Jane slowed her pace as she approached the threshold of the library at Highlawn Park. She moved closer to the wall, coming to a stop just outside the door. Peaking around the corner, she saw Caleb sitting in a brocade covered chair near the fire. He had his head bent and something in his hand.

Her heart rate accelerated. What if he was not pleased to see her?

She allowed her eyes to flutter shut and drew a steadying breath. This was no time to be a coward. Her marriage was at stake and she’d resolved to save it. Heaven help her, but she loved her husband. The realization slammed into her soon after leaving London. She had no wish to live apart from him. No desire to argue with him. Forcing her eyes open she took her first tentative step into the room.

He did not as much as flinch when she stepped farther into the room. “Caleb.”

His head remained bent, body still as stone.

Her heart speed. What was the matter with him? Forgetting her own nerves, she hastened to his side. Still he did not look at her, did not move. She glanced over him, her gaze pausing on the miniature he held in his hands. A woman.

Placing a hand on his shoulder, she said, “Caleb. The lady in the picture, who is she?”

After several heartbeats, he looked up at her. She was taken aback by the sorrow she witnessed in the fine lines of his handsome face. His eyes were dull and shadowed and his mouth a pensively straight line.

“Whatever is the matter?” She asked, staring into his eyes.

“Maggie, my baby sister.” His voice rang hollow.

“Has something happened to her?”

Caleb released a deep breath, returning his attention to the miniature. “I killed her.”

Jane jerked, her breath catching. Surely, that was not the case. “Do tell me what happened, Caleb. I am certain her death was not your doing.”

He rubbed his thumb over the picture. “She was only ten years old. I was seventeen and charged with watching over her. I assure you, it was my fault.”

Jane’s heart slammed against her ribs. “No. Caleb, it cannot be. Please, tell me what happened.”

His shoulders shook as though he was fighting for control on the verge of breaking down.

Jane rubbed a lazy circle on his back. He simply could not have killed his sister. “I am sure you are not to blame. You were but a child yourself.”

“Maggie had wanted to go for a walk in the woods and I indulged her as I always did. We had a great deal of rain the few days prior. The ground was mushy and the river swollen.” He broke off, returning his attention to the miniature.

“Then what?” Jane urged him to go on, despising the way her voice quivered.

“A large tree had fallen across the river. A patch of wild flowers grew on the opposite bank, and Maggie wished to pick them. I tested the tree, bounced on it a few times. It seemed sturdy, a fine substitute for a bridge, and so I granted her permission to cross over it.” He closed his eyes for a moment before continuing. “She lost her balance and slipped into the river. I can still hear her screams as the rushing water carried her away.”

He stole a look at Jane. “I ran down the bank, chasing after her but before I could save her, the water swept her out of view. I should have jumped in after her. I should have saved her.”

Jane’s heart splintered. “You would have perished alongside her. Don’t you see, there was nothing you could have done?”

“She was my responsibility and I failed her. It is the same as if I killed her with my own hands.”

“No, Caleb, you loved her. No matter what you had done, she would have died. It was not your fault.” She dropped a kiss on the crown of his head. “You must forgive yourself.”

“You do not think me a monster?”

“I would not have come after you if I did.”

Caleb dropped onto his knees before her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his head against her belly. “Did you come here for me?”

Not at all sure what was happening, she placed her hands tenderly on his back. “I am your wife. Of course I came for you.”

He shuddered against her, drawing an unsteady breath. “No one has ever come after me. Everyone leaves. I certainly haven’t given you any reasons to care for me.”

She lowered herself until she too kneeled on the floor and laid her head on top of his. “I care a great deal for you.”

Caleb angled his head bringing his gaze to hers. For a long moment he stared into her eyes, a flurry of emotions crossing through their depths—disbelief, sorrow, regret, astonishment, joy.

He captured her mouth kissing her softly, playing at her lips.

Jane’s own bewilderment at how strangely he was acting kept her from resisting.

In another moment they were laying before the fire, his body propped over hers. He lapped at the part of her lips and she opened to him, their kiss deepening to soul shattering intensity.

Caleb placed his hand on her check, cradling it and pulled back. “I am sorry for how I have behaved. If I could go back, I would change everything. Treat you like a goddess from the very beginning. God, I have been a fool.”

“That is all I wanted to hear from you the day you brought me Scamp. I was wrong as well, but my stubbornness refused to allow me to admit it.”

“Let us put it all behind us. Allow me to be a proper husband to you, my beautiful, witty, intelligent wife.”

She could not fight her grin. “I want nothing more.”

He covered her lips with his once more, giving her an all consuming kiss that begged for more and threatened to incinerate her at the same time.

Her body sprang to life beneath him, nerve endings crackling, heart thumping. Passion spiraled through her pooling in her center. Unable to help herself, Jane reached for his trousers.

“Wait.” Caleb’s gaze bore into hers, smoldering with shared desire. “This time I want to do it right.”

He kissed across her neck to her shoulders, inching her frock down her body, he followed the trail of skin being revealed. When he reached her breasts, he stopped to lick and suck each hardened nipple before continuing to run his tongue around her navel. Every place his lips touched burned, leaving a tingling trail in their wake.

Jane writhed and bucked beneath him as the passion within her intensified. “Make love to me. Please, Caleb, make love to me.” She begged on a breathy sigh.

He slid his hand between her thighs and she allowed them to fall open. “Patience, darling. The act is better for both of us when it is not rushed.” He dipped a finger into the apex of her thighs, parting her curls and diving into her center.

Jane rocked against his hand desperate, the pressure building within her nearly too delicious to stand. She allowed her head to fall back as Caleb dropped kisses across her inner thigh, his finger still working inside her. Somehow, he had managed to strip off his own clothing along the way and she reached out running her fingers across his sweat dampened skin.

He came over her, his body weight pressing against her. “You are beautiful.”

The words nearly shattered her. No one had ever paid her such a compliment. She reached for him, circling her hands behind his neck and pulled his mouth to hers.

In torturous measures, he pushed into her, kissing her passionately until his manhood was fully seated within her. He stilled, gazing down at her. “You take my breath away, darling.”

With her legs wrapped around his hips, her heart and soul desperate for him, it took all of her control to remain motionless as she adjusted to him. “Do you truly think me beautiful?”

“Darling, I have never found another woman as pleasing to gaze upon.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “You are stunning.”

Her heart melted, giving itself over to him entirely. Unable to control herself any longer she began to move against him, sending waves of pleasure coursing through her.

He allowed her to set their rhythm, meeting her thrust for thrust until she spiraled off the edge of reason. Her body tensed then ruptured, sending her into a state of utter bliss.

Caleb blanketed her lips with his as he increased his thrusts, causing the pressure to build once more until they reached their climax together. Rolling off her, he gathered her trembling body to his. “I love you.” He whispered into her hair. “Heaven help me, but I do.”

Her heart swelled, overflowing with love for him. “You own me, Caleb. Heart, body, and soul.” She reached up to stroke his jaw. “I love you too.”

She snuggled into his embrace and floated off to sleep, feeling for the first time in her life like she was special.