Page 40 of In Pursuit of a Christmas Bride
“I didn’t wish for this to happen. I wasn’t thinking. I knew I had to run away and my mind?—”
“Ssh.” He slipped his other hand behind her neck, cradling her as if she were some delicate doll about to shatter. She certainly felt that way.
“You don’t love me. You don’t know me.”
“I fell in love with you the same way we met, all at once. Yes, it is madness, and I can’t explain it. And you will soon learn thatit is one of my least favorite things in this world. But I also know I can’t explain what is between you and me, sweet. And I don’t wish to name it. Only to tell you that I love you.”
“I am a ruined woman. I am an actress, Henry! You can’t marry me. I have ruined you. Something is sure to reach the gossip rags of London about this evening…”
“Mr. Greenwald is excellent at his job. The duke meant every word he said about running Roger out of London.”
“My brothers and sisters… Ethan.” She clamped her eyes shut and sobbed. “Roger is the most undesirable human, and he has controlled me these past few months after overhearing me speak to my older sister, Imogen, about my son.”
Henry’s arms wrapped around her, drawing her in for an embrace. But instead of fighting against it, she melted into his body willingly.
“I think I love you, too, Henry. And now we are both in a mess.”
“Not a mess, love, no. I didn’t truly wish to spend Christmas alone anyhow.”
She chuckled, sniffing back her tears. “We become engaged, and now you have a sense of humor.”
He drew back enough for her to notice a small grin on his lips. “I didn’t before?”
“You?” She wiped her tears and looked up at him, his face puffy and bruised. “I know you must care about me because you don’t seem to care for anyone else.”
“What are you saying, Miss Brennan?”
She clucked, fluttering her fingers over the poor state of his handsome face. “You are a grump.”
He laughed, drawing her head close to place a kiss on her cheek. They remained in each other’s arms, silent.
“Come sit on the bed. Those cuts should be washed.”
He struck a match, illuminating the room.
She was shaking, and he noticed, slowly drawing her hand up to his mouth and he kissing it.
“Marry me,” he said earnestly before kissing her.
CHAPTER 9
Snow fell softlyoutside the window, dusting over the collection of statues in the garden outside of the chapel window.
Christmas.
Henry shifted on his feet, glancing nervously at the stone floors. When he had proposed, he hadn’t expected everything to happen so soon, but here he stood, about to be married to Matilda Brennan, at the duke’s private chapel. The duke and duchess sat before him as witnesses, and the vicar stood behind.
It would be a small wedding, efficient and concise. Tilly said she hadn’t minded, and perhaps she didn’t, but Henry wished only to give her what she wanted. He would make that his life’s mission.
He rubbed his hands together, fighting off the chill. Tilly had preferred the chapel when the duke offered up his house for their wedding. He had proposed they could head to Gretna Green, but the duke insisted with the weather, it was best to have the ceremony at Haddington.
Considering Mr. Haskett was presumably in London, but not out of their lives completely, it was for the best.
The doors opened and Tilly entered, dressed in a beautiful burgundy gown. Her hair was decorated with a small crown of orange blossoms from the conservatory.
“Hello,” she mouthed to him.
He might have answered if it wasn’t for how tongue-tied he was seeing her walking toward him.
