“You know why my mother said all of that, don’t you?”
Heaving a hugely relieved sigh, Tuppence almost slumped but curiosity compelled her to remain where she was. “Why?”
“Because she knows how I feel about you. I think she has known that I adore you for a long time now. It is just not something a man usually discusses with his mother,” he admitted with a sheepish smile.
“Y-you-”
“Adore you,” Isaac whispered, stepping closer until their toes touched.
“You do?” Tuppence’s voice was barely audible and shook with the force of the emotion that swamped her.
“I do. I have. I always have. I think I have been born to. I know that I will never feel like this about anybody else. It is you. It has to be you, and only you, Tuppence.” Isaac rested his forehead against hers and compelled her to believe him. To accept him. “Trust me. I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t,” she whispered tearfully.
“Then give me a chance. Give us a chance. I know that we can be happy together,” Isaac pleaded. He had no qualms about allowing her to see just how raw his emotions were because he needed her to know that they were real. They were strong and couldn’t and wouldn’t be ignored by either of them. “Stay. When this is all over. Stay. Make this house your home. Be with me.”
Tuppence suddenly felt the icy chill that had encased her heart over the last few months and years of her life suddenly shatter and release the frailty of her battered heart. She could feel the heavy pounding in the centre of her chest, a reminder that life carried on. It was a reminder that her heart, no matter how beaten it was, how bruised, how much it ached, was still pounding away. Its fragility made it human. Its rhythmic balance created life.
Its monotony created stability. The emotion that blossomed from it, around it, through it, created happiness, contentment, and the hopeful joy that swept through her so strongly all she could do was stand on tiptoe and claim everything he offered her.
Isaac sucked in a breath of delight when he felt her lips press against his. He swept her into his arms and held her tightly against him as if she were the most precious thing in the world to him – because she was. They both allowed the kiss they shared to reveal the emotions neither of them felt confident enough to speak of just yet. They would, in time, once they had both become used to the new adoration, the wonderful adventure that their lives as man and wife would bring them. Once the doubts and uncertainty had been replaced by marriage and a happy ever after. For now, Isaac had everything he had ever wanted in life; his choice, in his arms, and he was as delighted as he was stunned by it.
“Sir?”
“Isaac, put her down, we have guests,” Gertrude drawled.
Isaac’s head snapped up so swiftly that he blinked down at Tuppence and instantly caught sight of the dreamy expression on her face. It made the last of his doubts fade. They were replaced with a deep certainty that their marriage had to happen quickly, and that nothing was going to stand in their way. Having said that, though, he was compelled to hold Tuppence firmly against his side as he turned to greet their new, unexpected guests.
“Mark?”
Tuppence jerked when she heard Isaac’s guttural growl. She stiffened, her cheeks burning, as she peered around the broad expanse of Isaac’s chest to look at the man in the doorway.
“Tuppence.” Mark’s face was grim as he stepped into the room.
“Have you found him yet?” Isaac demanded.
Mark squinted at him and shook his head. “But we have news.”
“We?” Isaac’s brows shot up when Mark stepped aside, and Harriett moved into the doorway to stand beside her husband.
“Tuppence.” Harriett began to cry. “I am so sorry. I tried to see you, I truly did, but he blocked them from letting me in.” She glared hatefully at Mark, who coloured and shifted uncomfortably, clearly awkward, and unsure how he should handle his wife’s fury.
“I meant to warn you their marriage is in difficulty because of what’s happened,” Isaac whispered into Tuppence’s ear.
Tuppence turned her head to look at him so swiftly that her lips slid across his jawline. Isaac grinned at her, delighted by the unexpected display of affection she had inadvertently given not just Mark, but Harriett, Sir Reginald, and his mother too, who all stood grinning proudly at them.
Tuppence didn’t really want anything to infringe on her private moment with Isaac because she wanted to enjoy more of his kisses, but it was too late now. Besides, she couldn’t help the loving look in her eyes when she smiled up at Isaac and he smiled back.
I love it when he smiles at me like that.
“It’s about time too,” Gertrude announced bluntly with a pointed look at her son.
“Mother,” Isaac sighed. “You should be clutching your skirts and warning me about kissing our guest.”
“Is that what you were doing?” Gertrude squinted at him. “Took you long enough.”
Sir Reginald let out a loud guffaw before he lifted his brows at Mark. “Well? I take it you have news for us?”