Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lucy listened intently outside Cedric’s bedroom door. His father had left the house ten minutes ago with nothing beyond a polite nod in the hallway to her as he passed. She had waited until the front door closed behind him, then headed straight for Cedric. But what was she going to say to him? That she had never been more thrilled than when he had drenched his own father in her defense?
She’d been terrified of the possible violence, but the knowledge that he would fight for her still rocked her to the core. All her anger, all her frustration with him melted away at that moment.
He defended her. He fought his own father for her.
And now she loved him even more than ever.
Unable to keep herself away, she knocked quietly on his bedroom door. There was no answer, and the silence worried her. So she twisted the doorknob and peeked inside, half afraid of what she would find.
No dead body, thank Heaven, but what she found was akin to a death. Cedric sat in his chair completely immobile. For a man who was constantly moving—he was even a restless sleeper—this absolute stillness frightened her.
‘Cedric?’ she whispered. And when he didn’t seem to react, she quietly crossed the room to his side.
Still no reaction, but this close she could see that he breathed. And given that there were no obvious wounds, she decided her best choice was to sit beside him and wait. He would come back to himself eventually, and then they could talk.
‘I’ve changed.’ Cedric’s voice was low and, as far as she could tell, his gaze never lifted off the floor.
‘What?’
‘I see it so clearly. What he has been missing all his life. And what I want in mine.’ He looked up, his eyes bright with the sheen of tears. ‘I swear he’ll never hurt you. And if he says one word against you or your sister, then tell me. I will cut him off. I swear I will—’
‘Cedric,’ she said as she sank down before him. She pressed her hand to his cheek, searching for fever. ‘Slow down. How do you feel?’
He took her hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss. ‘I feel…clear-headed, I suppose.’ He brought her hand down to his lap and she happily left their fingers entwined. ‘I see what my father has been missing all his life. I see why he turned to gambling and why it never fills him. Win or lose, he can’t stop playing.’
‘What?’
‘Love, Lucy. He has no love. Not of work, nor of his own family.’ How it hurt to say it, but he knew the truth. ‘Have you ever seen gamblers deep in play? They aren’t happy, and yet they can’t stop themselves.’
She smiled at him. She had no idea if what he said about his father was correct or not. But she saw the spark in Cedric’s eyes, and it pleased her so much that warmth filled her heart. Finally, he was returning to the man she remembered. The one who had hope and a ready smile no matter what happened. But now itwas even better because she didn’t read any desperation in him. Only determination.
Then his gaze intensified. ‘You shouldn’t be on the floor in front of me.’
‘I don’t mind,’ she said as she pressed a kiss to their joined hands. ‘I like it when you smile at me.’
‘Then I shall always wear a smile for you.’
He would do it too, she realised. Just because she liked his smile, he would put one on for her no matter what he truly felt. ‘I like honesty between us.’
His expression shifted, his gaze softened and she felt his fingers tighten around hers. ‘Have you truly forgiven me?’ he asked. ‘For all the other things. I was angry and desperate and—’
‘An idiot.’
‘Yes! A complete idiot.’
She chuckled. ‘I cannot hold a grudge against every person who makes idiotic mistakes.’
‘I don’t care about anyone else. I care about you.’
She smiled. ‘I have forgiven you.’
‘Then marry me, please.’
She jolted, shocked by his words. ‘What? But—’ She pressed her hand to his cheek.
He caught her hand then pressed a kiss into her hand. ‘I’m not sick. This isn’t a fever, and I can wait if you want. But I understand what I need now and it’s you.’