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T iffany awoke to find Claire leaning over her bed, shaking her. “Wolf is downstairs with Fane. I think he’s here to arrange the marriage contract. Didn’t you want to be at that meeting?”

She tried to sit up and her body protested. “How long have I slept? What happened to Sprat?”

“You fell asleep in the bath after Wolf brought you home. I helped you to bed and you’ve slept for over twelve hours. They captured Sprat. He’ll stand trial and likely hang for his crimes.” Claire pulled the sheet back and exclaimed at the bruises and cuts on her knees. “Perhaps I should ask the men to hold the meeting in here. I don’t think you’re in any condition to move too far today. Those scabs on your knees need to heal.”

She did feel as if a bull had trampled her.

“I’ll call for Milly and she can help make you presentable. I’ll order some food and suggest the men visit you in your bedchamber. Scandalous, I know, but you are marrying him. I’ll also send your apologies to Lady Hawthorn. All of society has heard of your adventure and the ladies found it very romantic. Wolf to the rescue. They will be sorry that you have to miss the ball tonight, but I’ll explain about your injuries.” As she turned to leave, Claire added, “Wolf also made an announcement of your betrothal in The Times today. I suspect he is protecting your reputation given the abduction is the talk of London.”

And he wouldn’t want a repeat of the Margo situation. He’d want Tiffany to understand he would marry her regardless. Silly man. She already knew that and she was fine—apart from a few bruises and scrapes.

Milly arrived to help with her ablutions and make her presentable, and soon after, a servant brought her a pot of tea and a plate of eggs and bacon. She ate every last bite, not only because she’d missed dinner and was hungry, but because she was happy. Her ordeal with Sprat was over, she was safe and she was going to marry the man she loved.

Tiffany sent Milly to advise the men she was ready to receive them. She organized two chairs to be set beside her bed.

She didn’t have to wait long before a knock came at the door and Fane and Wolf entered. She smiled at Wolf and immediately recognized something was wrong. He did smile back, but it didn’t reach his eyes, and there was no warmth in his gaze.

She sat up straighter and looked at Fane. Her cousin didn’t seem to notice anything was amiss. “I hear you managed to capture Sprat. I hope no one was hurt?”

Wolf laughed. “Sprat’s tightness with money was his downfall. He didn’t buy his own ship, merely passage on one, and as soon as the captain saw us arrive with constables and night watchmen, he turned Sprat over without a fight.

“He’ll go before the magistrate later this week,” Marlowe added. “I expect he’ll hang for his crimes against the peers.”

She looked at Fane. “But not for my parents’ murders?”

“I don’t think it wise for you to testify. He’ll hang either way.” She knew Wolf was merely thinking of her sensibilities and reputation. Besides, he was right. You couldn’t hang a man twice.

“So it’s really over.”

Wolf leaned in and took her hand. “You’re safe now. I swear I’ll do everything I can to ensure nothing bad happens to you ever again.”

That was when it hit her. The look in Wolf’s eyes was guilt. He blamed himself for her kidnapping. Was he thinking of Margo? God, what must he have gone through upon hearing she’d been abducted? This wouldn’t help. Was that fortress around his heart building again? She needed to talk with Wolf alone.

Fane’s words interrupted her thoughts. “All seems to be in order, Tiffany. Wolfarth has been extremely generous. He’s agreed to keep the small dowry your father set aside in trust for any daughters you may have. Any possessions you bring to his house will remain yours, as will any income you earn from the shares you invest in. Your pin money is a substantial amount and so is your clothing allowance to spend however you see fit.”

She looked at Wolf. “That is very generous, Wolf. Thank you.”

“I want you to be happy and well looked after.”

She wanted to say his love was all she wanted and needed to make her happy, but she needed to convince him that while life held no certainties, love made the journey bearable, enjoyable and wonderful.

“Fane, would you allow me a private word with Wolf?”

Wolf opened his mouth, no doubt to protest, but Fane stood and said, “I’ll be just outside the door.”

As soon as Fane stepped out, Tiffany threw back the covers and tried to stand. Her legs didn’t wish to co-operate and Wolf caught her as she was about to fall. They stood looking at each other. “Don’t do this to us,” she whispered.

He didn’t even try to deny it. “You could have died or been taken away from me—or worse,” he choked out.

“But I wasn’t. I’m here, standing in front of the man I love, wanting him to have the strength to love me back.”

“I—I can’t. You don’t know the pain…”

“I know the pain of loving someone who doesn’t have the courage to love me back. I can’t marry you knowing you’ll always keep a part of yourself locked away from me. What if we have children? Will you keep them at arm’s length too? I couldn’t bear to see that.”

She cupped his cheek. “I know you carry the guilt of what happened with Margo, but it wasn’t your fault. It was a tragedy of circumstance and you have to let it go.”

“It’s my fault you were taken by Sprat. If I’d just paid Melville…”

She clung to his arms as they supported her. “Is that what you think? I was in trouble the minute I gave money to Sprat. Even if he never approached you about Melville, at some stage he was going to have to deal with me as I began to notice things. I ended up at Capel Court because he didn’t send my statements.” She pressed a kiss to his lips. “If he hadn’t used Lord Melville, I’d have been totally in the dark as to Sprat’s character and the threat he posed. He could have killed me before anyone knew. So, in a way, your intervention saved me.”

“I hadn’t thought of it like that.”

“You are not God. You are not there to know everything and to protect everyone.” She sat on the bed and pulled him down next to her.

“I just want to keep you safe. If something happened to you… But you’re right, I’m not God. I wouldn’t want to be.”

They stretched out and lay cuddled together on her bed.

“All I want to do is love you,” she whispered in his ear.

“I fought against loving you,” he murmured. “My heart held so much fear, but your strength made me see that perhaps loving you would not be a mistake. Then Sprat took you. And I panicked.”

“Love should never be feared. I can’t marry you if you fear it. I couldn’t live with that guilt. To make someone afraid to love would be a terrible punishment.”

Wolf drew back, gazed down at her, seeing her lashes glitter with tears. Gently he touched her face. “I want to love you so much. I want to give you my heart, my soul—everything I am.”

“Oh, Wolf. I’m here waiting for you. All you have to do is believe in the power of my love. Love is supposed to conquer all. Can you be the man who banishes his dark shadows and moves into the light so he can love me?”

He took a deep breath, seeking courage. “I have wealth, titles, all the privileges money and rank can buy, but they are all worthless if I lose the one thing that matters most. You.”

“Then don’t push me away.”

His brows drew together. “I might as well cut out my heart if you leave me.”

She sighed. “That sounds a tad dramatic. It also sounds like a man who is in love but won’t admit it.”

He drew her into his arms, pressing his lips to hers, relief coursing through him. “I’m an idiot, aren’t I? A coward. I feel stronger just having you in my arms.”

The soft light in her eyes reflected her quiet smile, catching his heart and sending it thudding in his chest. “Fear doesn’t make us cowards. Not facing your fear is cowardly. And you faced your fear. You love me despite your fear. All you’ve had is a little setback. But I can feel it in your touch. You love me.” Her words were spoken true and clear.

“I love you more than life itself.” Only now was he realizing how desperately he needed her love, how rare and precious that love was. “I’ll never forsake you. I’ll never deny my love again.”

Tiffany lay in the warmth of his embrace, cherishing the feel of his hard body against hers. She could sense his fear easing. She’d ensure he never feared again.

“I love you so much,” she murmured. “No more living in the past. We have only the future ahead of us.”

For a long moment they simply held each other, until Wolf broke the silence with a quiet question. “Will you marry me? I think I should ask again given how badly I mucked this up.”

“Yes. Yes, I will marry you. I can’t wait.”

He bent his head to kiss her, to seal their pledge. Fire flowed between them as their lips met, fire and want and need. Fierce desire burned through him for the woman he loved.

They would make a new beginning, Wolf vowed solemnly. He’d let nothing ever make him fear her love or his love for her. He would prove himself worthy of a woman as strong and kind as Tiffany. And he’d spend the rest of his life making up this lapse in judgment to her. He’d never let her doubt again that she owned his heart.

“Because Marlowe is standing outside the door, I cannot show you how much I love you. So put me out of my misery and agree to a short engagement.”

Her laughter filled his soul, and the fortress deep in his chest crumbled to dust, never to rise again.