“And you actually did?” he said in wonder.
“Yes, and even better, we brought her home to England with us. She still loves you, Uncle.”
“Dear God,” he repeated. Shock and amazement shone in his expression. “She is truly alive?”
“Indeed. She is upstairs now, waiting for me to summon her. Would you like me to fetch her now?”
“I will need a moment to absorb …”
“Of course,” Skye said sympathetically. She suspected he had a multitude of questions, but for now accepting the truth was the most important thing. “I will leave you alone for a while.”
When she made to rise, however, Cornelius’s fingers closed around her wrist again. “No, I want to see her. Now, at once.”
“Then I will bring her to you.”
Nodding, he released her arm. As Skye reached the door, she heard him let out a long, shuddering breath, as if still not able to believe that a fantastic, cherished dream was coming true.
When Skye returned with the baroness, she found her uncle standing frozen in the middle of the library, watching the door as if not daring to breathe.
Clutching his box of letters, Rachel stepped over the threshold tentatively and then halted, staring back at Cornelius and drinking him in.
His voice was hoarse when he finally spoke. “I could not believe my ears when Skye told me you had not perished after all.”
“I am so terribly sorry,” she whispered. “Can you ever forgive me?”
“There is nothing to forgive. You acted to save your life. Can you ever forgive me for not knowing that brute was beating you?”
She gave a soft sob and pressed a hand to her mouth.
“Why did you never tell me, Rachel?”
“I did not want to put you in danger.”
“My God, Rachel …” Cornelius’s tone held helplessness and frustration. “You were all alone.…”
From her vantage point just outside the library door, Skye couldn’t see Rachel’s face but knew tears were streaming down her cheeks. “No, I was not alone. I had your memory.”
“My dearest love …” He took a small step toward her, then halted as if not trusting the reception he would receive.
The same questioning caution sounded in Rachel’s tone when she spoke next. “Am I your dearest love, Cornelius?”
“Yes, of course you are.”
She shuddered with relief. “I didn’t dare hope. Even when I learned you kept our rose pressed among my letters.”
“I wanted a remembrance, however painful it might be. I mourned you for a long while, Rachel. In truth, I never recovered.…”
His own voice broke, and he brought a shaking hand to hide his eyes. He was choking on his own tears, Skye realized, her heart going out to him. Only once before had she seen her uncle so emotional, the day the terrible news came about the shipwreck that had killed his closest relatives.
Not wanting to intrude on their tender reunion any longer, Skye backed away and quietly shut the library door, intending to allow them privacy to become re-acquainted.
When she turned, wiping tears from her own eyes, she nearly ran into Hawk, who had been waiting in the corridor.
“Well?” he said, watching her.
“I think it went better than I could have hoped for.” Skye gave him a watery smile. “I have dreamed about this moment since I first learned that his love was still alive.” She sniffed and glanced over her shoulder at the library door, then sought his gaze again. “Thank you, Hawk. This never would have been possible without you.” On impulse, Skye stepped forward and stood on tiptoes to press a kiss to his jaw in gratitude.
The gesture was simple and friendly, but his hands moved to her waist. When she recognized the sudden flash in his eyes as heat, her pulse leapt. He was looking at her as if he wanted her.… For a fleeting moment, she thought he might return a more passionate embrace. But then his expression shuttered, reminding her that he intended to keep their relationship strictly formal from now on.