“I am fine, darling.” She held him tight, praying her smile conveyed the truth of that. “Sir Arthur and Mr. Mercer both intervened when Uncle Gates’s intentions became clear.”
He angled her toward the door. Then he paused and regarded first Sir Arthur and then Mr. Mercer. “There are no words to thank you.”
“Letting me leave will be thanks enough.” Her cousin took a step away but halted and sighed. “I thought it was only about the money. Even so, you will say I ought not have done business as I did. But know that I never intended to harm my country. Whatever else you believe about me, believe that.”
Thad, his arm now snug around Gwyneth’s waist, made no response for a long moment. “You were feeding him information. All these years you provided him exactly what he needed to undermine us. And now you think to tell me you meant no harm?”
Mercer shook his head. “Call me a fool if you like. I did not realize—He was my father. I thought his interest simply that. Interest. In my life, my world, my business. I did not…perhaps I should have seen his hatred for us. If I had, I would have sealed my lips. I certainly would not have let him use me to divide my own nation.”
Thad measured him, staring at him as if peeling away the layers until he could see his motives, see his heart. She felt it when her husband relaxed. “I suppose you proved your loyalties just now. I will not stop you from leaving, but that is all you will get from me. If you linger, I will not intervene with the authorities.”
Mercer cleared his throat and motioned behind them. “I’ll take her trunk out first, shall I? So you needn’t go over there.”
Gwyneth slid to the side, out of the way, smiling when Sir Arthur stepped nearer.
His hand extended but then fell to his side. “Mr. Lane, I…I too must beg your forgiveness. I would never have harmed her, but I could not accept—My thoughts concerning you were not gracious.”
Thad, in typical form, snorted a laugh. “If we are apologizing for thoughts, then I must beg forgiveness of you as well. I confess I had a few sour ones from the very first mention of your name.”
“Unfortunately, mine were followed by actions.” His head hanging low, Sir Arthur drew in a deep breath. “Gwy—Mrs. Lane said I ought to leave as planned. But at your word I will submit myself to your authorities.”
“My authorities will be busy enough, I think.” With a glance over his shoulder, Thad urged her to follow Mr. Mercer out the door. “I will explain this to them in simplified terms. You should listen to my wife.”
Gwyneth paused to see his response to that. Sir Arthur’s face looked tormented. “Are you certain?”
“Certain that I would have done much the same to find her and bring her home, yes. Sir Arthur.” Thad shifted in that way he had, the one she had learned accompanied his intuitions. “There is more than what you think. To life, to love. More within you than for what you give yourself credit.”
One corner of Sir Arthur’s lips moved up. He put his hat on, slowly and with more care than it called for. “I suppose we shall see, sir. Good day. Best wishes.”
“Godspeed.” Gwyneth stepped aside so he could pass and then wove her fingers through Thad’s. “I suppose we had better call for those authorities.”
“Sorry, sweet. I know you want to get home.”
“So I do.” She wrapped her arms around him again and let her eyes slide shut. “And now I am.”
Home, exactly where she wanted to be. In the arms of her beloved.
Epilogue
December 20, 1860
Forty-six years later
Thad waited until the dancing was boisterous enough that no one would notice as he slipped away. Not far, not as far as he would have liked. Just into Jack’s library, right beside the ballroom. Where the music was just enough muted, where the lights were just enough dimmed. Where the world was just enough away. He moved over to the window that looked out on a skiff of fresh-fallen snow.
And he sighed.
He heard the sound of Gwyn’s slippers on the rug behind him, which brought a smile as it always did. Still, he sighed again as her arms slipped around his waist.
“What are you doing in here, my love? Marietta will want to dance with her granddad on her wedding day.”
His arms settled into their habitual place around her. “I know. I needed a few minutes.”
“You knew it was coming.” Her hand rubbed a circle on his back, but it couldn’t bring much comfort. Not yet. Not when the fracture was so new.
“I know. I had hoped, I had prayed…but there is no way around it now, sweet. Other states will follow South Carolina. The South will all have seceded in a matter of months. War is coming again.”