Page 100 of Code Name: Typhon

I eased away from her so I could better see her face. “What do you think, Eliza?”

“I don’t believe you ever would. I trust you, Levi. I wouldn’t have agreed to marry you if I didn’t.” She sighed. “Do you trust me?”

“Implicitly,” I said without any hesitation.

She nodded. “Niven’s lack of happiness for me—for us—hurts.” She motioned to the box of tissues. “That’s why I was crying. Not because I doubt you.”

“I will not be an easy man to be married to.”

She smacked my arm. “You’ll not have any success trying to dissuade me from doing so.”

“There will always be things I cannot share.”

The smile left her face. “I do have experience, although limited. Most recently, Niven asked me to stay with Harper when he was called away on a mission. I was terrified for him and for her. But, Levi, never in my life have I felt so cared for, so cherished, or so understood. I can’t give that up because of fear.” She took my hand in hers. “I want us to marry as soon as possible. I want to be your wife, Levi.”

I felt the same way and said so.

“You’re certain?” she asked.

“I would do so today if we could.”

“In that case, we need to register.”

I wasn’t exactly sure of the process, given that until I met El, I’d found the idea of my marrying ludicrous. “And after that?”

“Actually, before that, we need to decide where we’ll marry.”

I could marry her literally anywhere. Would she want a grand affair? It didn’t seem likely.

“I had a friend marry at the Kensington and Chelsea Register Office in Chelsea Old Town Hall. It was simple and lovely,” Eliza suggested.

The following day, we made a reservation to marry at the old town hall on the day immediately following the required waiting period. Next, we filed our intent to wed. We talked at length about how public we wanted our union to be and decided that, for now, we’d keep it between us and our witnesses.

When El asked how I felt about my parents not being with us, I honestly assured her I didn’t mind. Having them with us would only serve as a painful reminder that hers were not.

In one month—God willing—Eliza would be my wife and I would be her husband.

30

ELIZA

After my run-in with Niven, Levi rarely left my side, which made it difficult to work on his surprise gift. I even had to tell him I worked far better without someone watching. It was actually true, but I anticipated he’d challenge me by saying I’d let Mike watch. Which wasn’t actually true. Mike helped. Levi could not.

The manta rays at full size weighed far more than I could’ve managed on my own if it weren’t for the hoist-and-dolly system Mike had installed for his own work.

I’d added large drop clothes to the hooks attached to the chains in the ceiling to give myself a way to hide the sections in case Levi showed up unannounced.

The day I finished the last piece and went home earlier than I had been, Levi asked if I’d be interested in visiting Casa Melro. His timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

I still hadn’t worked out how to get the sculpture to Algarve or how I’d install it without Levi’s knowledge, but perhaps once we were there, an idea would come to me.

We agreed to stay until the twentieth of December, which was two days before we’d be married. Then, we’d remain in London until the day after Christmas, when we’d return to Casa Melro to celebrate the new year.

When Levi asked if I’d rather honeymoon somewhere else, I told him I couldn’t imagine anywhere on earth more romantic than where we already intended to be.

Every so often, my unhappiness over my estrangement from Niven threatened the elation I otherwise felt. I especially missed Harper and Agatha, but like Levi, I didn’t want to come between her and my cousin. That I hadn’t even confided our intent to marry seemed so wrong, but what could I do? I couldn’t ask her to keep it from Niv, but I also couldn’t risk him trying to talk me out of it or, God forbid, show up that day in an effort to ruin it.

More complicated were my thoughts about my parents. It had been eleven months since I last saw my mother and longer since I’d seen my father. Again, the idea that either of them would say or do something to ruin the happiness Levi and I shared kept me from contacting them.

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