CHAPTER 87: YOU WERE MADE FOR JOY!

"Another failure. Forgive me. I have proven a most unsatisfactory guardian, it seems." His voice had lightened, and the stern lines in which his face had been set seemed at odds with what he said. "I promise you I shall endeavour to be a better husband."

Hey throat tightened with the promise of that, and with what was in his eyes.

"And you must never believe I didn't love you," he said. "Nothing could be further from the truth. It seems as if in trying to protect you..." And instead of finishing that equally promising revelation, his voice trailed off.

"I don't understand." She didn't. She had come to offer him a compromise. And inst...

He smiled at her, and then he pulled her to him. Whatever doubts she had, died as his mouth closed over hers. There was nothing tentative about his kiss. And nothing within it of pity or compassion. Or even of compromise. This was desire, decently denied, and only now, with her permission, given expression.