“That is your dream?” she queried, eyeing his palm. Take it, she thought to herself. But a voice deep within warned of the tragedy of love. “How can I be your dream?”
“Victoria, I have lived already a great deal in this life. I have seen war. I have been in the halls of power, and I can still do a great many things from abroad. All I want now is to see you shine. And see our child do the same.”
She could not stop the tears as they slid down her cheeks. She didn’t even dash them away as wave after wave of emotion overtook her. “I thought—I thought you were so upset about having broken your vow.”
“Yes,” he said, cutting the distance between them. He gazed down at her, then oh so gently raised his hand and wiped her tears away. “But I don’t want to live in fear anymore. I don’t want the approval and admiration of a man who was so ready to reject me and who is not here anymore. You are here.”
He cupped her cheek gently and lowered his forehead to hers. “I am here. Our child is here. I couldn’t ask for more. I’d be a fool if I did. I will not live my life for him anymore. I will not allow him to make my life empty.” He lifted his head, met her gaze, and his eyes all but glowed as he declared, “I thought I knew what beauty was before. I was a fool. You are the most beautiful woman, the most beautiful heart, the most beautiful soul I’ve ever known. My darling wife, you only grow more beautiful with every day we spend together. To live out my days with you is my only desire. It’s true, I won you, but far more important, I choose you. I choose us. My love, my wife, my Victory, I would wager all my heart and all my hopes on you. On our family. Please…choose me, too.”
His only desire was to live out his days with her? She could not quell the emotion that his words brought. Tears of joy filled her eyes. No matter the reason he’d chosen her before, he was choosing her now because he truly wanted her.
Choose me, too…
With his declaration, she reached out and took his hand in both of hers.
“With all my soul, my love,” she said. “Your wager is won. For all your hopes are mine, as well, and my heart is yours.”