Evan grinned as the blush rose on her cheeks. “These seem particularly appropriate for future games of strip whist, should you choose to indulge, my lady.”
She glanced up at him through her lashes. “Thank you, Evan.” She clutched the cards in one hand and the bag in the other.
He eased the cards from her grip and placed them on the table. Nodding to the bag, he said, “There’s more.”
She shook the bag again, and the earrings fell into her hand. Her mouth dropped open, and she stared at them, then up at him.
“They come from a store I invested in and are one of a kind. Both gifts reminded me of the night I first met you.”
Her brow furrowed. “Garnet? I wore plum that evening at your house party.”
“Ah, but you wore garnet at the demi-monde party when we were first introduced, back when Michael asked Penelope for her hand.”
Althea’s mouth went slack.
Did she doubt that he remembered such a detail? He’d been so struck by her lithe beauty. He would never forget that first glimpse of her.
She shook her head. “Evan, I cannot accept jewelry from you.”
“When is your next day away from the store?”
She blinked at his change in subject. “Tomorrow.”
“Excellent. Might you hold them until tomorrow and decide after you accompany me on a day trip? Please?”
“Evan—”
“You can bring Beth, of course. Or I can pull up down the block and use an unmarked covered carriage. Please?”
Althea’s brows rose at what was essentially begging.
He didn’t care. He needed the yes. “Althea, I haven’t said the words. I am very sorry for my rather awkward and incomplete proposal. I should have said that the minute the door closed, along with this.” He took her hands in his, holding them loosely between them. “I love you. I am in love with you. I can only plead inexperience at my fumbling approach the other day and for not saying those words early and often. And now, I am asking only for a few hours of your time, to correct my mistake.”
She narrowed her eyes.
Yes, Althea. I am going to propose again, but this time I shall do it better. I shall do it the way you need.
She nodded slowly.
His knees nearly buckled in relief.
****
Evan loves me!Althea nearly skipped home from the shop.
Evan had left quickly after her nod of acceptance, lingering only to set a time and a place for pickup. He had hinted at another proposal or at least a discussion of an intimate enough nature that she’d chosen to go alone. She had learned her lesson by keeping Beth in the room last time. This might at least preclude another lecture from her cousin if she found his comments lacking.
She doubted she would. Certainly, she needed to not get defensive, hear him out, and ask questions. It would help if she knew what she wanted.
She had asked herself that every hour of every day since his proposal. She wanted him and her business. Did he see that? If he offered that, could she trust him to make good on that promise? Her heart wanted to say that, with love, she could. Her brain was not as sure.
They had set the hour to meet early, so she could sneak out of the house without Beth’s knowledge. After choosing a maroon day dress, she pinned her hair back but eschewed earrings. Tucking the gifts from Evan into her reticule, she paced her office until it was time to meet him.
Strolling the block, she attempted a guise of apathy while her insides quivered in eagerness at spending hours with this man she loved. She darted nervous looks back and forth across the street as she walked, in an attempt to identify his carriage.
As she reached the corner, she spied it parked just back from her street on the side lane. ’Twas the nicest carriage in sight. While she examined it, the door swung open.
“Thank you for coming, Althea.” Evan sounded as nervous as she felt.
