Taking her hands in his, he took a deep breath and said, “Victoria, I love you. I have loved you for some time now, but I had not realized it. There are so many mistakes I have made between us. I have been a fool in so many ways, but I want to start to try and make it all up to you.”
Her eyes were wide, and she appeared stunned, staring up at him with her lips parted.
“What…what are you saying,” she murmured. “I do not understand.”
Smiling, he continued, “I went to the country to speak with my parents, Victoria. To ask for their blessing…to marry you.”
She blinked, tears forming in her eyes. “Marry…marry me? Edward, are you serious?”
He nodded, squeezing her hands. “Completely. Marry me, Victoria. Be my wife. You will make me the happiest man in the world if you say yes.”
She did not say a word as she stared up at him. He might have been worried by her silence, but the light in her eyes told him she was thrilled by his proposal. She simply needed time to gather her thoughts.
"If you tell me where your family is, I will go and ask for their blessing as well,” he told her. “I want to make you happy, Victoria, and I want to include your family in our happiness.”
At last, she let out a sobbing laugh and nodded. “Yes, Edward! Yes, I will marry you. I love you and want to spend my life with you.”
He released a breath of relief and cupped her face, pulling her in for a passionate kiss that made her gasp. Edward did not care that they were in a public place and could possibly be seen. He loved this woman and wanted the whole world to know it. She was going to be his wife, and that was all that mattered.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching. Victoria must have heard them as well because she gasped again and broke the kiss.
“Who…?” she murmured.
Edward looked around and tensed when he spotted Cressida and Alvin approaching them. He took a step away from Victoria, but he took her hand and held it tight.
“Edward!” Cressida exclaimed with a bright smile. Her gaze dropped to Edward and Victoria’s clasped hands but then shot back up to meet his eyes again. Her grin was wide and clearly practised. Edward had seen it many times before, but he had not recognized it for the manipulative tool that it was.
Edward nodded politely to her, then Alvin, but kept his expression cool when he replied, “Good afternoon. A pleasant day for an outing, is it not?”
“Indeed it is,” Cressida replied, stepping closer and looping her arm through Edwards. She tugged on him, pulling him away from Victoria. He reluctantly let go of Victoria’s hand as Cressida continued, “We should go for a walk, yes? Come, Edward. Accompany me around the pond.”
He gritted his teeth but knew he could not be rude in such a public place. Reluctantly, he nodded.
“Very well,” he mumbled. Looking back at Victoria, he said, “I will be back shortly.”
She gave him a smile and nodded. “I will be right here.”
He took comfort in her words. She did not seem upset, and her expression was reassuring. It was as though she understood the predicament he was in and was not going to hold it against him.
It was yet one more reason to love her.
***
Victoria
She watched Edward walk off with Cressida, but Victoria did not mind. Even the woman’s snide look as she whisked Edward away could not shake Victoria from her euphoric mood. Edward loved her. He wanted to marry her. Let Cressida throw herself at him all she wanted. It would make no difference.
“How are you today, Miss Clifford?” Alvin asked, stepping into Victoria’s line of sight. “I must say, I am happy to have a moment alone with you at last.”
“Is that so, Mr Hutches?” Victoria replied in a cool, polite tone.
He nodded, arching a brow. “Of course. Are you not happy as well?”
Victoria shrugged. “I am flattered that you think so highly of me, my lord.”
His brow furrowed. “That is not really an answer to my question.”
A fact she was well aware of, but she was not about to admit such a thing and risk his ire.
