Pain, pure and simple. Her heart felt as though it was being torn in two under his watchful stare. Her body, too, as one part of her begged to run to him, to wrap her arms around him and hold on tight, while another part of her tensed as if to flee.
She could not bear to hear his rejection again if Max tried to force him to propose.
“Well?” Max said, turning to face Theo. “What have you to say for yourself?”
Theo finally tore his gaze away and she gasped for air as her lungs recalled their purpose. He fixed that dark glare on Max. “Why don’t you ask your sister for her side of this story?”
Max’s brows drew down in a formidable glower. “Because I am asking you. As your friend and Sarah’s brother, I expect you to take responsibility for your actions—”
“And as your friend,” Theo interrupted, “it pains me to point out that you have been underestimating your sister for months now, perhaps even years.” He turned to face her, and his gaze was filled with regret. “It pains me even more to admit that I have done the same.” His throat moved as he swallowed. “But not any longer.”
Air rushed out of her lungs in a rush as she realized what he was doing. What he was saying…
Moving toward her, they were both ignoring her glowering brother and her gaping mother when he took her hands in his, his grip infinitely tender. “Sarah has grown into the kindest, most sensible, and intelligent young lady I’ve ever had the good fortune to meet, and I am so sorry that I ever lost sight of that fact. It was my own fears about my past and not you. I need you to understand that.”
Her throat ached with unshed tears.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered so that only she could hear.
Her eyes welled with emotion and she had to bite her lip to stifle a sob.
He turned to face her brother again, the sweet emotion in his eyes hardening in anger. “You were not here when your father passed, Max. Sarah was. I saw with my own eyes the way she took on responsibilities that most young ladies never face.” He flicked a sympathetic glance toward her mother. “I think you will agree, my lady, that your daughter handled herself with grace and dignity during that difficult time.”
Her mother nodded, her eyes wet with tears. “Yes,” she whispered, her gaze moving to Sarah as she added. “She made me so proud. Her father would have been proud, too.”
Sarah sniffed back tears at the compliment.
“And just this week, Max,” Theo continued. “Sarah has helped make these festivities come about without a hitch. She’d gone above and beyond to be the best hostess you could ask for, while also being a steadfast companion to your bride.”
“Yes, well…” Max shuffled in place as he rubbed the back of his neck. “No one would deny that Sarah is an excellent hostess or a good friend and sister, but what does that have to do with you kissing her?”
Sarah felt heat bloom in her cheeks as her mother let out a gasp.
Theo held her stare. “No matter what happened between your sister and I, I will not force her into marriage, and if you have any respect for the lady she has become, you will not either.” His brows drew down and he lowered his voice as if he were speaking just to her. “I will not propose to Sarah unless that is what she wishes.”
Her heart leapt, not just because of what was spoken but because of what was not said.
“But you wish to,” she whispered, the full force of what he was doing crashing into her with enough force to make her rock back on her heels.
Her mother turned to her with a hiss. “He kissed you?”
“Actually…” she started. She kept her gaze locked on Theo as he turned to face her. This man. Her heart swelled with emotion. This man who would stand up to her brother on her behalf, who would even take on the dowager marchioness to ensure everyone knew that she had grown into a responsible lady.
He loved her.
She’d never been more certain of anything as she was of that. It was written there plainly in his eyes, and it laced every word he’d spoken.
He hadn’t refused to propose because he did not care for her, he’d done it because he did care. He was respecting her wishes, because he thought...
But no, he couldn’t truly think…
She gulped as she realized that he might. He might be under the false impression that she did not feel the same.
All eyes were on her, waiting for her to finish that thought.
“Actually,” she said again, her voice stronger this time as she met Theo’s gaze and held it, hoping he could read her emotions like she could read his. “Everly did not kiss me.”
Theo flinched, the light dimming in his eyes and his gaze dropping to the floor in defeat as her brother and mother let out sighs of relief. She took a step toward the man who’d just given her the most precious gift—his trust.
Her chest ached with the force of her love as she reached for his hands. His gaze snapped up to meet hers and she smiled as she added, “I kissed him.”
“Oh my heavens.” Her mother sounded like she might swoon again, but Sarah couldn’t bring herself to look away from the warmth and affection in Theo’s dark gaze.
Understanding dawned first and then joy—happiness the likes of which she’d never seen in him before as he grinned down at her, squeezing her hands and tugging her close.
“What?” Max snapped. “Does that mean…?” He sighed in exasperation. “For heaven’s sake, Sarah, what are you trying to say?”
Sarah’s smile was so broad it was beginning to ache. But that was nothing compared to the way her heart seemed to be leaping within her chest as she gazed up at the man she loved. “It means,” she said slowly. “That I would very much like for you and mother to leave the room now, because I do believe Lord Everly has something he wishes to ask me.” She shot her brother a sidelong glare. “In private.”
Theo laughed, the sound so low and warm, it made her feel as though she were basking in the sunshine as her brother and mother did as she asked...though not without some griping.
She and Theo both ignored their questions and their exasperated exclamations until the door finally clicked shut behind them.
“Now then,” she said with a tilt of her chin as she smiled up at Theo. “Was there something you wished to say to me? After all, we were caught, you know. It is only right that you save my reputation.”
Her tone was teasing and when he released her hands to wrap his arms around her waist and tug her close, she let out a laugh of sheer happiness.
He leaned down and kissed her, turning her laughter into a sigh of bliss. When he pulled back, he stayed so close that his nose brushed against hers, their breath mingling as their arms held one another tight.
“I do have something I wish to ask you,” Theo said. “But not because we were caught.”
She arched a brow. “No?”
“No.” His hands moved over her back, pressing her closer still as if he might never let her go. “This question is a necessity for one reason and one reason only.”
“And what is that?” she whispered, mesmerized by the heat and intensity in his eyes.
“I love you.” His arms tightened as he dropped a kiss on her lips. “I love you beyond reason, and I never want to spend a day without you in my life. By my side.”