Lady Sidmouth reached for his hand and squeezed it. “I quiteagree. Hers is the last window on the back left side, second story. I will ensure it is unlocked, and you may come tonight. I must go.” She turned and reentered the house before he could thank her. It was clear where Marina got her formidable nature. He could tell that Lady Sidmouth was a force in her own right.
Evan returned to his carriage. This would be the single longest day of his life, waiting until he could see Marina.
*
After pacing hisstudy for hours, night finally came. Evan had been too anxious to eat. Scaling a London townhouse worked better on an empty stomach anyway.
He waited until almost midnight to have his carriage readied. With no balls that evening, the streets should be quiet.
Evan left his carriage around the corner from the Sidmouth townhouse and crept through the mews. A noise caught his attention. A shadow appeared and he ducked into the nearest bush, ignoring the branches biting into his back. Footsteps broke the silence. A groom emerged, looked around, then stared toward Evan’s hiding spot. Evan held his breath.
The groom returned to the stables. After several minutes, Evan slipped out and moved along the brick wall, avoiding the moonlight.
Once in the garden, he exhaled. He crossed to the terrace and looked up at Marina’s window. Candlelight glowed inside. Good. At least he wouldn’t wake her.
The lattice on the wall would serve. Evan patted the ring in his pocket, then he grabbed hold, and climbed without looking back. Each step tested his weight until he reached the window.
When he reached her window and peeked inside, he saw Marina pacing the room. She had a single candle lit on the table and a fire glowing in her fireplace. With as little noise as possible, he shifted thewindow open.
“Marina,” he whispered as he climbed into the room.
She shifted a hand to her heart, but her expression remained even. “Finally.”
He dusted off his pants and met her gaze. “So, you knew I was coming then?”
“Mama told me.”
“Did she tell you anything else?” he asked.
Marina shook her head. “Just that you tried to call earlier, and Papa wouldn’t allow it. Not that I give a damn what Papa wants.”
“You can’t marry Minto.”
Even in the low lighting, he could see the disdain in her expression. “Don’t you think I know that? If you hadn’t been an arse last year, perhaps it wouldn’t have gotten this far.”
“Marina, I deserve every ounce of blame for all of this. And you can hate me forever if you wish, but this business with Minto is serious.”
“I don’t need you to explain the situation to me,” she snapped. Then she drew a long breath and continued, “I have no other choice, Evan. I’m going to run away.”
Taking her hand in his, he gave it a gentle squeeze. “We will figure something out. I won’t let you miss out on your future because of that blackguard.”
Marina refused to meet his eye. “How am I supposed to trust you? You spoke so horribly to me in the field that day, and even yesterday, you didn’t call when you said you would. I can only count on myself,” she quavered. “I can’t allow you to hurt me again.”
She wiped a tear from her eye and ten punches to the gut would have hurt him far less.
For the first time, he realized just how much pain he had caused her that day. She always came off so strong and capable, and he failed to recognize the vulnerability that lived deep within her. He shatteredher trust those many months ago, and he may never earn it again. He had believed that pushing her away was for the best, that it would give her a better life. And now he can’t imagine a life without her.
He pulled her to him and nudged her chin upward until she met his eyes. “I have never been sorrier,” he said, “or regretted my actions more than that day. I should have married you, and none of this would have ever happened. I should have told you that day the truth of how I felt. How in love with you I was and how I thought that I was giving you the chance at a better life. Please forgive me.”
She said nothing and contemplated what he had said. She attempted to pull back, but he held her tighter.
“Marina,” he pleaded. “I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. You have me, love. You always have.”
He pulled the ring from his pocket and knelt before her.
“Marina Osborne, will you please marry me? And if you don’t wish to marry me, I will help you run away. I will go with you and ensure you are safe if that is what you need. The choice is yours. Whatever it takes to protect you from a life with Minto.”
He remained kneeling before her, awaiting her reply, hoping she would choose to marry him. He loathed the thought of her running and hiding, but if that was what she wanted, he meant what he said.