“I did,” she insisted. “I was never going to go through with marrying Lord Brinton. I have friends in the country—distant relations of my mother. They would have kept George and me hidden. We may have even left England to live abroad.”

“As I said, I assumed you did have a plan, Charlotte. Maybe I spent enough time with you to know that you would never bend to the will of any man.”

“Then why did you—”

“I did what I did because I wanted to give you the world. I wanted to play some part in helping you live the life you deserved, even if you didn’t want to spend that life with me.”

Charlotte stood completely still for several moments until she spoke again.

“Considering you just told me you never wish to see me again, it seems like you went through a fair bit of trouble on my behalf.”

“Your life is your own now. You need answer to no one. You have your freedom.”

“Yes,” Charlotte answered, taking a small step forward. “And now that I have my freedom, I want to use it to stay here—with you.”

Robert’s jaw tightened. He would not allow himself to hope. Not again. Not unless he was certain this was what Charlotte truly wanted. “Are you quite sure?” he asked, knowing full well that his heart would shatter to pieces if she left him for a second time.

“I’m sure that I love you. I’m very sure of that.”

Robert remained silent at Charlotte’s simple declaration. The air in the room seemed to spark with anticipation as she moved forward to leave no distance between them. Giving her ample time to move away, Robert gripped her waist as he leaned down and closer still, gently pressing his lips to hers. He had already begun to kiss her for a second time when another shattering crash echoed through the house.

Charlotte pulled back with a sigh. “I’m also sure that George and I will be the death of your butler if you still wish to marry me.”

“Hollis is more resilient than you think. He will adore George in less than a week. You...maybe a few months. A year at the most.”

“But you love me, don’t you?”

Robert wrapped his arms fully around Charlotte then, basking in the knowledge that he never had to let go again. “More than anything,” he said.

“Then why didn’t you come back to Greenspeak after my father was sent away? It’s been six months since I saw you last.”

Robert grinned and kissed Charlotte once more, softer and more sweetly than either had ever experienced. “I just had to believe that I would see you again someday, and then all the waiting would be worth it.”