Addicted to the Duke (Imperfect Lords #1)(84)

“My darling Hestia. How could I not love you? You are brave and selfless. Your love is precious and I want to be with you so much.”

Hestia slid her fingers through his and held his hand. “So I sail home on the Angelica with you?”

“I’ll hurt any man who tries to stop me taking you home to England.” He gazed down at her with eyes as sea green as the seas they would cross on their way home. “Home to a life together. You could have any man you want. I still can’t believe that you want this damaged heart and blackened soul. But you have taught me that it’s harder to love somebody than walk away from them, and I want you in my life more than I want my next breath.”

She threw her arms around his neck. “When I was sixteen you saved me from a life like those poor women on Murad’s ship experienced. I gave you my heart then and there, but you were too broken to know what to do with it. So on this journey I got to return the favor. I saved you right back.”

“That you did, and I’m the luckiest man in the world.” Alex closed his eyes at the truth in her words. “I didn’t know if I was capable of loving anyone. During the last few weeks I realized what I was truly feeling—that my need to be with you, to keep you for myself, was love, strong and steady. The greatest healer in the world.”

He pulled her tight against him. “You’re mine. I’m not letting you go ever again. My heart skips a beat whenever I see you.” He placed his hand over where their hearts lay chest to breast, letting her feel the rush of emotions he was finally free to share.

“Hestia,” Alex whispered in an aching voice as he pressed his lips to hers, holding nothing back as he gathered her tight against his body, his arms encircling her.

She pressed her body against his, wanting to be closer.

He briefly broke the kiss to ask, “Will you marry me, my darling girl?”

“Of course, my handsome man.”

Love, more powerful than any hate, revenge, or evil. Their love had the power to heal anything they might face. Together they would protect each other from the evils of the world and ensure no one stopped them living a life full of happiness and joy.

—

Alex and Hestia went to talk to her father just before dinner.

The reunion with her father when the Angelica reached Corfu Town had been a tearful one. Hestia was surprised at the depth of her father’s emotions. He’d held her so tightly she thought she might faint from lack of air.

If he loved her so much, why did he spend so much time away from home?

Now, a few days later, as she was about to knock on the study door with Alex by her side, she wondered what reception they would get. Her father had been given a room to use during his stay and it was filled with his books on ancient Greece and some of his treasures. His face burst into a smile as she entered, which dimmed upon seeing Alex behind her.

When Alex entered the room the warm humid air suddenly became very chilly. Hestia tried to understand how the earl could look upon Alex as a son, but where she was concerned he treated Alex as a pariah.

It was the first meeting between the two men since they’d arrived and Hestia was determined to play peacemaker.

“Why on earth did you bring her to Greece?” Lord Pembroke asked. “Of all the irresponsible things to do. The danger—can you not remember what happened four years ago?”

Hestia stepped near her father, laying her hand on his arm, and said, “That is not fair, Father. We came because you were in danger. If Alex had not—”

“I can speak for myself, thank you, Hestia,” Alex interrupted. He approached her father. “Because you left your daughter in Wales, unprotected as usual, not caring what happened to her, I had to bring her with me. There was no one in England able to protect her. I was concerned that Fredrick would see your daughter as another obstacle to his wealth. After all, his devious plan to declare you dead and gain your title was worthless without your money.”

“Ah yes, my money goes to Hestia.” Lord Pembroke merely stared at Alex for a few moments before finally nodding his head. He turned away from Alex and addressed his daughter once more. “At least you’re safe now. My ship is being provisioned for the journey home to England as we speak. We leave tomorrow on the morning tide.”

She looked at Alex, waiting for him to say something. Willing him to say something. She would sail on the Angelica—with Alex. When he remained silent she spoke up. “I am sailing home with Alex.”

Her father’s face turned a mottled purple. Alex was a duke, for goodness’ sake. What father would object to such a marriage? She understood her father might be worried about his use of opium, but that was years ago, and he had his drug usage under control.

Alex cleared his throat, and still staring at her father he finally spoke. “Your father and I have a few things to discuss. Why don’t you go and converse with Stephen, keep him out of trouble.”

She looked between the two men. The two men she loved. She knew they had a history. It was her father who had found where Alex was being held captive. He had passed that information on to Jacob and also shown Jacob how to attack the fortress.

Her father had first seen Alex on one of his trading jaunts. The earl had often traded with Murad. The pirate was quite happy to receive payment for allowing her father to excavate on the islands around the Turkish coast.

“Fine. I shall leave you two gentlemen to discuss whatever it is you don’t want me to hear. But I warn you I won’t stand for the two of you being at odds. I expect to see both of you at dinner.”