Page 97 of Infamous

She looked about ready to roll up her sleeves and fight him, and Eddie could not have loved her more. She smiled through her tears, watching Rose look around for Nash, perhaps hoping he might be conveniently within arm’s reach.

‘Rose, just .?.?. let me say something, before you hunt him down and punt him into the lake, as he deserves.’

‘We should pay his editor a visit. Albert will know who he is, we can demand to see him, and then we can—’

‘Rose. I’d like to tell you that I’m sorry.’

‘.?.?. We might have to collect witness statements, I suppose. Do you think Valentine and Kitty would attest to seeing you write it? Dayo would, I’m sure of it. Wait .?.?. You want to do what?’

‘To apologise. To make things right between us. To tell you that I have been a boundless fool, undeserving of you. I have ruined everything.’

Rose looked confused. ‘Well .?.?. Yes, that is all very well, but—’

Eddie cut her off with a shake of her head. ‘Rose, if it helps to make things clearer – it has come to my attention, somewhat belatedly, that I am very much in love with you.’

Rose now looked beautifully perplexed.

‘You’re .?.?.? Eddie, are there not more pressing matters to attend to?’

‘Actually, no,’ Eddie said, stepping in close and taking Rose’s gloved hands in hers. ‘I don’t think so. Not at the minute.’

‘Oh,’ said Rose, finally shutting up.

It had begun, very gently, to rain.

‘Will you listen to me now, you maniac? I love you. I mean, you know that, I have always loved you – but I mean, I love you in a way that will need to be .?.?. presented before the board, for approval.’

‘What on earth are you talking about?’

‘I’m not entirely sure. But, Rose .?.?. I know that I mean it. Look .?.?. you said before that I’ve always known exactly what I want and who I am, andIcertainly believed that was the case, but these past few weeks have been .?.?. revelatory, to say the least. A lot of things make sense to me now. Of course I never really looked elsewhere for romantic diversions! Of course I saw no need to marry! You have always been everything I needed, and more. It was too much to look at directly, so I’ve been skirting around it for months – no, sorry, what am I talking about? foryears– but I’m brave enough to see it, now. To see all of this for what it really is. You have always been there for me, even when Icertainlydid not deserve it, and if you’ll let me .?.?. I’d like to try to make it up to you. To give back what you gave, and more and more and more. The home you want to make for yourself in London – I want to be a part of it. If I am too late, if I have hurt you too much with my pigheadedness and my ignorance, I understand .?.?. but if there’s any chance you might still love me just a little, I’d .?.?. well. I suppose what I’m saying is, that information would be of great interest to me.’

Rose looked stuck halfway between tears and wariness. Eddie supposed she couldn’t blame her.

‘And you really are sorry?’

‘I really, really am. I have been an ass of monstrous proportions.’

‘And .?.?. and you aren’t going to make a fool of me? Because you are on your last strike, Eddie. There’s only so much idiocy a person can take.’

‘The only person I intend to make a fool of is myself.’

‘Well, that’s a given,’ said Rose. ‘You’re not drunk? Or .?.?. delirious, from the cold?’

Eddie let out a sigh of a laugh.

‘If you arenotgoing to strike me down, would you just let me kiss you? I promise we can discuss the ins and outs later, but I am so full of fire right now that I either need to kiss you or find a stick to hit something with, and I’d rather—’

Rose rolled her eyes, pulled her in by the sleeves and kissed her. Eddie couldn’t help but laugh quietly into her mouth before drawing her in close, her hand finding the back of Rose’s neck and cradling it, Rose’s arm steady around her waist.

Itwasreal. Undeniably so. It always had been. She wasn’t going to mistake it for anything less ever again.

‘Right,’ she said, when Rose finally pulled away. ‘Now, about the other thing.’

‘He really stole it?’ Rose said, pink and breathless, one hand going to her hair where Eddie had made a bit of a mess of it. ‘You had no idea?’

Eddie grimaced. ‘I sort of thought .?.?. that maybeyouhad taken it. Nash said .?.?. and I shouldn’t havebelievedhim, of course, but I was upset, and .?.?. Are you about to wallop me?’

‘I am seriously considering it,’ said Rose. ‘You thoughtIhad taken it?’