His face was hopeful as Margaret stood before him, completely stunned.

"Y-you are serious," she stammered with a laugh, stepping away from him. She sniffled and wiped her tears with the pads of her fingers.

"Utterly serious," Cole replied.

"But—" she started, shaking her head. "N-No." This was getting quite difficult. No, not difficult. She only had to say yes. But things were complicated—at the moment, that is.

He went very still, confusion on his face. "No?"

"Yes."

"Yes, you do not want to? Or yes, you want to?"

"I do not—" She let out a frustrated breath. "I cannot. For many reasons." She started to panic and she looked around as though there was a way out. "There are reasons I cannot say yes."

"Is it my mother? Your family?"

"Yes! My brothers will hang you!" Her eyes narrowed at him. "And dare not suggest we go to Tiny Town like a pair of cowards. And I know you're going to argue that Levi and Tori did the same. But their case is different from ours."

He closed his eyes, his entire body stiff. She knew how this must have been difficult for him.

"Is there someone else?"

"No. Never."

At the sound of certainty in her voice, his eyes flew open. "I can protect you from everyone as my wife."

She frowned. "Then is that why you wish to marry? So you can guard me like you do Fiona?"

"It's not like that."

She shook her head, her eyes wandering to both ends of the corridor. "I need time." Wait, she wanted to tell him. Wait until I'm done proving you're innocent.

Wait until I am ready to tell the truth.

He slowly nodded, not asking the question she knew he wanted to ask. Until when would he have to wait? He would never dare ask because she just told him how she waited for him. And how long was that? Too long.

But it was not all about how long she had waited, or how much she wanted to say yes.

Guilt. Mission. Duty. Family.

Four simple words. But they were enough reason to stop her.

Her family she could deal with. The mission and her duty to the League she could immediately dispose of. The guilt, however, would be quite difficult for she was not merely guilty of what she had been doing, but also of what might happen due to what she was doing.

If it was not for her duty with the League, her answer would be simple. There would be no other strong reason not to because she loved this man. She never stopped loving him.

But what about him? Would she even gamble her love for something uncertain?

Cole stepped closer and cradled her face in his hands. He bent his head and planted his lips on her forehead. "Very well. I'll wait."

***

He wanted to give her the world. He might not have it all, but he hoped he would be enough. He hoped what they had would be ample for the future he wanted with her. And he knew they had enough. He could see it in her eyes, in the way she answered to his touch, how she would laugh at his pathetic words. He could feel it in his chest, how her pain mirrored his, how she consumed his thoughts.

Their past, the one before Leah's death, was as fresh as the pain. All of it present to this day. There was no denying it now.

The struggle to this day had not been easy and to finally get to this point when nothing else mattered by taking her for his wife and be met by uncertainty was quite disheartening.

Doubt started to creep in, apprehension close behind.

What if he was wrong? What if she was merely feeding an adventurous streak that would soon wear off?

When he heard Fiona's light steps bounding down the grand staircase, he turned. Of course, the little girl was holding her hand.

"Maggie will come visit soon," Fiona told him, cheeks puffing as she grinned.

Cole's brows arched high as he looked at Margaret. She was dressed for travel and already he wanted to stop her. "Is she?"

Her smile was not convincing enough, however. "Of course. Fiona and I are great friends, after all."

The girl giggled and jumped off the last two steps to run up to Cole and wrap her arms around his leg. Looking up, she said, "Can I come with Maggie?"

He laughed. "Why?"

"Meet Ysa and Emma!"

Cole sighed and shook his head as Margaret reached them. "I don't think it was wise to tell her about them."

Under her breath, and without her smile breaking, she murmured, "I ran out of stories." And louder, she said to Fiona, "What if I bring Ysa and Emma the next time I visit?"

Fiona's eyes glowed at her words. "Yes!" Her head snapped back to Cole. "Can I tell Nanny?"

Cole nodded. "Of course."

Fiona let go of his leg and whirled around. Her footsteps faded as she expertly navigated the corridors to find her nanny.

"You should not have told her that if you have no plans to return," he said to Margaret.

"Oh, but I do," she said. "Once everything is over and it's safe."

He stood in front of her, hands in his pockets. "It might take time."

She nodded. "I know. But I also know you're capable of it."

He looked behind him at the open doorway. The carriage was already waiting for her. "I know it was my idea, but I don't want you to leave now."

She flashed him a knowing smile. "As much as I would like to stay, I also have matters to attend to back in Wickhurst."

"Meg, please do not do anything while I'm away."

She chuckled. "Fret not, my lord. Faye and the illegal trade are not my only concern. I have other things to deal with."

"Such as thinking of an answer to a certain proposal?"

"Yes. Among others."

He nodded and offered his hand. "Will you walk with me for a bit? The carriage can wait."

He led her to the garden, holding her hand in his, their steps easy and without hurry. And as they did, Cole realized he wanted moments just like this—unhurried, unafraid of being seen by watchful eyes.

"Why do you want to marry me?" she asked, breaking the silence. "Apart from the protection you can provide."

He squeezed her hand with a bitter smile. "Because I'm selfish. I left you once before, and I lost you once before. I do not think I could lose you again."

"You do not sound like the man who insisted nothing can happen between us."

"That was a man trying to make sense out of something that was already full of sense."

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

"I was denying myself of something that had always been right." He let go of her hand to cup her face with both of his. He leaned down to rest his forehead against hers, nuzzling her nose with his. "Marry me, Meg. Everything I offered when I first proposed stands still. I don't know how long I'll work on this case. It don't see it ending soon. And I'm not willing to wait until everything is over before I go to you."

Her bitter smile brushed against his lips before she leaned back, shaking his head. "Cole, there are things that happened while we were apart. There were many changes in both our lives. We should talk about them more, learn more of each other," she whispered. "I'm no longer the young woman I was ten years ago."

She stepped away from him and he let her. "You are not going to make this easy for me, are you?"

She laughed. "Because it shall not be easy for me either." She raised on her toes and kissed his jaw. "I have secrets, Cole. And if I tell you about them, you may change your mind about everything."

"Now you're making me anxious. What secrets?"

Her smile widened. "Please, give me time. You'll know about them when I'm ready to tell you." He would have believed her if he did not see the flash of apprehension in her eyes. She, herself, was uncertain of her words. "I believe in you. I always have," she said, voice shaking slightly. "Whatever happens, know that my stay here in Ashmore gave me more reasons to believe in you. What you're doing with Fiona, and the risks you take investigating the slave trade have earned my respect."

"Why is it that I'm both confused and alarmed by what you're saying?"

She chuckled, turning away. "Don't be. There shall be no cause of alarm as long as you let me help you."

When they emerged out of the garden, a different scene caused them both great alarm.

Behind Cole's carriage was another familiar one. And beside it stood two men, both looking furious when they turned and spotted her.

"Is that carriage for you, Maggie?" Nicholas asked through a tight smile, emerald eyes murderous. "Are you leaving?"

"Or getting away?" added Maxwell, tilting his head as he scowled at her and then at Cole.

"Getting away?" Nicholas dramatically gasped. "But we just got here!"

Cole lost the ability to breath as the two Everard brothers crossed the distance toward them with ferocious steps.