Page 92 of The Wise Daughter
He leaned against the wall as if he would fall asleep right then, hugging her hand to his center, but still, his brave words warmed her.
“And I can’t let him hurt you, my duke.” With renewed determination, she took his arms and wrapped them over her shoulders, clasping them both in front of her to urge him along as he leaned on her back.
“Yes,” she grunted, “just as heavy as a horse.”
His breathy laugh tickled her neck. “Do you often promenade through hidden passageways saving men from their evil stewards?”
She tried to laugh but couldn’t with his added weight on her. “Oh yes. I save every man I come across who is threatened by his evil steward, and you, my good sir, have the honor of being the first.”
His laughter fell again in warm waves, giving her strength and helping her ignore the tiny creature scurrying past her foot.
At last, they came to the underground tunnel that would take them to the hidden garden. Their footsteps echoed in the stone tunnel, but noise was no longer a concern. No one would hear them underground. Aaron’s chin rested softly on her neck, his stubble sending a ripple of flutters through her that made her dream of moments when they were not fearing for their lives.
“Nora, did you mean what you said, when you said you loved me?”
Her fingers fumbled over the latches of the door. The rush of night air washed over her as she pushed it open, cooling her heated skin.
Love.Of course, she loved Aaron. She had never actually said the words to him before, but what did that matter now? She loved him more than she had realized she was capable of loving.
“Of course, I meant it.”
She adjusted her hold on him, shifting her weight to his side as she began urging him up the moss-covered steps and into the garden. Aaron had to crawl the last few. He might not have stood again if Nora weren’t there on her knees to steady him. Under the night sky, starspeeked out behind thin strips of inky clouds. She could just make out his face with beads of sweat glistening across his brow.
“We’re so very close, Aaron, but we must hurry before Carver discovers you’re missing. Just beyond these garden walls awaits an old friend with her carriage. Ruthers is with us too. He really does have quite the story to tell. We can take you wherever we need to go.”
Before she could pull him another step, he surprised her by grasping her arm, an urgent but gentle touch.
“Tell me truthfully, Nora. Did you write a letter to my solicitor, asking for fifteen thousand pounds?”
Nora caught his other arm. “Fifteen thousand pounds? Of course not!”
He nodded and drew his arm around her waist, but she couldn’t enjoy the moment with him swaying like a man intoxicated, which was exactly what he was. Whatever Carver had given him was near overcoming him. She wrapped her arm around his waist in return to keep him from falling.
“I am so sorry, Nora. I panicked when I saw this on my desk.” He pulled a letter from his waistcoat pocket and handed it to her. “I only wanted the truth, and I feared making the wrong decision. I feared being blinded by how much I…”
His eyes drooped. Even in the dark, she saw it on his lips. Love. She yearned to hear him speak it, to confirm that she wasn’t seeing only what she wanted to see.
“Nora, I think I’m going to faint.”
Her head spun. She spoke quickly. “Aaron, I want you to know right now before anything else happens that I love you immensely. I don’t care about your money or title. I don’t want Raven Manor or a dowry. When you said I could take anything in the castle, all I could think about was you. If you meant what you said, I choose you. You’re all I want.”
He pressed her hand to his shaky heart. “I would marry… you right here… if I could.”
It was difficult to know what was happening, to feel anything more than the exhaustion and worry already coursing through her. There was no place for girlish flutters or shivers. Any flush was overpowered by the heat of exertion, but she was sure her heart would have leapt from her chest had she not already lost it to him.
“Is that another proposal, my duke?”
He closed his eyes and lowered his head. She thought he was going to attempt a kiss. Instead, his knees buckled, and he collapsed.
Chapter 34
Aaron’s head was pounding. His eyelids were sticky as he tried to blink. Finally, he managed to keep them open and look around. He was lying in his own bed in Holmrook castle wearing his nightclothes, but he couldn’t remember how he had come to be there. The last thing he remembered was Carver declaring that he wouldn’t live long enough to stop him. Then Nora had returned.
“Nora!” He tried to speak but his throat burned.
He remembered her coming for him. Even after he had broken their engagement and her trust, she had come back for him. Somehow, she had realized Carver’s guilt and understood the danger he had been in. Once again, she had saved his life.
He was about to rise from the bed to dress himself when a person came in who he never expected to see again.
