His eyes roamed over her, uncomprehending. She turned a bit and twitched out her striped overskirt in the back, along with one shimmering wing.
“A bee?”
“A queen bee,” she clarified.
“Ah.” He understood. “Ruling alone.”
She nodded.
“Absolutely not.”
She gave him a smile. “Not perfect, you see.”
“Your imperfections are slight. Mine are considerably worse, but don’t you see? Cannot you feel it? We align together perfectly along those fault lines. You were right. I have wanted a home, a sense of belonging, a connection that is comfortable and passionate and deep. You embody it all, in one lovely, intelligent, fierce and witty form. You offered it to me, and I was too blind to see how right we were. It took a couple of blows from you and Tensford to knock the blinders all the way from my eyes and crumble the stone encasing my heart.”
“It sounds painful.”
“It was, but it was well deserved. And I was not completely unaware, it turns out. Some part of me just would not countenance letting you go, though I tried to convince myself.” He reached into a pocket. “I brought this tonight. At first, I thought I wanted to give it to you so that you would remember me. But I was wrong.”
She took the box with shaking fingers. Inside, she found a golden locket, delicately carved. “Ooh, it’s lovely.” It had a clasp and she looked at him, questioning. He nodded for her to open it.
She did—and laughed softly. “Oh, how darling.”
It was a painted image of a badger looking back at her.
“Miss Nichols painted it for me. She’s quite the gifted artist, I have discovered.”
“I can see that she is,” she said, stroking it with a finger.
“I know now that I had it made because I need to ask you—Will you be a badger with me?” He raised a hand. “A new breed, perhaps. Badgers together, not badgers apart. Sharing laughter and love and everything else important in life.”
He leaned forward to slip the locket around her neck. “Now I know that I can have everything I’ve always wanted, as long as you carry me in your heart. That is my home,” he whispered.
Tears gathered. She felt one escape and he reached out to catch it—and suddenly they were in each other’s arms and they were both home, in the feel and the smell and the taste of the other. For several long minutes, they pledged their love with ardent kisses and soft murmurings and light touches.
At last he pulled away and framed her face in his hands. She pressed her cheek into his palm and sighed.
“Is this a yes?” he asked. “Will you be my wife, even if our badger’s sett must consist of a set of rooms in Town?”
“Yes. Yes. I will be your wife and I will live with you anywhere.” Pulling back, she took his hands in her own. “But you know, there may be other options.”
He raised his brows.
“You do like to go on about how good I am with people, but I’ve seen you interacting with everyone from the stable boys to the highest peers of the realm. Everyone likes you, because they sense your interest in them, your care for them and their views. You take exquisite care of your friends. You were willing to abandon your happiness to ensure mine.” She gave him a look. “Even though the idea that I could be happy without you was terribly misguided.”
“Terribly,” he agreed.
She could tell he had no idea what she was driving toward.
“My father could not ask for a better man to train to take care of our land and people, Sterne,” she said gently. “We could build a house of our own somewhere on the estate. You could learn from my father—and from me, I daresay. You wouldn’t have to give up your own pursuits. There should be plenty of time for both, especially if we all share the responsibilities.”
He stared at her, his expression wondering. “Would your father even consider such a thing?”
“My father knows a good man when he sees one. I think he will like the idea.” She shrugged. “We can but ask. If he is not so inclined, then we will make other plans. Together,” she said firmly.
“I adore you for even thinking of such an idea, but it is that last part that is my only true requirement.”
He touched her top lip with his finger, and she kissed it. “Together. No second thoughts. No reservations.”
