His fingers tightened around hers, but otherwise he didn’t seem to react to her declaration.

Her heart quavered at the prospect that he’d changed his mind about her. For just an instant, her old insecurities taunted her that he regretted his earlier proposals. “It’s not too late, is it, Joseph?”

He tugged her up, giving her little choice but to stand. Once she faced him, she tried to quell her trembling but couldn’t. Had she lost him this time for good? He lifted a hand to her cheek, hesitated, then gently combed back a loose strand of her hair.

“I’m finished running away from God,” Joseph said quietly but with conviction, which told Mercy he’d found peace at last. “The captain of the Callie Ellen is waiting for me to board. I’ll be going to San Francisco. From there I shall return to England directly, where I shall endeavor to take up my father’s causes in Parliament, as well as work at the Shoreditch Dispensary with Dr. Bates.” Joseph studied her face as if waiting for her reaction to his news.

“Then you’re not a-going on the Tynemouth to the Hawaiian Islands or any of the other places you wanted to visit?”

“I’ve realized that was simply an excuse to avoid returning home. I wrote two letters last eve, one to you with the ring, telling you of my plans to return to London, and the second to Captain Hellyer of the Tynemouth, informing him that I wouldn’t be sailing aboard his vessel. I sent an assistant in my stead.”

She searched his eyes for any sign of disappointment or wavering or even regret, but his eyes were filled with confidence, with contentment.

“Before I left London, Dr. Bates asked me to take up the partnership with him at the dispensary. I tried to ignore the need, to run away from God’s call, because I didn’t want to stay in London and face the emptiness of my life there without my family. But I’m ready to go back now and help Bates. He needs me, and the community needs our medical practice.”

It was her turn to reach up and touch his cheek. She did so tentatively at first, brushing her fingers along his jaw. It was bold, but she had to make him understand the depth of her love. “I’m right proud of you. You’ll make a big difference there in the slums, that you will.”

He nodded, swallowed hard, then took a deep breath. “I couldn’t ask you to go back to London, Mercy. It wouldn’t be fair, not after you’ve come this far to get away—”

She laid two fingers against his lips, cutting him off. “I’ll go.”

He started to speak again, but she pressed her fingers more firmly.