Page 94 of Souvenir of Love

“While you insist on seeing the worst.”

“Because there is so much more of it to see.”

“Piffle. That’s like saying you only see the clouds, because there’re so many more of them and only a single sun.”

“Piffle?” he repeated, incredulous. “Elizabeth,I am not the sun.”

“You are mine,” she said.

He caught her other hand, drew her round to face him. “And if Marcus, Andre, and David fail to bring Joley’s daughter back? If harm comes to any of them? All of them? Then I’ll be responsible for that, too. Just as I’m responsible for all the harm that’s befallen you.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “Are you listening to me at all, James Dinsmore?”

“Are you listening to yourself? Iruinedyou.”

“You presented me with choices…”

“Choices?” A bitter laugh escaped him. “Isthatwhat you call what I did? Itemptedyou, Elizabeth, like the serpent tempted Eve in Eden.”

“Have you forgotten, my lord? That apple brought Eve wisdom. Ichoseto enter the library, to fall for your seduction, to follow you…”

“You chose poorly.”

“Then I’d say we’re evenly matched.”

James released her hands. Ran one of them through his hair. “You’re mad, Elizabeth…”

“Making us an even more perfect match…”

“Your brother was right…”

“My brother should have knocked you on the head, instead of…” Elizabeth tugged one hand free of his, ran a finger down his scar. In the moonlight, he could see the glimmer of unshed tears in her eyes. “That.”

“Do you know why he did it? What he said when he left that mark?” James had no difficulty recalling Moreham’s words; all too often they echoed in his head. Louder almost than the waves of the North Sea. “So that wherever you go, people will know you for the dishonorable cur that you are!” He took a breath. “I’m not good for you, Elizabeth. I’llneverbe good enough for you.”

“It might have knocked some sense into you,” she continued undeterred. “And who cares whether you’re good enough for Rafe? Who cares about being good? You know I’ll never be…which is precisely why we belong together.”

James struggled to exhale. “You’re young. Naïve.”

“I may be young, but I’m not naïve. Do you know what will happen when we reach England?”

“I will return you to your brother’s care, report to Grenville, and return to France if he’ll allow it.”

“And I will follow you.”

“You will not,” he said, aghast.

“Do you think you can stop me?”

James caught her by her shoulders, lifted her up, thinking perhaps he might shake some sense into that insane, beautiful head of hers.Knowing he could not.

She pressed her body against his, nipped his ear, and whispered, “Tell me, James Dinsmore, do you really want to stop me?”

A shiver ran through him. He looked past her at the figure of the Frenchman standing on the shore. David was standing beside Joley, lantern in one hand, the other pointing to a light nearly lost among the tossing waves of the sea. He lifted the lantern, flashed a signal, and the light flashed back.

It was the rescue ship. It was time for them to go.Time for him to let her go.“I can never change, Elizabeth,” he said. She looked up at him, strands of hair whipping against his cheek, confusion on her moonlit face. “But I haven’t asked you to change. Why would I do that? You’d be a different man.”

He held her away; he needed to create some space between them. “Elizabeth, Iruinedyou…”