Page 54 of My Dearest Duke

“Kingston?” Vanessa’s tone didn’t hold any of the wrath and accusation he’d expected. Deserved, truth be told.

Bracing himself, he brought his gaze to meet hers, expecting the worse.

“Would Gabriel have done the same for you?”

“What?” He wrinkled his forehead.

What did she mean?

“Would Gabriel have asked me to deliver a letter so that he might carry out an…assignation?” How did one delicately refer to a courtesan with one’s wife?

Vanessa nodded, her fingers gripping the edge of the throw. Eyes wide, she roved her attention his face.

“He would have done.” Kingston didn’t doubt it for an instant. That instance wasn’t the first time they’d traded favors so that one of them might dally with a particularly fetching and willing woman.

“Without hesitation?” she pressed.

“Yes.”

That had been the nature of their friendship. Kingston would’ve done nearly anything for Gabriel, and the reverse was also true.

“Then why, Kingston, do you continue to blame yourself for his death?”

He stared at her so dumbfounded that words escaped him.

Why?

Why?

“Because it should have been me, Vanessa,” he rasped, anguish tearing at his heart. “It is my fault he is dead.”

“No. It’s not.” Again, she shook her head, those silky strands brushing his arm as she laid her palm upon his chest, over his racing heart. “None of us has any control over the evil deeds of others. Nor do any of us know what each day will bring. And knowing Gabriel, he would not want you to continue to torment yourself.”

“Vanessa…” Kingston despised the broken, pleading tenor in his voice.

“Forgive yourself, my love.” She raised up and brushed her mouth across his. “I forgive you, though I do not believe you did wrong. However, I know you need to hear it from me.”

She forgave him?

Did that mean…

“You’ll stay with me and be my wife?” Rising above her, Kingston cupped her jaw, emotion choking him. Afraid he’d heard wrong, he asked, “You’ll not leave?”

A tender smile curved Vanessa’s mouth as she reached up and circled her arms behind his back, drawing him to her. “I’ll never leave you, my darling. I love you.”

When he made love to her that time, he vowed their very spirits and souls melded together. And when they reached the zenith together this time, his tears mixed with hers.

This was true, unconditional love.