Chapter Nineteen

D erek stared at Mabel, unsure if he had heard her correctly. Surely she hadn't said divorce, not after all this. No, there wasn't any way in hell she would be rid of him so quickly.

"Never," he repeated as she finally lifted her face, her gaze catching his. "I'm never going to let you go, Mabel. Never."

"But I've made such a mess," she said, emotion making her voice crack. "The gossip, the papers… I can't bear to think of everything I've put us through."

"But bear it, you will, because there's no way on God's green earth that I'm going to let you leave me."

She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling in the dim light of the carriage lamp.

"Silas said you were going to sue. First Pascal, then the papers."

"I am."

"But you can't," she begged.

"Why not?"

"Because we will be a laughingstock. It will just drag the whole thing out. You will be humiliated and…" She stopped, shaking her head, almost unable to continue. "I don't want to bring you any more shame."

Derek tilted his head as if he couldn't understand what she was saying. It would be somewhat uncomfortable to be reported upon in the papers, yes, and there would be whispers and gossip for a time, but as the Trembleys had often been subjects in the gossip columns, he doubted it would be much different. And it certainly wouldn't be enough to convince him that divorcing her would be the best option.

He shook his head.

"So, you would be done with all of this? With us, just so that I might not know shame?"

"Yes," she said like a woman agreeing to her demise before an executioner.

"But you don't care what anyone thinks. You've said as much. Frequently."

"I don't care what they think of me ," she clarified. "But you… I hate to think that you might… might…"

"Might what?"

"Might suffer from something I did."

Her concern was strangely moving, and Derek's chest expanded.

"But what did you do?"

Mabel sighed loudly. "I caused all of this, haven't I? The papers, Pascal. Everything is my fault. He never forgave me for humiliating him and now I've gone and done it to you and I can't bear it."

"My love," he began, shaking his head. "You did not cause Pascal to do all the things he has done."

"No, but it's because of me that he is here. If I had never come here, he wouldn't have given that story to the Times ."

"If you hadn't come to England, he still would have wanted money, he still would have tried to extort it from your family, and he likely would have taken your sister instead. Isn't that what nearly happened anyway?" he asked, but Mabel refused to agree, the stubborn woman she was. "My love, the only thing you did was divorce a man who wasn't a good husband."

"But it's because I married him in the first place that all this happened."

"And I wouldn't have it any other way."

Mabel evidently thought she misheard him, for her countenance as she glanced up at him was one of shock.

"You… You what?"

"If marrying Pascal and divorcing him caused you to have enough concern about your sister that you sailed across an ocean to try and keep her from making a mistake, which in turn caused us to meet, then Mabel, I am glad for it." He gathered her hands into his and continued. "I loathe that he once had the right to touch you, that he was permitted at one point to kiss you. Believe me, I've been ill about it for weeks. But if marrying Pascal and then divorcing him brought you and me together, then I can only be grateful. And as for blaming yourself for all this, I will not allow it. In fact, as your husband, I forbid it. Pascal's actions are his own."

Mabel's stunned expression suddenly made Derek feel lighter. He touched her cheek, and he could see the way she fought to keep her eyes from fluttering.

"But… But what of the suit?"

"What about it?"

"The papers will report the entire trial."

"Yes and?" he asked, tilting his head. "Did you think I would allow someone to denigrate my name? Our marriage?"

"But it will cause such an embarrassment," she said, but he was shaking his head again.

"Mabel, you're the only thing I'm concerned about," he said. "Don't you understand that? The papers, the ton, the entire world could burn away and I wouldn't care if you were at least by my side."

To his surprise, tears began to roll down Mabel's cheek. It tore him apart to see her so sad. He gathered her into his arms. At first, she tried to tug away, but he wasn't having it.

"Derek—"

"Easy, my love, easy," he said soothingly into her hair as he rocked her slightly. "You are the most important thing to me, Mabel. Not my name, or reputation. You."

"But I—"

"But nothing," he said firmly before pulling back. He framed her face with his hands. "You are my life." His gaze searched hers for a moment before words he never believed he would speak honestly bubbled from his lips. "I love you, Mabel."

A broken noise came from her throat as she leaned in to kiss him. Derek's hand drifted to her back and held her close as he kissed her deeply. Grateful to have her in his arms again, he murmured a little love between their kisses.

"I love you too, Derek. I do," she said.

A heavy sigh expelled from his chest. "My God, it is strange to hear you say that."

"Why?"

"Because I might have hoped for it, but I never believed it would happen."

That seemed to challenge Mabel, who pressed deep kiss after deep kiss across his lips, cheeks, and nose until he let out a sensual laugh.

"I do," she said earnestly. "I do love you. So very much."

"Do you also trust me?"

"Yes."

"Then understand that whatever issues might come our way, we will meet them together. I'm not going anywhere."

Mabel seemed emboldened by his words and brought her palms to his cheeks as she kissed him again. Being the gentleman he was, Derek allowed it.

"But wait," she said after a few moments, trying to put some distance between them. Derek nodded absently, waiting for her to say whatever she needed to say so they could return to kissing. "How did you reach Pascal?"

"Ah, well, it wasn't exactly a brilliant move."

"What happened?"

"I was able to ride up next to him and I grabbed his reins. He swung at me. Got me in the mouth," he said as his hand touched his bottom lip. "But he wasn't fast enough and I was able to grab his arm. I yanked him back, and his horse kept moving while he fell to the ground. I thought I had killed him but then I found him unconscious. I believe the horse's hooves knocked him out. Then I brought him back."

"What about Jean?"

"I'd guess that he continued. He cannot be unaware of what a defamation suit would mean for the comte."

"Will it be that terrible?"

"For him," Derek said, kissing the worried crease between her brow. "But you needn't worry about that."

"How can I not?" she asked stubbornly.

"Mabel, none of it matters," he said.

"But it does," she said, shaking her head. "What if he comes back? Or wishes to retaliate?"

"Will you allow me to handle it then?"

She pouted. "I hate to be such a burden."

"Would you consider me, or rather your sister a burden if she found herself in this situation?"

"Of course not—"

"Then, my love, take heed and know that it is the same for you." His thumb gently rubbed the edge of her cheekbone. "You belong here, with me." He expected her to argue more, but she bobbed her head in an agreeing sort of way. "Good."

"Derek?"

"Yes?"

"How far is London?"

"I don't expect to get there until morning."

"Will Pascal stay unconscious until then?"

"Not likely, but then Silas is set to take care of him should he wake."

"Then may I request something?"

"Of course."

"Will you hold me? Just until I fall asleep."

"Of course, my love."

And Derek did, and many hours later, he also fell asleep, at peace at last with his love back in his arms.