Noah held Avery in his arms softly rocking her as she silently cried in his arms. He closed his eyes, just glad to hold her close.
The more time that had passed, the more worried he’d become. What if something had happened to her while he’d searched?
Fear had been eating at his gut the entire day and now that she was here, he had no intention of letting her go.
Ever.
He tightened his arms and held her closer. “You haven’t eaten anything yet, love. You’ll feel better when you do.”
She nodded against him and then brought her hand up to her mouth, taking a bite of bread.
There was so much he needed to tell her, but all of it could wait. Right now, he needed to bring her home, safe, then feed her, bathe her, and wrap her up in a warm bed where he’d spend the night holding her. Tomorrow, they could talk.
And he’d tell her all the ways he’d been a fool. “Take another bite, darling,” he murmured. “What shall I feed you when we return?”
“Wine,” she murmured against his jacket.
“Do you like wine?” he asked, pulling away. He hadn’t seen her order it at either inn.
“I don’t know. I’ve never tried it.” She tilted her head back then. “But it seems to be what people do in these situations.”
He chuckled at that. “All right, then. What else?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Is that what we need to discuss? What I’ll eat?”
“Absolutely,” he answered with a nod. “It’s of vital importance.” He didn’t care if they discussed the weather, travel, or politics. Just as long as she remained in his lap.
She gave him a small smile and then tucked her cheek back against his chest. “Is there any way to avoid Ewan when we return? It turns out that the only thing more annoying than a meddling family is a meddling family that you haven’t seen in a decade.”
He squeezed her tighter. “There is every chance you can avoid him. I sent him and his hulking ship south.”
“South?” she asked, lifting up once again. “Where south?”
Noah sighed. He’d not keep the truth from her. Not this time. “He’s gone to fetch Bash.”
“Drat,” she mumbled, taking another bite of bread. “Meddling cousins and overbearing cousin-in-laws.”
She took the last bite of bread and then popped the bit of cheese into her mouth. He laced her fingers into his, snuggling her forehead into the crook of his neck.
He’d had a long day to think about what he should do differently if he found her.
And he’d come to a few critical decisions. The first was that he’d support Avery however he could.
“Don’t worry about them. Not tonight. They’re a problem for tomorrow. Or, if we’re lucky, the next day.”
She nodded against him. “Good idea. I’m too tired to think about it.”
“You must be.” He began trailing his fingers up and down the length of her back. “We’ll be home in just a few minutes, but you can sleep if you like.”
“It’s all right,” she murmured. “This feels wonderful.”
He smiled at that. “Did you decide what else you wish to eat?”
“Whatever the cook made,” she answered. “Anything will taste delicious now.”
His hand came up to stroke down her cheek.
“I was such a fool today.”
Her voice held a sadness that made his heart break a bit. “No, you weren’t,” he answered. “In fact, I think you were incredibly smart.”
She lifted up again, cocking a brow as she looked at him. “How do you figure that?”
“You taught me some valuable lessons today that were long overdue.” He still held her cheek and he placed a tiny kiss on the tip of her nose.
“I did?”
“Yes,” he replied, lifting his other hand to her face. “You did.”
“Such as?” Her eyes crinkled in question.
He couldn’t help it; he kissed that spot between her brows. “I thought if I could avoid a match with emotion, I could also avoid the hurt I experienced with Lily. I was trying to hold myself away because I was afraid.”
She drew in a sharp gasp and then her lips were covering his. He still held her face and he kissed her back with all the emotion swirling inside.
She leaned back slowly, her lips clinging to his before she finally cleared her throat and spoke. “Relationships are a risk, aren’t they?”
“They certainly are,” he answered. “But I want you to know something.”
“What?” she searched his face as their breath mingled.
“No matter what happens with the future, I will always keep you safe.”
Chapter Thirteen
Avery looked into his eyes, the rest of the world melting away.
No, he hadn’t confessed his love, but he had offered commitment and protection, and for tonight, that was enough.
In a life where even security had been precarious, she appreciated the gesture a great deal. “Thank you,” she breathed.
Avery knew what was coming tomorrow.
Bash would arrive with Ewan. Noah was right. Bash had already made up his mind on the match and he’d try and force Avery into it. Did she have a choice? Likely not. But she had a voice, and she’d express it…at length.
And at least if she did marry Noah, he was committed to her care. That had to count for something. And she knew he’d be kinder than her father, but in the end, however, she’d get neither of her wishes. He’d said nothing of love, and she had no real choice.
She pushed the thoughts aside. For tonight, she’d just enjoy the warmth of his embrace, the joy that came with being held close.
She buried her head into his neck again just as the carriage slowed to a stop.
Once inside, Noah whisked her upstairs and within minutes, her dressing table was laden with food even as buckets of water were being poured into a tub that had also been brought up.
She took several bites of a delightful orange before she began to strip her clothes. The water looked inviting and it would be lovely to be clean.
She’d stripped
