"If you missed me anywhere near as much as I missed you, I'm all the more sorry for putting you through that." Of all his regrets at leaving, none were as great at his regret at leaving her. He wondered sometimes what might have been different if he'd stayed behind. Would they have been married sooner? Had children? Maybe he could have supported Edward and stopped Vaizey taking his place as sheriff. And yet he knew that those sorts of questions were enough to drive a person to insanity. There was no point in what if's. In dwelling on the past.
"Oh, I'm impatient?" His tone was amused and incredulous. "I hardly think you're one to make such a claim." But teasing aside, he was grateful for her words, even if he had already known them to be true. "I know you will be. I'm sorry I've been such a pain."