Chapter 38 #2
When I pulled back, she leaned forward and kissed me again.
I smiled against her kiss. We still had several matters to discuss before the night waned into day.
I dragged my mouth from hers, though it pained me greatly.
“I have something for you,” I whispered against her cheek.
I reached into my waistcoat pocket and pulled out her ruby ring. “It’s time I returned this to you.”
Her hand flew to her mouth. “It is you! My Mr. Long!”
Warmth flooded over me. I had waited so long for this moment. “And it’s you. My Good Samaritan.” I took her hand and slid the ring on her finger, kissing it for good measure.
“I searched for you in every face I passed,” she said. “I could not quench the desire to find you again—to know that you were well and whole.”
It seemed too wonderful to know that she had been searching for me too. “I wanted nothing more than to find you and thank you. The investigators I hired traced you to the station closest to my home.” I touched her hair again, unable to help myself. “In the end, you gave yourself away.”
“I did?”
“Remember how I told you that I had the occasional nightmare? Well, not all my dreams were awful. Sometimes I dreamed of you singing to me, and each time it brought me comfort. I did not understand the lyrics, but your angel voice soothed me on the darkest of nights.” Moisture gathered in my throat.
“It was your Irish lullaby. I heard you singing it in the garden.”
Tears swam in her eyes. “You remembered?”
“That song kept me alive, Estelle. It was a source of light during my greatest pain.”
“Were you disappointed when you discovered me?”
“The opposite. I was overcome. I did not feel worthy to love such a wonderful person.”
She sniffed and wiped at her eyes. “Do you still feel that way? Now that you know that I am flawed too?”
I reached over and caught a tear with my thumb, leaving my hand there to cup her cheek.
“I still find you just as wonderful as before. It’s myself that I see differently.
Instead of seeing my failures, I see hope.
I have proven to myself that I can overcome my struggles if I keep working at it.
I do not have to be known for my mistakes any longer.
Having you in my life only gives me a greater reason to fight my demons. ”
“That’s wonderful, Atlas. I am so glad you have found peace.”
“Thank you for not turning me away.”
“Never,” she breathed. Then she blinked rapidly. “But wait. My song. It’s Irish, as you said. Your mother . . .”
I ran my hand down the side of her smooth cheek and sat back.
Not every aspect of life could have a happy ending.
No matter how much one willed it. “Mother and I discussed it at length. She threatened to marry Mr. Bastion and live with him. In the end, I encouraged the idea. It would be good for her to have a companion again, and it would divide her attention from Augusta.”
Estelle bit her lip. “I don’t want to break up your family.”
“My mother has been deeply hurt, but she has a good heart. With time, I hope she will come around. In fact, I wonder if it was all part of some master plan. Augusta believes you were sent to heal us.”
Her eyes widened. “Me?”
I nodded. “She said our home has not felt whole since Athena died. When you came, that finally changed.”
Estelle dipped her head. “But I lied and I—”
I interrupted her by grabbing her hand. “You saved my life, Estelle. Without your kindness, my family would be mourning yet another family member. You saved Augusta too, in a sense. Her studies are improving, and Mother is letting her have a Season.” I hated seeing her pain, and I prayed she would understand. “Estelle, darling, you are a hero.”
“You are too good to me.”
“Just as you are to me,” I countered.
Estelle gave me a small, sweet smile. She studied me before reaching and lifting the hair on my brow and tracing her fingers along my scar. Then she ran her fingers down my cheek, leaving a trail of heat. “You have healed so well.”
“I had the best care.”
She shook her head. “I did not guess that you were my Mr. Long until after I had left. When Mr. Briggs . . .”
I nodded. She deserved to know what had happened. “You were right. He was behind my attack. He admitted to embezzling money from me.”
She gasped. “He did not try to hurt you again, did he?”
I shook my head. “He is taking his family and moving to America to live with his brother. We won’t see him again.”
She stared at me. “You did not turn him in?”
I reached for her braid, pulling it over her shoulder, as I searched for the right words. “He seemed truly repentant. Perhaps it was an act and I was wrong, but I could not deny him forgiveness when I hoped to receive the same from others.”
Understanding bloomed in her eyes. “Oh, Atlas. How you must have suffered.” She wrapped her arms around me. “I am so sorry your friend betrayed you.”
I tucked her closer to me, grateful for her support. “So am I.” I ran my hand down her back, treasuring the feel of her. “But at least I have you.”
She suddenly stilled in my arms. I glanced down at her as she lifted her head. “What about my brother?”
“And Hanover.?” I added.
She pulled out of my arms and climbed off the bench.
She started pacing, her finger between her teeth.
“If we put our minds to it, we can think of some way to scare him off. We could try a snake in his bed—a harmless garter snake, of course. It worked for Augusta when she wanted to get rid of her governesses. I could wake up the gardener right now. He could—”
I climbed to my feet and gently placed my hands on her arms to stop her pacing. “No one is putting a snake in Hanover’s bed.”
“Think about it a little longer. It has potential.”
I shook my head. “Let the man leave in peace tomorrow.”
Her shoulders fell. “He won’t simply leave on his own accord.”
“He will leave when your brother tells him that you are marrying me instead.” I slid my hands down to her waist and encircled them around her.
“What? Why would . . . wait. You and I?” Her words became airy and her eyes locked on mine.
“Your brother gave his consent.”
Her lips trembled. “I cannot believe it. Can this be true?”
“So long as you wish for it. Estelle Palmer Lewis Lowry, I love you. Will you spend the rest of your life with me?”
Tears dripped down her cheeks. “I fell in love with you when you were but a stranger.” She set her hand over my chest. “You already have my heart, and now it will be an honor to give you my hand.”
She slid that hand up my chest and around my neck. I lowered my head and kissed her. And because she loved variety, I kissed her in the kitchen, and then I pulled her to the larder and kissed her in there too.