Page 135 of Wild Lily
“Not many,” she told him in all truth.
He frowned. “I failed you.”
That she would not argue.
“Allow me the chance to show you I am changed. I am a better man. Your man.”
This was not a declaration of love. But then, what would she have done if he had said it here and now? Words were no proof that he’d changed. Did she owe him the opportunity to do more?
He squeezed her hands. “Come to England with me. I’ve many things to show you.”
“I wanted to show you that I was worthy of you. That I could be a wife, a marchioness, even a duchess to be proud of.”
He raised her hands and kissed each one. “You did. I failed to show you I could be a husband you would love.”
That was not true. She had loved him for many months. Unsolicited, she had given him her heart and trusted him with her devotion.
All she had ever wanted was to have it returned.
“You needn’t promise me to remain,” he said at last, his eyes cast downward at her hands. “Come for a month. Return here if you wish. Or go anywhere. A month. Then decide to stay or go. And if you want to leave, I won’t stop you.”
