldwell,” Tim said, shuffling his feet a bit. “But Mr. MacLain says it’s important.”
“Thank ye, Mrs. Tuttle,” Finn said, turning back to Tim as she took her leave. “Ye’ve brought a message.”
