She held him that way in an embrace that was comforting rather than carnal. Hesitantly his one good arm slid around her shoulders to draw her closer.
After a moment, Geoffrey gave a soft laugh. "I should have realized you would know precisely the right thing to say."
Aurora drew back, searching his face. "I am so very glad to see you. I've missed you unbelievably."
His handsome mouth twisted in a bitter smile. "I fear I cannot express the same sentiment… About missing you, I mean. Until a few weeks ago, I had no memory of my past life. Only images…" He reached up to touch her cheek. "I saw your beautiful face, Aurora, but I never knew why. It was only when Wycliff found me that the images became stronger. I think he must have jogged something loose in my mind, for I've slowly been regaining my memory since then."
"Wycliff? The Earl of Wycliff found you in France?"
"Yes, Lucian rescued me. In truth, I owe you both a debt of gratitude. It's because of you that he spent the last two months scouring the French countryside, searching for me."
Aurora frowned, wondering what the earl would be doing in France when the two countries had been at war for years. "How is that possible? How could Wycliff avoid capture by Napoleon's forces for that long a period?"
"He was in disguise, actually."
"Disguise?"
Geoffrey looked ill at ease. "Aurora, I will tell you something in confidence. Wycliff is actually a spy. A damned good one, I understand."
"Spy?" She stared, suddenly remembering the wild tales his younger brother had told her about Geoffrey. "Harry claimed you were engaged in spying," she said slowly, "but I thought he was simply fabricating a fantasy."
Geoffrey hesitated a long moment. "I was on a mission for England when my ship went down."
Startled, she eyed him with disbelief. "I never understood why you were sailing so near the French coast. You were spying?"
"Not precisely. Nothing like what Wycliff's agents do. I had only to break the secret codes of various dispatches. I've always been good with ciphers and puzzles, you know."
"Why did you never tell me?"
"I didn't want you to worry. Harry learned about it only because he eavesdropped on a conversation." Geoffrey frowned. "He should never have mentioned it, for he was sworn to secrecy."
"I would indeed have worried." Aurora shook her head, still not quite believing what she was hearing. "I cannot understand why you would become involved in something so dangerous."
"Why?" His smile was fleeting. "Because I finally had a chance to make a worthwhile contribution, Aurora. I have been bookish all my life, but that doesn't mean I never had a secret yearning to slay dragons, to reach beyond the confining boundaries of my rank and social position. I wanted in some small way to help in the fight against Napoleon, to save the world from his tyranny. Even now, I would do it again."
"Even at the risk of your life?"
"The risk was not supposed to be very great. I was merely to meet a courier in France and pick up the dispatches – but then my ship encountered a storm. The next thing I knew, I was waking on a straw pallet in a barn, with no idea of who I was. I spent most of the last year as a man with no name or past."
She reached up to smooth a lock of his fair hair back from his forehead that was etched with pain. "But your memory has returned now?"
"Not completely. Each day something new comes to me. Aurora, I am not the same man you knew… I still suffer excruciating headaches, and I walk with a limp, besides losing my arm…"
Her heart ached for him. "Geoffrey, I am so sorry."
"I don't want your pity, Aurora. I survived, while many good men did not – my crew included."
"Then I won't give you pity. But I can offer sympathy, can I not?"
He smiled faintly. "I suppose so." Then his smile slowly faded as he seemed to notice her black gown for the first time. "I understand you were wed while I was away. To Wycliff's notorious American cousin."
She felt her throat suddenly tighten. "Geoffrey… I don't know quite what to say. My only excuse is that my father… He was pressing me to marry, and… well, I'm sorry. If I'd had any inkling you might still be alive, I would never have left England with Percy and Jane."
"Mother says you told her your marriage was made under duress."
"That's true. I desperately wanted to avoid marriage to Halford, and my father was adamant…"
"I understand, Aurora. It would be difficult for you to defy your father's wishes. So you married a condemned criminal to escape his choice of husband?"
"Yes. The marriage was expected to last only a day or two at most."
"I understand you were widowed immediately afterward."
Aurora hesitated. This was the moment she had dreaded. How could she tell Geoffrey that her husband hadn't died? That she was still legally wed to another man? That she had just spent the most incredible two weeks of her life indulging her most passionate fantasies with her lover? That she was considering leaving England altogether to be someone else's wife?
She stared at Geoffrey as guilt raked her with razor-sharp claws. She had loved this man for most of her life. He was a dear, dear friend, and he had come close to death. He was injured, still suffering… She couldn't deal him another blow by disclosing the truth so soon after he had just reclaimed his life.
And what of Nicholas? How could she divulge his existence without putting him in danger? She couldn't be certain how Geoffrey would react. If he loved his country so much that he would spy, what would he do upon learning that a convicted pirate was here on English soil, thumbing his nose at the British government? Particularly a pirate who was wed to the woman Geoffrey himself had been engaged to marry?
Exposing Nicholas now could very well mean his death. She had to protect him for as long as possible, until he was safely out of the country. She had to conceal the fact that he was here now, that she had seen him, been with him.
"Geoffrey, there is something I must tell you," she said slowly, knowing she had to walk a fine line between truth and lies. "I have recently received word… Percy wrote to tell me that… my husband escaped hanging. Nicholas Sabine is still alive."
He stared at her a long moment before understanding dawned on his face. "You are still wed to a pirate?"
"So it would seem."
"That cannot be," he responded with unexpected fierceness. When she made no reply, he scowled. "Can the marriage be annulled? There must be adequate grounds."
Aurora regarded Geoffrey quizzically. "Perhaps, but I doubt it would be easy."
"We must make it happen." Grimness had seized his features. "The marriage cannot be allowed to stand. You cannot remain wedded to a criminal."
His reaction wasn't quite what she had expected, but she should have realized Geoffrey would want to protect her.
"You can be assured I will stand by you, Aurora," Geoffrey vowed. "There is certain to be a scandal when the truth comes out, but I will not allow you to face it alone."
She couldn't dispute that a scandal was likely, Aurora reflected.
When she remained silent, Geoffrey searched her face. "Mother expects our marriage to take place shortly, but this complicates matters. But once an annulment is granted… I want you to know, Aurora, if you wish for our marriage to go forward, I… would be honored to be your husband."
She felt a pang of dismay. "Geoffrey, you don't have to make such a sacrifice for my sake."
His expression suddenly grew cool. "Perhaps it would be a sacrifice for you rather than me. It would be understandable if you didn't wish to marry a cripple."
"Geoffrey, don't… Please don't say that. You aren't a cripple."