A Cantata of Love (The Code Breakers 4) by Jacki Delecki Page A

I must play my role in keeping you protected. Once this terrible time is finished and we know you’re safe, I plan to court you openly and outrageously so that all of London knows of our connection.” His eyes gleamed with that wicked, devilish amusement.
    She shook her head, but her heart bounded into a lively vivace Bach tempo. She opened her mouth to speak, but Michael placed his finger on her lips.
    “Shhh. I’m not expecting you to pledge your feelings to me.” His passionate stare held her trapped.
    She placed her hand over his fingers. Happy to touch him again. When he was ill, she had become familiar with every part of his face, his bronzed arms, his strong hands. “It’s only because of my brother… You feel responsible for me.”
    Michael pressed his lips to her palm. “Responsibility is not what I feel for you, dearest Gabby. I feel responsible for my sister, my brother, my uncle, and now for most of England. But what I feel for you isn’t a responsibility. It’s much more.”
    Gabby shook her head. “I…”
    “Please say nothing. I know I have no claim on your feelings. But I want you to know that I will always be your friend, and much more if you let me. I will stand by you always as a friend if that is all you desire.”
    She couldn’t stop the tremble in her voice or the joy bubbling up. “Thank you. I am grateful for your offer of friendship, since I have so few friends in England.”
    “Once you come out into society, you’ll have more gentlemen friends than you could possibly wish for. It is going to be very difficult to see you in society and hide my feelings, but I promise I will be a man of judicious behavior and manner.”
    And then the charming, boyish smile, lethal to all ladies, crossed his face.
    “Can you achieve such a thing?” she teased. “Judicious behavior? I’ve only witnessed outrageous behavior.”
    It felt good to joke and laugh together again. He made her forget the gravity of her circumstances and her grief. She loved his open nature. She loved his lightheartedness, despite his title and wealth. She loved him. She’d fallen in love with his joie de vivre during their escape from Paris.
    No matter how she tried to deny her feelings, he would always own her heart. But, like him, she must make the choice to protect him, because she cared too.
    “You wretch!” He pulled on one of the curls that had fallen down from her topknot. “How little faith. But you must promise me.”
    “Michael, I can’t promise…” She shook her head again. How could she make promises?
    “Wait to hear my request. It’s not what you think. Promise me you won’t marry anyone else until I have a chance to court you too. I want you to be the belle of the season. And enjoy all the things you’ve missed in the convent. You deserve happiness, but promise me that I’ll get a chance when our association isn’t dangerous.”
    Happiness. Was it possible? Her life had only been about surviving. “I’ve thought if I married right away, Napoleon’s men wouldn’t pursue me. But then I realized Napoleon wouldn’t honor an English marriage and would just have it annulled in France.”
    Michael took both her hands between his. “Exactly. It’s why we must keep you hidden until he gives up pursuing you and has married his brother to another woman.”
    Michael caressed her hands. “I won’t let anyone hurt you, Gabby.”
    She lowered her eyes since she didn’t want to betray her tender feelings for him.
    “And then I’m going to enjoy being your persistent, tenacious suitor.”
    Whatever the future brought, she would always hold this day and his pledge close to her heart. “I don’t plan to marry anytime soon.”
    “You haven’t been out in society. Once you make your appearance, you’re going to cause a riot in the ton .”
    She scoffed. She was French, with no title now and past the age of debutantes. “And while I’m being the belle of the season, what will you be doing? Pursuing