Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Charles held his breath, awaiting an answer.
“I saw your letter, Charles.”
He paused. That was not the response he’d expected. “What...what letter?”
Marie hung her head. “The one you wrote to your mother.”
“I did not write a letter to my mother.”
She eyed him with a dubious look. “There is no use pretending. I saw it this evening on your desk. I know I shouldn’t have looked, but I caught my name and read your words—how you would be happier without me and how we are still pursuing an annulment.
The only reason you have chased me down now is to ease your own conscience.
It has nothing to do with your own desires. ”
Charles’s mind raced. A letter to his mother. On his desk. A letter...
Realization dawned. He breathed out a breath of relief, taking another step toward her. “No, Marie. No.”
She stared up at him, her eyes still flooded with tears, so he reached forward, taking her hands in his. “That letter was written long ago, upon my arrival at the cottage. It must have been shuffled together with my other letters of business I have yet to sort through.”
“What?” she breathed.
“I wrote that letter when I was still frustrated.” He smiled softly. “You know, Childish Charlie?”
He could see her mind working to make sense of matters. “You weren’t saving it for any reason?”
“No, not at all. I had forgotten of its entire existence until just now.”
She looked away. “But then, why did you wish to speak with me tonight if not to tell me that Mr. Page has provided us with a way out of our marriage?”
Charles sobered. “Because it was my duty to tell you. I am sorry if you wish for the annulment still, for his news confirms that it would not be wise to do so for either one of us. I will abide by whatever decision you make.” His heart raced.
“However, please allow me to tell you my own opinion on the matter first.”
Marie could hardly breathe. “What is your opinion, Charles?”
He stared down at her, his eyes caressing every inch of her features. “My desire is to remain married to you forevermore, Marie.”
Emotion stuttered her heart. “You truly mean that?”
He let out a chuckle, running his hands through his hair.
“I cannot tell you how truly I do mean it. I have lived every day in agony since suggesting the annulment. Each time a letter did not arrive, I was filled with relief, and each time you brought it up, my hopes were dashed away once again. I cannot imagine anything worse than ending our marriage before it has even begun, Marie. I have fallen for you. I never thought it possible to love someone as much as I love you, and in so short amount of time, but it is true.”
He stopped, his swift speech causing his chest to rise and fall with heavy breathing.
Reaching forward, he ran the back of his fingers along her cheek, his words slowing with his movements.
“You are everything I have ever wanted in a wife. Everything I have ever wanted in a companion. I cannot imagine a life without you in it—I do not want to imagine a life without you in it.”
Marie couldn’t believe she was hearing these words coming from Charles. Her Charles. She smiled, tears pouring freely down her cheeks now.
He wiped them away with a gentle thumb. “So now you have heard my desires,” he said softly, “what are yours?”
“You know what I want, Charles.”
“I believe I do, but still, I should like it spoken so I have no further concerns or doubt. Even in writing, perhaps.”
She laughed. “You, Charles. I want you.”
He blinked swiftly, and Marie suspected it was to hide his own tears, but she couldn’t be sure, for in the next moment, he reached forward, cupping her face in his hands and gently caressing her skin with his touch.
“I have been wanting to do this since the first time you kissed me,” he breathed, leaning in closer to her, his breath on her lips.
Her eyes struggled to remain open. “Then do not wait a moment longer, my love.”
So he didn’t.
His lips pressed against hers, softly, but with a firmness that told her he meant his kiss this time. She slipped her arms around his neck, pulling her body as close to him as possible, and he embraced her in return.
The love she felt from his mere touch was stronger than anything she had ever experienced, for in that moment, she knew she was finally safe.
After a moment, Charles pulled back, peering deeply into her eyes. “I do not want to go back into that ballroom, but I suppose we ought to.”
Marie nodded. “Perhaps we ought to take a dip in the fountain first.”
He laughed. “We could recreate the whole experience. Only this time, we’d return to the ball instead of home. Imagine the looks we’d receive.”
“There would be no chance for an annulment then,” she teased.
He stared down at her, love apparent in his eyes. “There is no chance of an annulment now.”
Then he kissed her again.
When they were finished—though admittedly, Marie was never finished kissing Charles—the two of them returned to the ballroom hand-in-hand with matching rosy cheeks and breathless smiles.
This time, the dance they shared was exactly what the two of them had hoped for—for it was a dance shared between two people hopelessly and undeniably in love.