Alice raised her eyebrows. “Are you telling me that it was my doing that Lord Shore did not reveal the arranged marriage sooner?”
"No! Of course, not, Miss Campbell. Far be it for me to suggest such a thing! I merely meant that you are a strong-willed woman who does not accept deceit in anyone. I believe that Lord Shore did not know of a way to approach you without causing you pain. I do not know if there would have been a right way or a right time, but it was his love for you that kept him silent.”
She smiled sadly. “Many people say that love is fearless, but I believe that that only applies to some situations. I would run into a burning building to save my family, but I would remain silent if what I knew could potentially hurt them. Therefore, it was not deceit that kept him silent, but his love for you.”
She took Rose's words in, listening with an open heart. Alice knew that what the woman was saying was the truth, she felt it in every fibre of her being. Luke had only treated her with respect, and she had witnessed no evidence to show that he was the type of man who could purposefully hurt another.
But he had hurt her. She would have listened to him had he just told her the truth from the very beginning. They could have dealt with it together. Instead, he chose to deal with it himself. Oh, she did not know what to think. Her heart was torn in two, her mind split between wanting to hear him out and shut him out.
“I shall give the matter some thought, Miss Charpentier, that is all that I can promise.”
“That is all that I can ask.” She stood up. “I have taken up enough of your time, I must go. I am glad that we were able to speak. You truly are a good woman.”
Alice stood up as well, holding her hand out to Rose. This would be the mark to set their differences aside. And while she did not think that she would necessarily be friends with the woman, at least there would be no bad air between them.
“Thank you for having the courage to see me, I appreciate it. Allow me to walk you out.”
Some minutes later, Alice returned to her room, making a beeline for the letters. Finally, it was time to open them and see what Luke had to say.
***
Three letters in total, and each one was as heartfelt as the other. Alice stared at them, her heart swelling with the conviction that Luke did truly love her. Her eyes repeatedly strayed to specific paragraphs, highlighting them in her mind.
Alice, despite the fact that I have never allowed any woman to grow close to me, you were able to break down my walls without realising it. Conversing with you was as natural as breathing the air around me. I could speak to you with ease, always looking for ways to have you to myself. Perhaps you noticed it, I do not know, but my soul craved your presence. I wanted to hear your voice, to know what you were thinking, to share your passions with you, to listen to you laugh. Nothing made me happier than being near you.
She had not known any of this, thinking that he simply enjoyed her company as a friend. Alice's eyes moved to another paragraph, eating the words up as she read them.
I shall never forget the day you bore such pain in your eyes. I would have gladly gouged out the eyes of the man who had hurt you, but it would not have removed the memory of his betrayal. Such a feeling of protection had been aroused within me that I had could hardly contain my anger. However, I knew that I had to because you needed me. I was scarcely aware of the love that I had for you then, but it had grown and blossomed without my input. Alice, all I wish to do is love and protect you for the rest of our lives, this is a perfect dream for me.
Luke finished all his letters in the same way. His declaration of love was in no way false, and his remorse was so deeply detailed that she could feel it jump off the page. She only read a few lines more, the ones that had brought about her final decision.
I feel no greater joy than to love you. Even though you may not wish to see me, you must know that nothing has changed. You are the only woman I shall treasure for the rest of my life, and I shall go to my grave with the knowledge that I had the good fortune of meeting with you and falling for you. I shall never marry another, for there is no other for me but you.
It was settled. She was going to give him another chance.
***
Luke could feel his heart in his throat as he walked into the Campbell home. Receiving Alice's brief note yesterday had come as a surprise and some fear. It held no indication of what she was thinking, just a few words asking for his presence in her home. She could tell him to leave her life permanently or, if he was truly fortunate, she may forgive him. But if she did, would that mean that she would agree to marry him? Luke was ready to drop to one knee and propose, she need only give him a chance.
They already had their parent's approval as their fathers had been the ones to arrange the union in the first place. It was just Alice to give the last go ahead. It was not so long ago that he was adamant that he would not get married, but now he was singing a different tune. Norton had been itching to tell him that he was right and Luke was wrong, but he had held off until Alice came around. If she came around. There was a good chance that he was going to walk out of the Campbell residence with a broken heart. It would serve him right after what he did to her. But he could make her happier than she could imagine. She simply needed to give him a chance to prove it.
Mary led him into the quaint room that opened into the garden area. He would not exactly describe it as a parlour, but perhaps a space to have tea and watch the sun come up. The space was definitely feminine, hinting that Lord Campbell probably did not come into this room. Upon closer inspection he noticed an easel, a few canvases and some paint marks on the wooden floor.
This was Alice's painting room. If she had asked that he be brought here, could that bode well for him? Why else would she allow him into her space? The parlour and drawing room were usually the rooms he would be led into, but this was different. And, considering the fact that painting was her passion, that had to be taken as a positive. He hoped that she would walk into this room with the objective of giving him another chance.
Time trickled by and he wondered where she could be. The wait was increasing his nerves minute by minute, his hope failing him, and he began to despair of ever convincing her to forgive him. What if she had had second thoughts?
Winning back her trust meant everything to him. She had to come and see him. Luke rubbed his eyes, his hands brushing through his hair before coming to rest on his knees. He was too nervous to sit. He had to do something.
He left his seat, going to stand by the window. Luke could see the tree he had sat beneath with Alice. It was the last time he had spent with her that had been carefree and private. If only he could go back to that day and tell her what he had learned about their arranged marriage. He would not be in this predicament had he done that. They could have been walking through the park as a happy, betrothed couple.
“Luke?”
He spun around at the sound of her voice, sucking his breath in when he saw her. Her name left his lips with the air he released, sounding breathy and unstable. “Alice.” He took a step towards her, stopping abruptly. What if she did not wish for him to come near her? “How are you?” he asked instead.
“Well, thank you. Would you perhaps like something to drink? I see that Mary has forgotten to bring refreshments.” She made no mention of her prolonged absence, and neither would he ask.
“That is all right, I do not need anything in this moment.” All I need is you.
“Uh, yes, good. Shall we sit?” She did not wait for him but took the nearest seat to the door. Did she mean to run at the first opportunity? He followed suit, choosing one furthest from her – he did not wish to come across as forward or forceful. Luke noticed that she seemed nervous, which only increased his nerves.
“Have you been well?” she asked.
No, I have not. “Yes, good, good. And you?”
“I could say that I have been well, but that would be a lie. I am sure that you are lying as well.”
He looked down. “Yes.”
>
“A lot has happened, Luke. That is why I have called you here today. I wish to resolve this issue once and for all.”
Her words did not put him at ease. Reconciling with her seemed impossible. Perhaps he needed to speak first before he lost his nerve.
“I love you!” he blurted out.
Well, that was not what he meant to say. No, he meant to say it, but not so soon. Alice looked away, her cheeks turning a rose pink. At least she did not reel back in horror.
“That did not quite come out the way that I hoped it would.”
She looked at him, eyebrows raised. “You would take it back?”
“Of course, not! But I wanted more finesse.”
“How you started was just fine, but I need to hear more from you. Your letters said much, but I wish to hear them from your own lips.”
Luke's eyes widened. Was she truly giving him an opportunity to explain his actions? He would not let a moment of this slip through his fingers, so he left his chair and took one closer to her, turning his body towards her. She did not move away, giving him greater courage to continue.
“Thank you, Alice, for allowing me to speak with you. I know that I have hurt you terribly, but please believe me that it was not intentional. I had nothing to do with our fathers' arrangement, I was as much in the dark as you were. However, when I did finally learn of it, I was shocked into silence. How would I tell you that our fathers intended to forcefully marry us? Not only did you have to deal with the fact that your father was using you to pay his debt, but you would find out that the man that you had met only several moons ago was to become your husband. I simply did not know what to say to you without you growing to hate me.” He watched her expression, not able to read what she was thinking.
“But you still hurt me by keeping it from me. It only served to remind me of the first betrayal, but this was worse.”
Hearing her say these words cut him to the quick. However, rather than falter, he forged ahead. “If I could do things differently, I would, but I cannot. I can only tell you that hurting you has been the most brutal thing I could have done both to myself and you. Knowing that I could not see you or speak to you has tortured me, but I know it cannot compare to the pain you have endured.” He got down on his knees, just shy of touching her. “Alice, I am begging you for your forgiveness. Please, find it in your heart to see that what I tell you is the truth.”
When Luke saw Alice's smile, he could have collapsed right there on the floor from sheer relief.
“Luke, you are fortunate that I love you, or I would have never given you another chance.”
“You love me?” That was not what he had expected her to say, but he was not complaining.
“Yes, more than you know. How could I not forgive you? Had I not loved you as much as I do, I would not have been as angry as I was. Keeping away from you and everyone else was for your protection. I was spitting mad, Luke. My words alone would have caused much damage to the hearer.”
“But I would have taken them all without complaint.”
“Still, it was not something that I wished to do. Better to experience my emotions alone than to hurt the ones I love. However, a part of me wished to lash out at everyone, and I likely did. Poor Violet received most of my blunt words, but she has remained relatively patient with me.”
Luke reached out to her, taking her hand in his. She curled her fingers around his hand, sending sparks of heat into his body.
“Will you tell me that you love me again?”
She smiled. “Was once not enough?”
"It will never be enough, Alice. I will require it of you every day for the rest of our lives once we are married."
“I do not remember receiving a proposal or agreeing to one, Lord Shore.”
“This is why we are meant to be – you keep me on my toes and never sugar-coat your words.”
“Who else will bring you down to size, Lord Shore? Such an important and well-known man as yourself needs to understand that you are not a god, but a mere mortal.”
“Have I mentioned how perfect you are for me?”
“No, but I rather like the sound of it.”
He laughed. “I love you, Alice Campbell. There is no one like you, and I say that with the greatest confidence.”
“And I love you, Luke Connolly.”
“Would it be terribly forward of me to ask for a kiss?”
She looked taken aback, but began to chuckle, her hand covering her mouth. What a lovely sound it was! He had despaired of ever hearing it again. Luke watched Alice lower her hand, visibly trying to keep her growing smile in check.
“On the cheek, Lord Shore, that is all. Once we are married, well, there will be more.”
He eagerly offered his cheek to her. “Do not be quick about it.”
Giggling, she cupped his face, giving him a chaste kiss on his cheek. “That is it, no more. Mama would be scandalised if she knew you had asked for a kiss before our marriage has passed.”
"Then, without further ado, my beautiful lady, will you do me the greatest honour of becoming my beloved wife?"
She stared deep into his eyes. “Yes, I most certainly would.”
A shriek of joy from beyond the door startled them. They looked at each other, smiling.
“I think that your sister is the first to know of our betrothal.”
She stood up, still holding his hand. “Come, best we tell them of our good news.”
Luke gladly went with her, knowing that he would follow her to the ends of the earth.
***
Alice should have known that her sister would be listening at the door. She would not have minded had she not given Luke a kiss, now Violet would likely tease her about it. However, she was happy enough to not allow it to bother her today. It was a joyous occasion for she would marry the man she loved, and he was right here beside her. She was grateful that he chose to fight for her rather than give up. Voices could be heard in the drawing room, likely discussing the good news.
“They sound happy,” Luke commented.
“Yes. I imagine it is a great relief for them all.”
Especially as she had put them through much stress. Those had been days of their lives that they would never get back, but they had been necessary. They entered the room, seeing her parents and sister standing near the door as if waiting for them. Her mother just about ran to them, embracing them as she cried.
“Goodness, I am so happy for you both. I cannot even –” Alice's mother could not continue with her sentence as she was too overcome with emotion.
“Thank you, Lady Campbell. I am honoured that your daughter has agreed to become my wife.”
Violet rushed to them, hardly able to contain her excitement. Her sister hugged them both, settling with her arm around her waist. “Oh, Alice! Luke! I knew that love would eventually win! It simply had to.”
“Ahem.”
They all looked to her father, who had politely coughed into his hand.
“Papa?”
"I just wish to say that I was wrong to force a marriage upon you both. As your father, I only had your best interests at heart, and theoretically, a duke's son is the most desirable match for a woman. Alice, I would not have done it had I not believed that you would be happy together, but that does not excuse the way that I executed the plan. For that, I am sorry."
Had her father just apologised? Stunned, Alice looked at her sister and mother. They only smiled, nodding her heads. She did not ever dream that Papa would say something like that. He must have genuinely changed.
“Let us leave the past behind and look to the future, Papa. It is a new day today, let us embrace the joy in it.”
The Way to Capture a Marquess's Heart: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 26