‘He has his family. He has two sisters, and he has Eugenie and three daughters. And he has me.’
She breathed out shakily. ‘So you made it all right with him?’
He shook his head slowly. ‘Actually, no. I told him that you and I weren’t real. That I’d set the whole marriage up because I wanted to punish him.’
Her eyes widened with such horror that he started to laugh.
‘And then I told him that I didn’t want or need what he was offering. That I knew what love was and that it didn’t come with conditions.’
He pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her waist, holding her close.
‘It’s okay. He was shocked and angry at first. You were right about us having more in common than just looks. He’s got a pretty impressive temper. But then...then he apologised.’
Remembering Andreas’s face, the sudden softening in his voice, Achileas heard his own voice falter. ‘He said that he has regretted what he did every day. And that whatever it took, he wanted me in his life for the rest of it.’
‘I’m so pleased for you.’ Effie’s eyes filled with tears again.
‘Yeah...seems you were right about that too. I guess in the future I’m just going to assume you’re always right. It’ll be easier that way.’
‘The future?’
Effie felt her heart skip a beat as Achileas framed her face with his hands, forcing her to look at him.
‘What you said to my father... Did you mean it? About loving me?’
There was nowhere to hide from his deep blue gaze. But she didn’t want to hide ever again. Instead, she dived right in. ‘Yes. Every word. I love you.’
‘And I love you—’
His voice cracked as he struggled to speak, and now her heart was in freefall.
‘And I know you said that you didn’t think it was very likely, but if there is a baby, I’ll love him or her too. I’ll love every baby we have, Effie.’
‘Every baby?’ Her hands gripped the front of his shirt, tears of happiness and joy spilling from her eyes. ‘Shouldn’t we get married first?’
‘Yeah, about that...’
His mouth curved into one of those smiles that made her blood turn to air.
‘I know I asked you to marry me before, but I want... I need to ask you again. Will you be my wife for real, my sweet Effie...my darling Josephine?’
Searching his eyes, she saw a man in love. A man wanting to love and be loved. She saw that the hardness, the anger, was gone.
‘Effie?’ he prompted, frowning, and she started to laugh. The impatience hadn’t gone though.
‘Yes,’ she said quietly. ‘Yes, I will.’
And, reaching up, she kissed him—softly at first, and then more hungrily—and he kissed her back, his arms tightening around her, holding her close with all his strength and all his passion.
*****