“That’s why you were only considering those who had been out for longer. They might feel a sense of relief over the match,” Lucy said, nodding. “That was wise of you. But I fit into that group as well, since this is my third Season.”
“But you could never be considered desperate, Lucy. And you have seemed for the past several years to disparage your intellect and my continued studies. I sincerely thought you would be disadvantaged if you couldn’t attend every ball of every Season. I don’t hate the Season, but I certainly don’t wish to actively involve myself in it all the time.”
“Me neither,” Lucy said with sincerity, her grip tightening on Roderick’s hands even as he was trying to loosen them.
Roderick laughed with a slight shake of his head but then shook his hands free of her grasp. Just as Lucy was about to turn away from him in mortification, he pulled her into his arms, scandalously close, closer than even the waltz, and her stomach turned over, this time in a very delicious manner. The butterflies were back but this time the flutter was most pleasant even if she couldn’t quite catch her breath.
“Lucy, my dear girl, I know you’ve tried to deny your intelligence. I’m sure it’s tied up in some sort of complicated feelings that we might have to work through, but I’ve also seen how you’ve stuck to a matter that you’ve understood to be serious. You didn’t balk at Gilbert’s roping you into his assignment despite the risks. That’s when I knew you could be perfect for me.”
Lucy held her breath, unsure what to say. She wanted to be perfect for him. It sounded wonderful. But she had to be certain she understood.
“What are trying to say to me?”
“I am making a mull of this, aren’t I?” Roderick asked with a laugh. He pulled her tighter. “Lucretia Scranton, I would very much appreciate having your hand in marriage. I want you to become Lucy Northcott. I want you by my side as I help my friends develop their science. I don’t want you for your dowry or even your substantial beauty. I want you for your kindness and your mind, I want your friendship by my side for the rest of my days. I worried you might be too beautiful for my scholars to handle but the way you set Sean at ease took away that concern too. I know you think a love match is messy. Ours might be from time to time. I cannot promise that it won’t be. But I do love you, Lucy, and even if you don’t love me, I’m quite certain you can tolerate me sufficiently and that was what you said you were looking for. I would try to make you love me even if you resist. I think we’re quite intelligent enough to be able to figure out how to clean it up if we do make a mess from time to time.”
Now it was Lucy’s turn to free herself from Roderick’s grasp, but she only did so in order to throw her arms around his neck and stand on her toes. She had never thought she truly wanted to be kissed but now she longed for Roderick’s lips to be upon hers. He accommodated her unspoken request but only for a moment.
Breathless, he lifted his head. The loving expression on his face made her heart turn over but finally Lucy could understand what Belle had been trying to tell her all along.
“I love you too, Roderick. I would be honoured to be your wife.”
They hadn’t realized that Isabelle and her husband had entered the room until the viscount spoke.
“I would demand that you unhand my sister immediately except her words just saved your hide, Roderick.”
Lucy started guiltily and would have stepped away from Roderick except that he wouldn’t allow her out of his arms. He merely shifted their positions so she was standing beside him, under the protection of his arm over her shoulders.
“My apologies, my lord. I ought to have spoken with you first, but I was afraid my suit might not be acceptable to Lucy, so I wanted to check with her before addressing myself to you.”
“That doesn’t sound very scientific of you, Northcott,” Lord Simmons chided. “But we’ll allow the lapse in good judgment this one time. I’ve heard good things from your brothers about what you’re hoping to accomplish. I’m thrilled you were able to convince my sister to give up her temporary fascination with frivolity and embrace her true calling.”
Lucy’s chin dropped, leaving her mouth open. It would seem everyone knew about her efforts to hide her intellect and hadn’t believed her act in the first place.
“We’re very happy for both of you,” Isabelle said, succeeding in pulling Lucy from under Roderick’s arm in order to give her a warm hug.
“You may have five more minutes, and then I want to see the both of you in the library,” Lord Simmons stated, giving Roderick a stern glare before breaking into a grin. “Welcome to the family, Roderick.”
When they were alone once more, Lucy leaned into Roderick, searching his loving gaze.
“Are you ready for this?” she asked, meaning the chaos of joining their families.
“I’ve been waiting for years,” he vowed earnestly as his head descended to claim her lips once more.
Epilogue
Lady Evangeline was standing in a corner with Miss Adams. She felt even more awkward than usual. How does one ask a paid companion what was to become of her now that her employer will likely no longer need her services since she has become engaged? And how uncomfortable to be standing about at another happy couple’s wedding breakfast. It made her wonder why either of them had even been invited.
She couldn’t regret being invited, though. Despite how unhappy her own short marriage had been, it warmed her heart to see how happy Mr. Northcott and Miss Scranton appeared to be. The match had been quite a surprise.
“I wouldn’t have thought they would wed.” Miss Adams sudden words were such a reflection of Evangeline’s thoughts that she almost started. Could the other woman read her mind? The rising tide of hot-looking colour on the other woman’s face told Evangeline that the poor dear hadn’t meant to voice her thoughts.
“I was a bit surprised myself but they have known one another for a long time, so it shouldn’t have been a true shock to any of us.”
“Quite sudden, too, though,” Miss Adams remarked with a disapproving sniff. “Miss Bastion intends to have a very long betrothal.”
“She does?” Evangeline repeated. “Whatever for?”
Again Miss Adams blushed. “For one thing, I suppose, she has to figure out what is to be done with me,” she said in a voice that had sunk to nearly a whisper. “She also says there’s no need to rush. They have the rest of their lives.”
