A tear slipped down her cheek. "Yes," she whispered. "Yes, Thomas. I want nothing more."
He pulled her gently into his arms. The kiss—soft, reverent—felt like destiny finally claiming them both.
Chapter 4: The Baron's True Bride
Their reconciliation changed everything. Emma moved to the West Wing. Their dinners became intimate, lingering; their walks shifted from polite to playful. Thomas learned to laugh again—a rare sound before, now made richer by the knowledge that she loved him. And Emma blossomed, carrying herself with quiet radiance—no longer merely the baron's temporary wife, but the woman he cherished openly.
But the outside world was not yet satisfied. Camden arrived one afternoon, a smug smile plastered across his face.
"Nephew," he said, strolling into the drawing room uninvited. "I've come to discuss the matter of your questionable marriage."
Thomas stood behind Emma's chair, his expression chilling. "My marriage," he said coldly, "is beyond your reach."
Camden sniffed. "So you claim. Yet rumors abound regarding the Baroness's emotional connection to Mr. Harrow. One might question whether the union was ever—"
"It is real," Thomas said flatly. "And permanent."
Camden sneered. "A convenient declaration."
Emma rose, calm and composed. "Lord Camden," she said with impeccable poise, "I assure you, your accusations are false. I have behaved with full propriety."
Camden waved a hand. "Your word means little."
Thomas stepped forward, fury simmering. "Then take mine." He reached for Emma's hand—a gesture intimate and unmistakable. "I love my wife," he said clearly. "Your attempt to slander her is an insult I will not tolerate."
Emma's breath trembled. Camden stared between them, thrown off balance by the genuine affection in their posture and the unmistakable tenderness between them. It silenced him in a way no legal document ever could. He blustered a few more half-hearted threats, but his power had dissolved. He left in defeat.