Page 85 of The Viscount's Unwanted Bride
Mr. Norman sputtered for several seconds, and then, slowly, his face changed from white to an awful shade of red.
“How dare you?” He swaggered toward Theo more like a prizefighter than a vicar. “It wasn’t enough for you to ruin her reputation and steal her future? You had to… to…. You are determined to make this sweet girl miserable, you utter swine.”
A strong wind knocked Kate back onto her heels, and the sleeves of her dress clung to her skin, damp from the snow that was beginning to fall. She stared at Mr. and Mrs. Norman, and much as she felt for them because they’d lost the most important person in their lives, enough was enough.
It was no wonder Theo was such a mess. These people wouldn’t let him move forward. They were grieving, but that was no excuse for destroying a good man.
Kate straightened her back and summoned her courage. “I am not miserable,” she said loudly and clearly.
All three people turned to her. Excellent. They were listening.
“Lord Blackwell hasnotruined me. He hasn’t stolen my future. I care for him, and I respect him, and I’m truly sorry for your loss, but it wasn’t his fault, and he isn’t the demon you’re making him out to be.”
“You don’t know how Elizabeth was treated under his care,” Mrs. Norman said shrilly.
“I know that he loved your daughter.” Kate held her gaze, silently daring her to contradict that. “I know that he grieved for her just as much as you did, if not more. But you had each other to lean on. Who did he have? He’d already lost his father, and then he lost his wife too. You should have been there for him, but instead you demonized him. If you want to talk about ruining someone’s future, maybe you should look in the mirror.”
Mrs. Norman’s eyes were narrowed, color high on her cheeks, and she looked like she was thinking about slapping Kate, but Mr. Norman had paused and seemed to be listening.
“You’re a vicar.” Kate waited a moment for those words to sink in. “Shouldn’t you be encouraging forgiveness, not blame and pointless anger?”
Mr. Norman nodded so subtly, she almost didn’t notice it. “You’ve given me much to think about. You aren’t unhappy?”
“No, I’m not,” she said firmly, not allowing any room for misinterpretation.
“Very well, then.” He backed away a step and tugged at his wife’s arm. “If you ever need spiritual guidance, you’re always welcome at the vicarage.”
With Mrs. Norman protesting vehemently, he dragged her away.
“Kate?”
She turned slowly to Theo, hoping this whole interaction hadn’t made him rethink the progress they’d been making in their relationship. “Yes?”
He moved toward her until less than a foot separated them and cradled her face between his hands. “Did you mean that?”
She gazed into his dark eyes, unable to read the emotion in them. “Which part?”
“All of it.”
She smiled at him, hoping he’d be able to read the sincerity in her expression. “I did.”
His thumb found the corner of her mouth, and he smoothed it over her lower lip. “I hope you know that I care about you deeply. More than I ever expected to.”
Her heart lifted, and her chest felt light, but she hardly dared to dream. “You are so important to me,” she whispered.
He glanced around, and she had the impression that he might’ve kissed her if they weren’t standing on a public street. “It’s always terrified me how easily I could fall for you, but I’m not scared of it anymore.” He grinned, and it was joyous and bright and lovely. “I’m done fighting. I want us to be husband and wife in every sense of the words.”
CHAPTER 27
Kate’s eyesbulged as she struggled to process Theo’s proclamation. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. It was a dream. A fantasy. One she’d never expected to come true. At least, not this soon.
Perhaps Mr. and Mrs. Norman had done her a favor by confronting her and Theo, as their doing so had prompted her defense, which in turn had caused him to experience some kind of enlightenment.
How, she had no idea. But she wasn’t about to question it.
“It’s the wrong time for this.” His expression shuttered, and he drew back from her. “I’m sorry, this is entirely inappropriate. It’s cold, and we need to get you something to eat and make sure you’re back in the manor, safe and sound, before the snow gets any worse.”
“But—” She started to protest as Theo ushered her into the bakery and redirected his focus to the display of baked goods. She pressed her lips together, frustrated, but determined to speak to him properly as soon as they were alone.
