Marigold nodded. “Alex has spent so long fighting for this country, for our people—it’s about time he found someone willing to fight for him. And something tells me you would fight tooth and nail for that man.”
Abigail nodded, her eyes welling with tears. “I would.”
Marigold nodded toward the door on the far side of the darkened room. “Then I suggest you go do just that.”
Abigail bit her lip and nodded again, this time with resolve.
“Good luck,” Marigold called after her.
Luck? Yes, she’d likely need that. But more than anything… She glanced up toward the heavens and said a little prayer. More than anything she needed courage to lay her heart open and faith that whatever his response, it would all turn out for the best.
She spotted him first, his head down as he paced a path along the garden just as she’d done in the salon. The sight of him with his brow furrowed in concern—it lightened her own steps as she moved toward him. “Alex.”
His head snapped up and he turned to her expectantly. “Abigail. You came.”
“Of course I did,” she said as she reached him. She was so close she could feel his warmth, his scent wrapping around her. “I wanted to say I’m sorry—”
“Please let me apologize—”
They’d both started and stopped at once, and after a startled stare, they burst out laughing at the same time too. Laughter eased the last of the panic, and she reached out a hand to touch his arm. “Please, let me say what I need to say?”
He nodded, his gaze filled with such tenderness that it almost hurt to look into his eyes. A sweet ache filled her chest, making her voice higher and breathier than she’d ever heard it. “I’m sorry for rejecting you like that. It was just…” She stopped to swallow. “It would seem I’ve fallen in love with you, you see.”
His eyes widened in surprise but she hurried on, half afraid that if he were to respond, it would be to tell her he did not feel the same.
“I didn’t mean to, I can assure you of that,” she babbled. “It was most unexpected, and honestly, more than a little inconvenient since I knew very well that you had your sights set on Charlotte.”
“Abigail, I—”
“But honestly, it wasn’t really my fault.” Oh yes, it was definitely panic that had her prattling on now. The tenderness in his eyes was more than she could bear and if he were to try and let her down easy, her heart would surely shatter. “You see, no one has ever shown such patience with me before. Or such kindness, if I’m being honest. It wasn’t as though I stood a chance, now did I? I’m afraid I fell in love that very first—”
He cut her off with a crushing kiss, one hand cupping the back of her head as his free arm wrapped around her waist and hauled her in close so she was pressed against the length of him.
His lips were warm and firm as he kissed her as though he might never let her go. She clung to his shoulders, kissing him with every ounce of love she felt.
When he lifted his head, he was grinning down at her. “Abigail, might I speak now?”
She nodded, dazed and dreamy from that kiss. “Yes, please.”
He moved his hand from the back of her head to her jaw, cupping her face and stroking her cheek with his thumb. “I love you with all my heart and soul, Abigail.”
Her eyes widened as her breath left her in a gasp. “You do?”
He nodded. “I was a fool earlier when I barged in there and asked for your hand like that—”
“No, you weren’t,” she protested.
“Yes, I was.” He leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. “I went about it all wrong because I was overcome with anger when I heard your mother’s lecture.”
Abigail bit her lip at the humiliating reminder of all he and the others had overheard.
“I meant to talk to you first. To tell you how I’d been so very wrong about Charlotte. Not because she’s not the woman I’d thought, but because…” He leaned down closer, his gaze fierce. “Because she’s not you.”
Tears welled in Abigail’s eyes at the sincerity she saw in his gaze. “Truly?”
“Abigail, there could only ever be one woman for me, and I am happy to say that I’m holding her in my arms.”
“But I’m not sure I…” She wet her lips. “I don’t know that I deserve you.”
He gave a little huff of amusement before kissing her soundly. “Well then, we’re even, because I’m not certain I deserve you either.”
She laughed as she rolled her eyes. “I’m being serious, Alex. We both know that I’m—”
“Fiercely loyal?” he offered before she could finish. “Clever and insightful?”
She shook her head with another laugh. “You know that’s not what I meant.”
“Abigail, you are the only woman for me. The way you’re working to be a better person in every way inspires me to try and be better too. The way you reach out and embrace life makes me want to rise to that challenge myself.” His lips met hers softly, the kiss a silent vow. “I want to spend the rest of my life getting to know every complicated layer that makes you the strong and brave woman you are. I want to grow and thrive as we challenge each other to live more, to love more, to be more.”
She nodded eagerly as tears welled once more in her eyes. “I want that too, Alex. I want…” For a moment she couldn’t finish because emotions made it hard to speak. “With you I want to learn what love truly means.”
He wrapped both arms around her and for the first time in her life, Abigail felt as though she was where she truly belonged. As if who she was, mistakes and all, was more than enough. As though she could be herself and be loved
