Deverill nodded as if understanding the cryptic comment. “I mean to ride to Royan with Lady Katharine. You may follow us, but I’ll thank you to keep your distance.”
The odd arrangement surprised Kate, but she had no chance to question his plan.
Deverill borrowed a sturdy mount from one of Halsey’s men, then left the captain in charge of returning Kate’s hired horse and retrieving their carriage from the livery, fetching their luggage from the cottage, and most especially, thanking the head ostler for his aid. If not for him, Kate knew, Deverill might not be alive, and perhaps herself as well.
In short order, Deverill had mounted and set her up in front of him.
“I suppose you have a good reason for riding double?” she said when they were out of earshot.
“Two reasons: One, I am not letting you out of my sight until we are safely on board the Galene. And two, I require privacy for what I have to say to you.”
Kate bit back a reply. After all of this morning’s turmoil, she was very grateful to have Deverill’s strong arms around her, but she suspected she was in for a scold. In fact, she had a few choice words of reproach to deliver to him as well.
She decided to begin with something less confrontational, though. “Thank you for sparing Louvel. He did not deserve such compassion, but for Gabrielle’s sake, I am grateful.”
“You needn’t thank me. I want no more killing in my life.”
Kate was glad for that sentiment also, but now that her anxiety and tension had largely drained away and their sheer survival was no longer in question, her lesser emotions came to the fore—vexation being the chief among them.
“You might have told me that you had sent to England for your cousin and friends.”
“I didn’t want to distress you unnecessarily.”
“I would not have been so terrified had I known reinforcements were coming.”
“Is that so?” he asked skeptically.
Kate stiffened at his tone. “Well, perhaps I would have been. Nothing could have lessened my horror at seeing you in that cell.”
“I believe your words were, ‘mad with worry.’?”
His teasing made her bristle. “You needn’t make light of my fear, Deverill!”
To her distress, he bent to kiss the nape of her neck. “Why are you so incensed, princess?”
The casual gesture did nothing to soothe her ire. “Because I am just now recalling how inappropriate your response was to my panic. I was ready to drown you myself for allowing yourself to be captured just to spare me—and then calling me a fool because I searched for you. And to add to your transgressions, you kept a significant confidence from me, summoning your friends from England without telling me. After all we have been through together, there should be no more secrets between us, Deverill. We need honesty—”
“I agree entirely.” His perfectly amiable reply took the wind out of her sails.
“You do?”
“Yes, sweetheart. How is this for honesty? I love you.”
Even though Kate thought she must have misheard, his pronouncement set her heart banging against her rib cage. She twisted awkwardly in the saddle to stare back at him.
Her shock must have registered on her face, for he lifted an eyebrow. “Did I fail to mention my feelings? How grossly remiss of me. I happen to love you quite madly, darling Kate.”
His dark eyes held amusement as well as unmistakable tenderness. “What, have I rendered you speechless? Fancy that.”
Kate swallowed past the sudden dryness in her throat, but her voice still sounded a trifle hoarse when she finally found her tongue. “When did this happen?”
“When did I fall in love, or when did I realize it?”
“Both.”
He pursed his lips. “I expect the realization has gradually been coming over me for weeks now, but culminated in the past few hours. I felt something akin to panic last evening when you said you wanted to end our betrothal because you didn’t love me, and abject fear this morning when Louvel threatened you over the bank draft. But I knew for certain when I thought you might die at Louvel’s hand.”
When she remained silent, Deverill prodded her. “What have you to say to my declaration?”