Page 113 of Duke of Rath

Patience’s eyelashes trembled as her eyes filled with tears. She swayed towards him but didn’t take a step. He nodded to the Roses and walked out of the room, through the corridor, and through the door and into the open air.

The sun had begun to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. It seemed almost mocking, the beauty of the world when his own was crumbling to dust. He strode towards the carriage, his vision blurring with the tears he fought back.

He got into the carriage and it pulled away from the house, the horses’ hooves drumming. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the seat. His mind still reeled with the pain and accusations the Roses had thrown at him. His life was over. His heart was shattered. God knew, he had earned every last piece of that pain.

And together with the guilt, a blessed sense of peace began to seep into him. There was no more anguish, no more wrath to torment him. No more demons to escape. Because he had finally done the right thing. He’d leave this life with peace and a clear conscience. He’d still be in hell, but at least he’d spend the last days, weeks, or months of his life in peace.

He looked down at his hands. He realized he’d forgotten to put on the glove, and his mangled hand was free. Strangely, he had no more desire to hide it. On the contrary, it was a relief to feel the air on his scarred flesh.

Everything was in the open now. He was surely going to his death, but his soul felt lighter.

“Dorian, wait!” a voice called out, clear and strong. A dear, familiar voice.

He froze for a moment, scarcely daring to breathe. Then he turned and looked out of the window. Patience ran after the carriage.

His heart slamming hard, he knocked on the opposite wall to signal the driver to stop. The carriage came to a halt, and he descended.

“Where are you going?” she demanded as she stopped before him, breathing hard.

“To London,” he rasped. “To give myself to the authorities.”

Her face slackened in shock. “To… But you will hang.”

He nodded. “I will accept whatever punishment is suited.”

She shook her head. “That’s why the will…all these documents…”

“Yes. My affairs are in order. You will be protected, secure, free to do whatever you wish for the rest of your life. Just—” He had to catch a breath before saying the next part. “Just don’t marry anyone you don’t love. Don’t give your freedom away for anything else.”

She gasped. “No, this is ridiculous. Mama and Papa are not pressing charges.”

“They should. You should. I deserve it.”

He turned to climb back into the carriage, but she stopped him. “I will never do that. Neither will Papa and Mama. I’m sure they’ve already forgiven you.”

Forgiven him? “How could they?” he asked.

She swallowed hard and laid her hand on his cheek. “I know I have.”

His heart cracked open, unfurled like a rose in the first rays of spring, her words a balm to his soul. He leaned into her touch, savoring the warmth of her palm against his cheek, the tender caress a lifeline in the tempest of his emotions.

“Patience,” he whispered, his voice ragged with longing. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I don’t deserve you.”

She shook her head, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “But you have it, Dorian. You have my forgiveness, my love, my everything. I cannot bear the thought of losing you.”

He closed his eyes, a single tear escaping to trail down his cheek. “I am a broken man, Patience. A murderer. How can you still want me, knowing the blood that stains my hands?”

Her thumb brushed away the tear, her touch infinitely gentle. “Because I see the man beneath the scars, the beautiful soul that has been battered but not broken. You are more than your worst mistake. You are the man I love, the man I choose, now and always.”

A shuddering breath escaped him, the weight of her words settling into his very bones. He reached up to cradle her face in his hands, his gaze searching hers for any hint of hesitation or doubt. There was none, only a love so fierce and pure it stole the breath from his lungs.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve you,” he murmured, resting his forehead against hers. “But I swear, I will spend the rest of my days making you happy.”

She smiled then, the smile that always flooded his heart with sunlight. “You already are, my love. You already are.”

And then she was kissing him, her lips soft and insistent against his own. He surrendered to her, pouring all the love and gratitude into the slide of his mouth over hers, the gentle nip of his teeth, the sweep of his tongue.

When they finally parted, breathless and flushed, he knew he could never let her go. She was his salvation, his guiding light, the beacon that would lead him out of the darkness and into a future brighter than he’d ever dared to dream.