rather walk you.”
She released a snort of laughter. “I thought you were angry at me, Mr. Butler.”
“It’s Perry. Or did you forget?”
How could she forget that? She fell silent as they continued through the tall grass. When they reached the fence, she stopped and gathered her skirts, ready to climb over. Before she realized his intent, he scooped her up in his arms and set her down on the other side of the fence.
“I’m capable of climbing a fence. I do it all the time.”
“But now you have me. I know you can do things, but you’ll have to forgive me for wanting to be there for you.”
She whirled around to face him, watching him as he vaulted the fence. “I do not have you. You despise me.”
“You do have me,” he immediately countered. “If you want me. And I don’t despise you. How could I? I’m in love with you.”
She stared at him in astonishment, searching for her voice. It took some time. “No,” she whispered hoarsely. She shook her head, reprimanding her heart to slow its sudden wild beating. “I destroyed your life, remember? I think that’s what you said.”
“That was badly done of me. I said many things I regret. Many things I didn’t mean. I was surprised, and I acted like an arse. Forgive me.”
She blinked in disbelief.
He went on, “It does not matter. Accident or not, I don’t even care. I’m not the duke, and I don’t care.”
Mystified, she shook her head. “Who even are you?”
“I’m the man in love with you.”
She staggered back a step. It was just as astonishing to hear that a second time. In love with me?
“Forgive me,” he said again. “Forgive me, Imogen.”
“Forgive you?” She blinked burning, tear-blurred eyes. “Can you forgive me?”
“Of course I do. You didn’t do anything wrong. Now say you forgive me, and let me love you.”
She ignored the treacherous little thrill wiggling through her, still frightened. None of this could be real. It could not be her reality.
“I can’t make you happy. I’m not what you want. I’m a poor vicar’s daughter. I don’t have anything to help restore you to your old life.”
He closed the distance between them then, his hands closing on her arms in a demonstration of sudden earnestness. “Don’t you understand? I didn’t even know who I was until I lost everything. It took losing everything to find me. To find you . . . and I could not be more grateful for that.”
She blinked several times, marveling at the tears springing from her eyes.
“I . . . I’m frightened,” she admitted.
Frightened of believing in them and trusting this.
Trusting what her heart was telling her to do.
His hands flexed on her arms. “Do you love me, Imogen Bates? Even a little?” His gray eyes scanned her face, devouring her, missing nothing.
She nodded slowly, choking back a sob. “I do. Of course. More than a little,” she sobbed.
He kissed her then. Swept her up in his arms and lifted her off her feet, kissing her and spinning her in a small circle.
She laughed joyously against his lips.
Even when he stopped spinning her, she still felt like she was flying.
They ended their kiss, and he rested his forehead against hers, his warm breath colliding on her lips. “Shall we go together to tell your father and ask for his blessing?”
“Of course. Then you won’t need to climb in and out of my window anymore.” She grinned. “As delightful as that was.”
“Perhaps I’ll surprise you every once in a while and do just that.”
“As long as you don’t have to sneak out before I wake up.”
“Oh, Imogen. I promise to be there beside you every morning for the rest of our lives.”
Epilogue
One year later . . .
The Hare and The Basket was bustling. As it was most nights.
Ever since Perry had purchased the place from Mr. Compton and renovated the main room, it had become quite the attraction for locals and those passing north and south, en route to either Scotland or London.
The place was a smashing success and Perry was already looking for ways in which to expand. His next goal was to add a full-fledged restaurant next door, a fine dining establishment, connecting to the tavern. Given the profits he’d made from the tavern, he would not even require investors this time to help with the addition of a restaurant.
His ideas were endless and they filled him with continual excitement. Every morning he woke up early, thrilled to be alive.
Astonishing how many