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“Quite dead, it would appear,” Wrighton confirmed cheerfully. “Well done, dogs.”

Bitsy barked.

“They saved me,” she said, shock making her voice go weak and her knees buckle. “He was going to kill me. He intended to kill Reggie and Catherine, and he told me that he poisoned Corbett with arsenic.”

“Jesus,” Wrighton rasped.

“He can’t hurt you ever again,” Apollo reassured her grimly, pressing a kiss to her temple.

“Catherine and Reggie?”

“Safe with Auntie Goose,” he said.

Her eyes slid closed as relief washed over her. “Thank you for coming to me.”

“I promised you I would protect what is mine,” he said, voice low and hoarse with emotion. “I’m sorry I failed you tonight. I didn’t realize how truly mad he was.”

“You didn’t fail me. You came for me, and you kept Reggie and Catherine safe just as you promised you would,” she said, tipping her head back to look up at him.

How handsome and beloved he was.

How hers.

“I promise you I will protect you all to the best of my ability, always,” he vowed, brushing the backs of his fingers over her cheek.

“I don’t doubt it.” She kissed his fingers. “I don’t doubt you. Not for a moment.”

“Good God. Perhaps I ought to have stayed behind with the children,” Wrighton said wryly, reminding Ophelia they had an audience.

Apollo just chuckled.

“We’ve sent for the police, my lady,” Mrs. Clare called from below. “Are you all well?”

“We are,” Ophelia confirmed loudly, eyes still on the man she loved. To him, she added, “I don’t want to wait to marry you. I want to marry you now. Tomorrow. As soon as we can possibly be wed.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” he said. “I’m tired of waiting to have you in my bed every night.”

“This old chap may have stuck his spoon in the wall, but I’m alive, and my ears are in reasonable working order,” Wrighton reminded them.

“Come, love.” Apollo guided her to the stairs. “We’ll leave Mal on guard duty so we can have a moment to ourselves.”

“Yes, please do,” Wrighton added.

Bitsy and Henry followed them down the stairs, and when they reached the lower floor, Apollo took Ophelia back into his arms, holding her tightly.

“You’ll come home with me tonight,” Apollo said firmly.

“I’m already home,” she told him. “My home is you.”

He smiled down at her, his dimples appearing. “I feel the same, my own sweet Phee.”

EPILOGUE

“And this, lad, is how you throw your line into the water,” Apollo told Reggie, demonstrating with a fluid cast.

The hook and lure landed in the water of the Prestwick House lake with a small splash.

“I want to try, Papa!” Catherine announced, clapping her hands in excitement.