Hands clasped in her lap, Louisa peered up at the house while Knight said his farewells. She took a breath and glanced down at her hands, twining them together. A silly smile kept threatening to curve her lips and she had to press them together to prevent herself from looking a fool.

It was foolish really. Nothing was settled fully. After all, they were still just under a week away from returning to Cornwall. Past Hugh’s deadline. Not that it mattered. She bunched her hands. Once they had proved him to be a fraud, it would not matter if he had installed himself at the inn or not.

And she could not regret accompanying Knight. Not after what had happened between them. That smile forced its way back onto her lips again so that she was beaming when Knight climbed into the carriage.

A slight knowing smile crossed his own mouth before he shut the door and settled onto the velvet cushion next to her. The smile vanished quickly enough, but he reached over and looped his fingers through her gloved ones. Her heart caught in her throat. How astonishing it was, after all they had done, that a simple touch could cause such a reaction. But, then, him holding her hand meant so much more than him bedding her.

He tapped his knuckles on the roof and the carriage started down the graveled road. Knight kept his gaze fixed ahead on the interior of the vehicle. Louisa eyed his profile.

“Do you have any regrets about leaving here?”

“No.”

“You must feel something about it surely?”

He lifted a brow. “Do you wish me to stay?”

She laughed and tightened her grip on his hand. “No. I just want to make sure you are well.”

“I am well,” he said, his voice gruff. He leaned in and dusted a kiss across her lips. “More well than I have ever been before.” He stared ahead again. “Once, I might have done anything I could to save this place, but much time as passed since then. I am ready to move on and return home.”

Home. She liked how he said that. He’d talked of how he’d come to feel about Cornwall previously but there was a warm inflection to the word now.

“So, um, we never discussed...that is...” A stuttered laugh escaped her. “I do not even know where you live!” She shook her head. “There is much I do not know about you, Knight.”

“You know more than most.”

“You do not make this easy.” Louisa blew out a breath. “What I am trying to say is where will you live when we return? Will you...um...?”

“Come and live with you?”

She nodded, her cheeks hot.

“If we are to be married, I should think it would be strange if I did not.”

Drawing in a long, thick breath, she eyed him. “Married?”

He nodded, his expression unreadable.

“I...” She narrowed her gaze at him. “If that is a marriage proposal, Lewis Knight, you have done a poor job of it.”

He chuckled and twisted to face her properly. Loosening his grip on her hand, he swept a hand up to cup her cheek, a thumb brushing her lips. She gulped, her breaths stuttering in her throat as she peered into dark eyes that seemed to dig into her very soul.

“I love you, Louisa.” His expression softened. “I have loved you for a long time.”

“You have?”

“Indeed.” His gaze travelled over her face. “You have no idea the amount of time I spent watching you, wondering what it would be like to claim you as mine.” He took her hand and flattened it against his chest so that she could feel the rapid heartbeat there. “Not a day goes by when you do not do this to me.”

“Oh.”

“I have no flowery words. I only know what you to do me. And that I would do anything for you, Louisa. Anything.”

She blinked away the moisture in her eyes. Never before had she heard Knight speak so, and it was almost hard to believe he’d uttered such words to her.

“That was a marriage proposal,” he explained, his voice husky. 

Grinning, she reached up and cupped his stubbled jaw. “It was an excellent one too.”

He frowned. “Does that mean...?”

“Of course, I shall marry you, you big fool. How could I refuse after that?”

His features softened, and he leaned in to press his forehead against hers. She shut her eyes and savored the closeness, forgetting the rock of the carriage and the rattle of the jig and cacophony of horses’ hooves. Her world had been turned upside down this month and yet she could not regret it had led her to see Knight for the wonderful man he was.

“As soon as we have dealt with that bastard, we shall wed,” he declared, drawing back.

Louisa shook her head to herself with a smile. Gone was the soft, tender man she had come to know, replaced with the fierce warrior, prepared to dole out justice to Hugh.

“Once he knows we have Abigail and she’s willing to speak against him, he cannot fight us. He will have to give up his ruse.”

Knight nodded. “If he does not go quietly, I will ensure he understands he is not welcome.”

“Be careful,” Louisa warned, curling a hand around his forearm. “He is still Abigail’s husband and father to her children. You mustn’t hurt him.”

His jaw ticked. “I’d like to do more than hurt him.”

“Knight, I mean it.”

“They are better off without him. Hell, if she had not run, who knows what his friends would have done to her and the children.”

“I’m certain Abigail will not go back to him. But it’s not up to us to decide for her what happens with Hugh.” She squeezed his arm. “She has the children to think of.”

He grunted. “I know bad fathers all too well, and he is one of them.”

Louisa leaned her head against his shoulder. “Not all men are like that. I know you would not be.”

His arm muscles tensed, and she lifted her head to look at him. Regret made her stomach tighten. She’d never considered she might get the opportunity to have children one day—her life had only ever been about the inn—and yet when she thought of their future together, she imagined it with children involved. Whether Knight would even want them was another thing, however.

Blast, she should not have brought it up so soon.

But if she did not say it now, then when? Once they were wed? No, it was better they discuss it now before either of them made a mistake they regretted.

“That is...” She pressed her lips together. “I always wanted children. Before I took over the inn, that was. Once I married Jack, it was clear it would not happen.”

Gaze fixed ahead, Knight’s expression revealed little. “I do not know that I am the best man with whom to have children.”

“You think because your father was so terrible, you would be too?”

He smirked. “Look at me, Louisa. I have a face that would terrify most children. And a life that is hardly suited to fatherhood.”

“That did not stop Red.”

“Red is an earl with plenty of privilege, and a handsome face.”

“You have a handsome face!” she protested. “But children do not care about such things. Look at how Abigail’s little boy took to you. You are nothing like your father.”

“I would give you everything you need, Louisa, but children...” He shook his head. “I do not know...”

“Are you going to let your past haunt you forever?”

“This has nothing to do with my past,” he said tightly.

“Does it not?” She eyed him until he was forced to look at her.

His expression softened. “Let us talk more on this when we have returned and dealt with Hugh.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead that soothed her more than it should have done.

She ran a hand over his cheek and smiled. “You are more charming than you would like to admit.”

He twined his fingers back through hers, and Louisa rested her cheek on his shoulder again. They had a long way to go before they even reached home, and she was certain they could figure out everything between them before then. They had both spent a long time living life only for themselves so there would be negotiations to be made, no doubt. It did not stop the warm, giddy feeling bubbling inside her when she considered what their life together would be like, however.

Whatever happened next, she had Knight at her side, and she could not be happier. Now all she had to hope for was that Hugh went quietly.