A Duke in Time (The Widow Rules #1) - Janna MacGregor Page 0,125
of me. I love you, and I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep you from harm.” A tear fell, and she angrily wiped it away. “Furthermore, I’ll do anything and everything to defend you and our love.”
“Even leaving me?” he asked.
“Yes.” The intense hurt in his eyes mirrored hers, but now was not the time to crumble. Not when she was fighting for them. “Will you listen to what I have to say?”
He nodded once.
“If I told you what I had planned, then you would have wanted to go with me. I had to do this on my own. Otherwise, I don’t think I could have married you.”
He stumbled a step in his pacing. “What are you saying?”
“I came to York to clear my name.” She glanced down at her hands. She still wasn’t playing with them, a good sign that gave her strength to continue. “I realized I could never be the wife and partner I wanted to be for you if I still had a foothold in the past. You deserved better, and so did I. I finally understood that simple fact.”
“What did you do?” he asked softly. He took a step in her direction and stopped again.
“I went to see Mr. FitzWilliam and asked him to come with me to meet the new magistrate. When we arrived, I asked the magistrate if he’d review my case and listen to what I had to say.”
Christian tilted his head. “Did you ask for a pardon?”
“No. A pardon would mean that I was even now a thief.” She bit her lip. “Everyone would still think me guilty. I needed to clear my name and claim my future for myself. I hope you understand.” Her throat tightened, but she forced herself to continue. “I asked the magistrate to reconsider the case, and he agreed. After he heard Mr. FitzWilliam’s statement as well as my own, he reached a new decision.”
Christian stood before her without a hint of what he was thinking. Perhaps Willa was correct. He was angry with her.
“He declared me innocent.” She wouldn’t turn from his gaze. “I can’t tell you how freeing this is.” For a moment, she didn’t know if she could continue without crying. “No one can ever accuse me or threaten me with my past again. Which means they can’t hurt you. I know how much your reputation means to you as you rebuild the duchy. That’s why I left. I love you more than anything in this world. If I had to give you up to protect you, I would.” Tears were freely streaming down her face now, and she didn’t care. All she cared about was the man who stood in front of her. “Now, I can stand by your side and give myself to you and our marriage without any reservations or fear.” She forced herself to stop so she could take a deep breath. “That is, if you’ll still have me.”
The trickling water of the stream and the occasional call of a magpie were the only sounds between them. He continued to stare at her. Her entire future felt as if it hung by a thread. A stitch was nothing when dealing with a duke in a moment of time.
Lucky for her, she was an expert at taking threads and turning them into masterpieces.
“But I warn you now, if you don’t want to marry me, you’re going to have to be the one to walk away.” She stood and took a step nearer. “I’m not leaving until you tell me that you love me and you forgive me.”
Suddenly, he was before her with his mouth slamming into hers.
* * *
It was completely uncivilized, but Christian couldn’t keep away her from any longer. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Nothing chaste or polite, this kiss contained a savage passion. The fact she was leaning into him and returning the kiss with the same hunger made his heart swell.
When they finally took a breath, her hand went to her lush lips. In wonder, her mouth formed a perfect O.
“I’ve discovered quite a bit about myself since I’ve met you. There’s one need I can’t live without. It’s you. I need you in my life, Katherine Elise James, more than anything. I don’t give a damn about the duchy or my reputation. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. All I care about is you.” He squeezed her tightly to him. “Promise me one thing?”