Yes. She had deciphered it, hadn’t she?
She took a well-earned sip of champagne. “See, I told you I could be a spy.”
“Perhaps. But you’d need some work to be a successful one. Arnold was caught, you know.” He picked up a half-eaten sandwich from the picnic hamper and gestured with it. “I brought supper. There are lemon tarts.”
She looked at the basket of sweets and sandwiches. “You tricked me, and you started the picnic without me. I don’t know which is the greater offense.”
“I wasn’t certain how long it would take you to puzzle it out.”
She stole the half-eaten sandwich from his hand. “That settles it. I am definitely most angry with you for doubting me.” She took a large bite.
“Next time, I’ll make it more of a challenge.”
Next time?
Despite the teasing, pride was apparent in his gaze. He was quite pleased with himself, and with Charlotte.
Moreover, he was having fun.
And so was she.
She had a vision of the two of them, leading one another on mysterious late-night treasure hunts through his darkened mansion, a secluded, romantic scene waiting at the end.
Could they have a life like that? One built on playfulness and seduction and just a hint of mystery? Her heart warmed at the thought. But it all depended on whether he felt that warmth, too.
“I love you, Charlotte.”
She nearly choked on her bite of sandwich.
“Now?” she protested through a mouthful of bread and sliced cucumber. She swallowed. “You tell me this now. You couldn’t wait until I’d finished my sandwich?”
“No. I planned to, but I couldn’t.”
“Well, I hope you mean to say it at least once more.”
“Of course I do, darling.”
Darling. She loved it when he called her that. In his deep, aristocratic voice, it sounded equal parts suaveness and affection, with a current of danger running beneath.
After setting aside his champagne, he closed the distance between them in slow, determined strides. Oh, but he looked magnificent tonight. Smoothly shaven and turned out in a black tailcoat with a white vest and cravat. Perfect.
He laid his hands to her arms, cherishing her with a gentle caress. “You’re exquisitely beautiful tonight. Did I mention that yet?”
She shook her head, thrilled despite herself. “I wish I could honestly say that flattery will get you nowhere.”
“It won’t get me far enough, I know. I owe you more than compliments. You’re due a great many apologies.”
Well. She wouldn’t make any argument there.
“After you were poisoned, I told myself that by taking control of everything, I would protect you. But you were right. The only person I was protecting was myself. The thought of losing you gutted me. There was no thought in my mind but to keep you, make you irrevocably mine. No matter what villainy was required.”
“How could you have worried I might leave you? After all we’d shared? I told you I love you, Piers.”
“How to explain it?” He paused. “I didn’t think it could be enough. I didn’t think that I would be enough.”
What?
This beautiful, strong, loyal man worried he wouldn’t be enough? Charlotte could have laughed at the absurdity of it, but perversely, a tear burned at the corner of her eye instead.
She blinked it away. “Why would you think that?”
“Past experience. Mothers delight in their children, so they say. Mine didn’t find sufficient delight to stay around. My first engagement ended when my betrothed grew tired of waiting.” He shrugged. “I haven’t been very successful convincing women that I’m worth a lifetime.”
She slid her arms around his neck. “You’re more than enough for me.”
“You don’t have to feed me platitudes. I’m hard to know, and even more difficult to love.”
“But you must understand how my mind works by now. That only makes you more tempting. I love knowing there’s so much more to you than it seems on the surface. And that while a good bit of it is pure brilliance, some of it’s dark and twisty, too. You’re a puzzle. One that will take ages to solve, and you know how stubborn I am. I’m not one to give up.”
He slid his arms around her waist and pressed his brow to hers. “Promise me.”
“I promise you.” She closed her eyes. “I’m sorry I gave you reason to doubt it. I never will again.”
“I will never give you cause.”
She lifted her head. “You know, you still haven’t said it again.”
He gave her a sweet, slow kiss that tasted of champagne. “Oliveview.”
She growled in playful protest.
“Teasing, teasing.” He looked deep into her eyes. “I love you, Charlotte. Somehow you worked inside my heart, detonated there, and left it an untidy shambles. I don’t know if I’ve pieced together enough of it to love you as well as you deserve. But I swear to you, so long as I live I’ll never cease trying.”
“Much better, thank you.” She swayed in his arms, staring up at this man who belonged to her. “We’re going to have the grandest time. Capering about the Continent, stealing secrets . . .”
He shook his head. “That’s the one thing I can’t give you. I can send you and Delia to travel the Continent. I’ll wait for you as long as you like. But my work requires at least the appearance of detachment. It’s too dangerous otherwise. Anyone who wished to hurt me would know the shortest path is through you.”
“I understand,” she said, trying to mask her disappointment. “I won’t complain if you seem distant or unfeeling when we’re in public. I . . . I’ll just think of myself as working under cover.”
“No, darling. I can’t risk it. That’s why I mean to resign at once.”
Chapter Twenty-four
“Resign?” Charlotte’s face fell. She pulled away from his embrace, leaving him bereft.
“Yes,” he said. “I must. As soon as possible.”
“Piers, you can’t. You can’t give it up. The Crown needs you, and you need your work. I’ve seen you in moments of action. That’s when you truly come alive.”
He touched her cheek. “I come alive with you.”
“But the challenge, the danger. I know how you enjoy it.”