He did not wait around to see what protest she was going to give him, only bent to whisper in Violet’s ear. “I have to talk to you.”
She whirled, holding a hand to her chest when she saw it was just him. It was such a feminine gesture that he felt himself grin, and she sighed, trying not to smile. “You scared me.”
“I apologize.” He led her away, trying not to take her hand in his. They were being watched, even if no one was listening to them. How did one confess to love when there were eyes and ears about, when one could not get down on one knee, or hold the woman close? Ordinary men had it so easy.
“What is it?” she prompted, and he realized he’d been staring at her.
“I, uh...I have a plan.” Yes, that was it. He could just not tell her at all. That was a much easier way of going about it. “To get you and Cecelia out.”
To his surprise, her face closed off at once. “They’re never going to let me go.”
“I know. That’s why we need a plan.”
“Well, why not all of us then?”
“Because...”
“Because I’m a woman?” she asked dangerously. Her hazel eyes flashed, and even when she was angry, the way her hair escaped from its braid made him want to tuck it behind her ear.
“Not exactly.”
Their voices fell into a tumble of hissed words.
“It is, isn’t it? Well, I’m not about to let you pull some heroics—”
“—Someone has to get Cee out of here—”
“—knowing I left you to die—”
“—And let you die!”
They stopped, staring at one another suspiciously.
“Vi—Ambrose. Please listen to me.” It was killing him not to be able to take her in his arms, and her eyes were darting from his mouth to his eyes. “You know what they’re going to do to you. What they do to spies. They’ll find out what you are.”
“And they’ll hang you.” She looked at him without blinking. “Do you understand that if I walk away now, I’ll always wonder if I could have saved you? If I go with whatever this plan is, I’ll take Cecelia back to your sister, to your mother, and tell them that I left you two here to die without my help.”
“I can’t bear to let you be hurt.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m in love you!” The words erupted out of him, and she fell silent, her mouth open. Some of the soldiers
looked over at him, and he lowered his voice desperately. “Violet Stuart, from the moment you held me at gunpoint, I knew there was something different about you. I felt at ease in your company before I knew who you were. I fell in love with every damned honorable thing about you, and if things were different, I would ask you to be my wife, but they aren’t. If we go back together, I’m still going to die. You heard my confession. It’s treason, what I did.
“I don’t know you well, but I think, I hope, I know you well enough to say that you’ll blame yourself for my death if we go back. It will hurt you just as much to march me away from the farm as it will to leave me here. So let it be my choice. Let it be someone else’s noose, and for Pete’s sake, Violet, because I love you so much I could die of it. Let me save your life.”
She stared at him, her lips still parted, tears trembling in her eyes, and he wanted to sink his head into his hands, howl with rage that he had not been a better man. “No,” she whispered finally.
“What?” He looked up.
“I don’t know what the ways are out of this when we get home,” she told him softly, “but I know this is a certain death, leaving you here. I know that if I do nothing and save myself, I will have condemned you to a crueler death, but that if I fight to save you at home, I might win.”
“You would...”
“You’ve turned my world upside down,” she whispered helplessly. “You were just another traitor, another one I’d have to hear beg for his life while he told me how he’d needed money, or wanted...” She took a deep breath and looked away. A tear spilled out over her lashes. “And instead you asked me to save someone else’s life. You told me the truth. You told them the truth. No one tells the truth. I know it when I see it. And your truth, Solomon, Your truth was that you wanted to find the right side in a war that’s filled with horror. I can’t let you die for that without fighting to save you.”
Her lip trembled, and she drew him back out of sight. Their captors were in conference around the horses, bent over a map, and when Solomon looked back, he saw Violet’s eyes shining. “And the truth is...” She nipped at her lip. “I believe I’m falling in love with you as well.”