“I didn’t mean to disturb you,” he continued, glancing back at the harbor again. “I should return to the steamer. The captain said he’d delay only a little while on my account.”

She followed his gaze to the steamboat, still billowing black smoke. She wanted to tell him not to go, to stay with her, but she knew that wasn’t fair. Maybe she’d changed, but their circumstances hadn’t.

Even so, she’d nearly lost him, and now that he was here, standing so close, how could she let him go?

He shoved his fingers into his hair and looked as though he was about to speak. Then he dropped his hand and let his shoulders slump. “Good-bye, Mercy.”

Good-bye? Again?

He spun and began to stride away.

Her heart chased after him, willing him to stop. She had to do something. She couldn’t lose him. Run after him. Don’t let him get away! Her mind screamed at her, even as tears began to slide down her cheeks once more.

“I love you.” The words fell out, the only thing she could say, the only thing left.

His footsteps faltered and then he stopped. But he didn’t turn around.

“I love you, Joseph,” she said, louder this time. If they loved each other, surely they could find a way to overcome the obstacles that threatened to keep them apart.

Slowly he pivoted until he was facing her.

She tried to read his expression through her tears, but he was only a blur.

“I want to be with you,” she continued. Now that she’d set her feelings free, she wanted to marry him and spend the rest of her life with him. But she knew he was too considerate to ask her again after he’d already done so twice, and after she’d rejected him both times.

It was her turn now.

She rubbed her sleeves against her tear-stained cheeks and started toward him. He didn’t move but remained frozen in place. Except for his eyes, which were dark and fathomless, following her every move.

When she was standing in front of him, she reached for his hand and took a measure of courage when he didn’t pull away. Without breaking her gaze from his, she lowered herself to one knee. “I want to be with you, Joseph. You and none else. I’d be right happy to marry you, if you’ll still have me.”

“I wanted to give you your freedom, Mercy,” he whispered hoarsely. “I don’t want you to be pressured into marrying anyone, not even me.”

She brought his hand to her lips and pressed a kiss on the back of it. “You’re not pressuring me at all, Joseph. This is what I want. You’re what I want, and I’m just sorry it took me so long to figure it out.”