She ducked her head, faint colour rising in her face. “I — missed you so much. I was so lonely … at least when you t-took me away with you to Hale Castle you were still there. You watched over me all the time. Here, there was no one. After my twin left, there was no one.”
Very quietly, she confessed, hiding her face, “I fell into despair.”
His breath hitched and he pulled her against his chest, burying his face in her hair. “I’m so sorry, Summer…I never meant for things to end up like this, but I promise that it’ll all be better soon. We’re to be married, you and I, and I’ll always love you and take care of you,” he breathed out and cupped her chin gently, angling her head up so that he could look her in the eye. “I love you, Summer.”
She squeaked slightly, in surprise. Looking up at him, she coloured more deeply, left a little breathless by his intent declaration. “I love you, too,” she whispered finally.