“What happened with Remington?” she asked.
He stroked her back. “He’ll be charged with Frost’s murder tomorrow.”
She tipped her head to look up at him. “You took care of Luther?”
“I did. Does he have family we should notify?”
“No, but I will tell those who need to know.” She sucked in a breath. “Rafe.”
“Ah yes, I presume your brother knew him, since you were children together.”
Selina pulled back from him. “I should tell you something else—the last revelation. I think.” Her life had been so twisted with lies that she wasn’t sure she’d uncovered them all, including the ones she told herself.
His eye twitched. “I don’t know if I can take anything else.”
“It’s not about me. My brother—oh dear, you aren’t going to like this.” She took a deep breath. “Rafe is the Vicar.”
Harry’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “What?”
“I didn’t know. At least not at first. When I returned to London two months ago, I learned my brother had died—in that fire on Saffron Hill that the Vicar had supposedly started. When I met you, and you were looking for the Vicar, I thought you could help me find him. I’m horrified to admit I wanted revenge.” She wiped her hand over her forehead. “I suppose this was about me after all.”
His tawny eyes darkened with hurt. “That’s why you befriended me?”
She put her hands on his forearms. “Not entirely. I also needed to keep you close—because of your interest in Madame Sybila. But that isn’t the entire truth either.” She briefly closed her eyes. “I’m learning to be honest with myself as well as everyone else. The truth is that I liked you from the start. And I was attracted to you. From the moment you saved me from falling face-first into the pavement.”
He narrowed one eye at her. “Why should I believe you?”
“You shouldn’t. Not at all. But I’m hoping and praying you will.”
“You are a consummate actress,” he said cautiously. “A spectacular fraud. And yet, I can’t believe you pretended everything that went on between us.”
She stepped closer to him until their chests touched, and put her palm against his cheek. “I didn’t. I couldn’t. I’d never been with anyone before, not like you. I knew I shouldn’t—both because it was dangerous and because it wasn’t right. But I couldn’t help myself. I was falling irreversibly in love with you.”
Harry took her hand from his cheek and pressed a kiss against her palm. “I wish you’d trusted me.”
“I don’t—didn’t—trust anyone except Beatrix. Not even Rafe.” She dipped her gaze briefly. “But I’m learning to.”
“You’re going to have to trust me,” he said gently. “If you can’t, there’s no hope.”
Selina put her other hand on his chest. “I will. You hold my entire life in your hands.”
“No. You’re an independent woman who won’t rely on anyone and I respect that. Still, I’m asking you if, from time to time, you might consent to rely on me. I promise to take care of you. If you’ll let me.”
Oh God, what was he asking?
Harry frowned. “I heard a rumor that the Vicar had retired. Is this true?”
Selina nodded vigorously. “Yes. He is entirely Raphael Bowles, Upper Brook Street’s most recent resident. All his business dealings are entirely legitimate.” He said he was transferring the last of his receiver shops next week. “I understand you may still want to arrest him, but I’m asking you not to. We have a great deal of years to make up for, and I hope we will have the chance.”
“How can I deny you the only blood family you have?” he asked softly. Selina could hardly believe his kindness. He gave her an arch look. “But Upper Brook Street? It seems as though Bowles should have offered to help you.”
“He did, but I refused. Because of that whole self-reliance thing.”
Harry shook his head. “Why am I not surprised?”
She clutched his hand tightly. “I need you to know—I have also given up any illegal enterprise. As has Beatrix.”
“Well, that’s a relief. It would be very embarrassing if my sister-in-law was caught stealing.”
Selina froze, her eyes locking with his. “Your what?”
“My sister-in-law. Which Beatrix will be, if you agree to be my wife.”
“You can’t mean that.” Selina tried to back away as she fought to draw air into her suddenly laboring lungs.
He held her fast, drawing her against him. “I’m not letting you go, not unless you really want me to. Yes, I do mean it. Selina, Sybila, Lady Gresham, whoever the hell you are, marry me.”
Selina stared into his eyes and saw something she’d never imagined—a future and happiness. The tears she’d shed the other day returned, but these were from joy. “Yes. And I know precisely who I am finally. Who I want to be.” She smiled up at him. “Yours.”
Harry kissed her, infusing her with a strength and wonder that filled her with emotion until it overflowed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on to him fiercely.
After several minutes, Harry broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. “My family will be unbearable when I tell them.”
“They’ll be ecstatic.”
“Unbearably ecstatic, yes.” He kissed her cheek. “Will you promise to protect me from them?”
“I will do anything you ask for the rest of our lives. You’ve given me a gift I never expected and that I’m still not sure I deserve.”
He cupped her face and stared deep into her eyes. “Don’t say that. Ever. You deserve this. We deserve each other.” He kissed her hard and fast. “Now, if you don’t mind, I am exhausted and need to go to bed.”
Selina unwound her hands from his neck. “Of course. I’ll walk you out.”
“Out or up?” He arched an auburn brow at her.
“Oh! You want to stay?”
“I definitely don’t want to leave.”
“Then stay.” She stood on her toes and kissed him, her lips lingering on his. “Forever.”
Harry swept her into his arms and carried her upstairs.
Epilogue
Just two days later, Harry escorted his betrothed into the library at his parents’ house. He hadn’t told them why he’d wanted to have a family dinner, and his mother hadn’t pressed. She’d just been delighted to have him come since he’d missed Thursday. Then he’d asked her to make sure everyone was there, and she’d become incessant in demanding why.
He still hadn’t told her.
And so when he entered the library with Selina on his arm, followed by Rafe and Beatrix, his mother’s jaw had promptly dropped to the floor. Then she’d burst into tears.
“Good heavens, pull yourself together,” Father said, patting her back.
“Does this mean what I think it means?” Mother managed between sobs.
Rachel went to stand with her and rubbed her arm. She narrowed her eyes at Harry. “It better, or this will be a terrible jest.”