Passionately Yours (Hellions of High Street 3)

“As have some new political thinkers,” added Alec. “I have recently been reading some essays that inspire a shining hope in these grim times. They were penned by a man who calls himself The Beacon.”

Caro choked on a bite of her bread.

“You are familiar with his writings?”

“Yes, very familiar.” She cleared her throat. “You haven’t yet met my oldest sister, Olivia. She is the most cerebral of the three of us.”

Alec raised a brow. “Are you saying…”

Caro nodded.

“Good Lord,” murmured Alec, allowing a small chuckle. “I am beginning to have more sympathy with your mother’s megrims.”

“The two of you would have some very interesting conversations about law and government.”

“So it would seem.”

“You would like her,” went on Caro. “And Wrexham. He, too, is an idealist and believes that change can—and will—happen through lawful, peaceful persuasion.”

He looked thoughtful as he watched the undulating flames. “I look forward to meeting them both.”

That sounded like…

Caro slanted a sidelong look at the play of firelight gilding his features. Perhaps the end of this adventure wouldn’t be the last time they would ever see each other.

Or perha

ps I am reading too much between the lines.

Suddenly too tired to try to puzzle it out, Caro closed her eyes and let the warmth of the pine-scented fire and Alec’s muscled closeness envelope her body. It took a moment to realize that she was now pressed against him, her head resting on his shoulder.

“Sorry,” she said sleepily, and started to pull away.

He hugged her close. “Stay.”

“Oh, but I’ve been such a sore trial to you,” she protested. “Intruding on your privacy, wreaking havoc with your plans, knocking to flinders all your—”

His hands came up to frame her face, and suddenly the rest of her words seemed to lodge in her throat.

“Knocking to flinders all the fears I had allowed to wall up my heart.”

A wild thudding seemed to come alive inside her chest. “I—I do have an unfortunate tendency to barge around and break things. It’s the curse of a passionate nature, I suppose.” An uncertain smile wavered on her lips. “My sisters have cautioned me that I should try to temper my emotions.”

“Don’t.” Alec kissed her cheek. “Ever.” His mouth moved to hers. “Change.”

If only this moment could go on forever.

Caro curled her arms around him, heedless of the blanket slipping away. “I love you,” she whispered. “I know a lady should never, ever say it first to a gentleman. But I’m a hopeless hoyden, so there you have it.”

“I love your courage, I love your passions, I love your spirit.” Alec’s voice had turned a little rough, a little ragged as he whispered his reply. “I love you.” Shrugging off his own blanket, he lay her back on the rumpled wool. Their bodies met, flesh on flesh. “More than my feeble words can possibly express.”

Three short, simple words. That was all he had uttered, and yet they had tilted the world to a whole new axis.

“You’ve said all I’ve longed to hear,” she whispered.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Alec hitched in a breath, savoring how the soft curves of her body molded so perfectly to him. “I hope you will listen to yet another thing I wish to say,” he said slowly. “I bumbled it badly last time, but perhaps you will give me a second chance.”