Adelaide wet her lips carefully, then looked up at him. “The last few days have been terribly uncomfortable for me, and I am not talking about my body. I know you must have sensed my hesitation, my reluctance, and my silence at times, knowing how I do tend to rattle away.”

He nodded, giving her a smile, though he was not certain where she was taking this conversation.

“The problem,” she went on, “is that you were there for the delivery of Taran, and I had not planned on that before it happened. You were there in the most vulnerable, emotional, disastrous, and weakest moment of my life when I had no defenses and no reserves to call upon. I have been mortified the more I think on it, and I don’t know how to face you.”

That was what she thought? The most brilliant, beautiful, moving moment of his life was something that brought her embarrassment and pain?

He knew her well enough by now to know that she meant what she said, even if only in the moment, so he did his best to give her a reassuring smile. “Just face me. I don’t remember much from those last few hours.”

She did not look convinced. “You remember everything.”

“Not everything. And it was not exactly an easy time for me, so yes, I am having trouble remembering with my usual clarity.”

She smiled with a great deal of hope. “Well, let us capitalize on that and pretend that I was marvelous and strong and did not need you.”

It occurred to him to laugh, as she no doubt wished him to, but he had spent so long pretending so many things on herbehalf. Pretending that he did not recall the moment he knew he was in love with her was out of the question.

Harrison found himself shaking his head at her. “I don’t think I can do that.”

Adelaide frowned at that. “What? Why not? You just said you did not remember it.”

“I said I do not remember much,” Harrison corrected. “But there are some things I remember quite clearly.”

“I don’t want to hear this,” Adelaide said at once, looking away and readjusting Taran in her arms. “I cannot even think of it without embarrassment.”

Harrison held tight to her hand. “To me, you have never been more magnificent than in that moment, my love.”

Her eyes returned to his in shock. “What?”

He nodded once. “I am in love with you, Addie.”

She stared at him, disbelief etched in her features. “You cannot possibly… especially not after—”