Chapter Fourteen − A Theory Confirmed

Abigail felt herself tremble as shivers shot up and down her body. Still, she held Griffin’s gaze, seeing his utter surprise at her request, which then quickly turned into something more.

Something deeper.

Desire lit up his eyes, and they drifted down to touch her lips. Taking a step closer, he sought her gaze. “I assure you I’m most happy to oblige you,” he whispered, a teasing smile lighting up his face, slowly putting her rattled nerves at ease, “if you are certain.” The look on his face sobered, and she could see how much he cared for her. How had she not seen this before?

“I am,” Abigail answered him, nodding her head up and down like a fool.

He held her gaze for another moment, seemingly indecisive, before she suddenly found herself swept into his arms. His right arm came around her waist while his left hand slid into her hair at the base of her neck. Then his lips touched hers in a soft, rather chaste kiss.

Welcoming his warmth, the touch of his lips, the feel of his embrace, Abigail found herself a bit frustrated with his restraint. Her fingers trailed down the side of his face and found the hammering pulse at the base of his neck. Why was he holding back?

When Griffin lifted his head, his eyes fluttering open, Abigail slung her arms around his neck and pulled him back down to her. Although her theory had been more than confirmed, she was quite unwilling to cease her explorations. After all, one could never be too certain, could one?

At her reaction, Griffin’s hold on her tightened and he finally kissed her with all the passion she had hoped for. The world around her began to blur, and she would have sunken to the ground into a puddle of trembling flesh if his strong arms had not held her closer to his body.

Still, after a small eternity, he did pull away, chuckling at her small noise of protest. “What is your verdict?” he asked, his gaze holding hers as his lungs held his breath.

Abigail smiled, feeling her body hum with the knowledge she had gained. Then she swallowed and cleared her throat, trying to focus her thoughts. “Well, the results quite confirm my suspicions,” she said teasingly, enjoying the smile that lit up his face.

“What suspicions?”

“That I lost my heart to you,” she said without hesitation, her grin widening when she saw his mouth fall open at her boldness. “I keep wondering how it happened and when. I woke up one morning, and it was simply gone.”

Holding her in his arms, Griffin sighed. “Did you find mine in its stead? I’m afraid I seem to have lost mine as well. Quite unexpectedly, I assure you.”

As the world around her began to sing, Abigail closed her eyes, her teeth once more sinking into her lower lip, unable to contain the happiness that flooded her being.

“Would you in turn help me answer a question?” Griffin asked, the look in his eyes one of calm apprehension. When she nodded, he drew in a deep breath. “You must promise to answer honestly.”

Again, Abigail nodded.

Again, he drew in a deep breath. “Do you want to marry me?”

Judging from the look on his face, Abigail had in fact expected a proposal. Still, what she had not expected was for him to ask what she wanted. Not if she would marry him, but if she wanted to marry him. “Why do you ask?”

A nervous chuckle escaped him, “Isn’t it obvious?”

Laughing, Abigail sighed, “Appearances can be deceiving as you well know.”

“That is true,” he admitted, his gaze not wavering from hers. “I ask because…I love you. Is that not what it means to lose one’s heart to another? Is that not what you meant?”

Abigail nodded. “It is. And I love you, too.”

“I knew it!” Winifred’s voice cut through the peaceful moment before she came rushing around the hedge, her eyes sparkling with triumph as she looked from her brother to Abigail. Next to her, Aunt Mara appeared, looking a bit ill at ease.

“See?” Winifred exclaimed, stepping toward them. “I knew you’d like her. Why didn’t you trust me? I would never have steered you wrong.”

Laughing, Griffin shook his head at his sister. “Would you leave us alone? In case you haven’t noticed, you’ve just ruined a most wonderful moment.”

Winifred’s face turned a darker shade of red, and her hand flew to her mouth. Still, there was little to no regret in her eyes as she cast one last look at her brother and marched off, Aunt Mara in tow.

“Now, where were we?” Griffin mumbled, turning back to her, a light-hearted smile on his face. “Ah, yes, you haven’t answered my question yet. And please, don’t be discouraged by my nosey sister. If you want, we can move, leave the country, go somewhere where she’ll never find us.”

Her heart filled with delight at the close family Abigail could see in their future, and she looked up at Griffin and knew with perfect clarity what she wanted. “Don’t you dare,” she teased. “She belongs with us.”

“Us?”

Abigail nodded. “Yes, us,” she confirmed, feeling her heart beat faster at the utter joy that shone through his eyes. “As do Aunt Mara and my grandfather. They might drive us crazy at times, but they’re a part of us. They’re family, and we would never be the same without them. They shape who we are, and we do the same for them.” A sigh escaped her lips as she sank a little deeper into Griffin’s arms. “Grandfather told me this morning that he spoke to his grandson, Aunt Mara’s son. He agreed to speak to his wife and ensure that his mother could see her grandchildren on a regular basis. You should have seen her.” Closing her eyes for a moment, Abigail smiled. “I’ve never seen her so happy.”

Tightening his hold on her, Griffin sighed. “Let’s agree to always be honest with each other and fight openly…and not secretly behind each other’s back. Secrets destroy trust, and once that is lost, there is no going back. Not completely. There’ll always be doubts.”

Abigail nodded, touched by the depth of his thoughts.

“How would you feel about a June wedding?” Griffin asked suddenly, the seriousness in his eyes replaced by a youthful eagerness that suited him well.

“That’s in two months!” Abigail exclaimed, knowing without a doubt that she had no objections. “Aunt Mara would be happy to help us plan. It would make her happy to be included.”

“But first,” Griffin began as his eyes narrowed, a touch of apprehension coming to his face, “I need to speak to your grandfather and ask for your hand in marriage.”

Abigail laughed, “He will not be surprised by your visit,” she assured him, remembering how her grandfather had winked at her earlier that day when she had left the house with her aunt to go call on Griffin. “If I’m not mistaken, he knew well ahead of us that we would end up together.” A snort escaped her. “Kind of like Winifred. Perhaps not only we are suited to one another, but also our families.”

Griffin chuckled, “Perhaps you’re right. Perhaps we’ve always been meant for each other.”

Whether or not it was fate or coincidence, Abigail did not care. All that mattered was that they had found each other. How often did people who would fit perfectly into each other’s lives meet but not realise it? How often did fate go unanswered because people were too busy, too distracted or too stubborn to see what was right in front of them?

Abigail could not deny that she had been one of them, and so had her betrothed. Still, they had been able to wrench their eyes open just in time before they would have walked out of each other’s lives without a look back.

Never in a position to regret what could have been.

Because they would have never known.

Abigail whispered a silent thank-you to her father, whose letter had sent her to London in the first place.

To London.

And to Griffin.