“But I am not your problem!”
He looked at her. “You became my problem when I prevented you from killing yourself,” he said somewhat forcefully. “Therefore, you not only owe me a debt of gratitude, but you owe me your very life. I spent last night listening to you beg me to help you. Don’t you understand? We are in this together now, you and I, and I will kill Marius de Wrenville before I would stand aside and watch him marry you. The man is not worthy of the strength and honor I have seen from a woman who has been beaten into the ground, yet still, she fights back. Still, she maintains her honor. It is depth I have never seen from a woman before and probably never will again. Such a woman would be a magnificent wife. I would be honored to have her.”
His words seemed to drain all of the confusion out of her. She went from frowning at him to very nearly smiling. Something warm was taking over her face.
“For a man who does not speak easily of his feelings, that was brilliantly done,” she said. “All I would bring into this marriage is two big diamonds and a devastated fortress. You understand that.”
“And a magical mountain,” he reminded her softly, his black eyes twinkling. “Do not forget about Hawk Mountain.”
Her smile broke through. “Of course,” she said. “How could I ever forget. You said once that you should like to see it. I would be honored to show you, someday.”
“And I would love to see it, but not now,” he said. “Now, I am trying to convince a woman to marry me and she has not yet answered. I wish there was more time to discuss this, and for us both to think on it, but there is not. Marius will be on your doorstep tomorrow, so you must give me an answer. Lady Emelisse, I would be honored if you would consider becoming my wife.”
It was not only the sweetest proposal she had ever received, but the only one. Yet, when an offer was that sweet and that gentle, she only needed one.
She knew what her answer would be.
Foolish or not, impulsive or not, there was only one.
“Aye,” she said after a moment. “I am agreeable.”
Caius grinned, that charmingly crooked grin with slightly crooked teeth. It was infectious and alluring, a smile that many a maiden had swooned at. Emelisse had never seen him smile like that, so she had no idea how captivating it was. It made her heart jump simply to see it, like nothing she had ever known.
“Good,” he said. “I am glad to see you are a woman not only of reason, but of taste.”
She smiled because he was, feeling something giddy and hopeful blossoming in her belly. It made her entire body quiver.
“You honor me,” she said. “But I hope… I hope this will not cause you too much trouble. If you marry me, Marius cannot, and you will be the target of his anger. His father will complain to The Marshal.”
He waved her off. “I would tell them to do their worst,” he said. “They cannot touch me, in any fashion. But you and I must find a priest immediately. Do you know one locally?”
She nodded. “In Whitchurch,” she said. “It is just a few miles north. We can make it within the hour if we hurry.”
Caius rose to his feet. He extended a hand to Emelisse, who placed her small palm in his. Carefully, he pulled her to her feet, but he didn’t let go of her hand. His gaze drifted over her, studying her big eyes, her beautiful hair.
All of her.
“You know,” he said slowly, “when I first saw you, I could not take my eyes from you. You were the loveliest creature I had ever seen.”
She rolled her eyes. “How can you say that?” she said. “I was wearing a gown that was too large for me, my hair was in disarray… I looked as if I had been dragged through the streets because I very nearly had.”
With his free hand, he tipped her chin up so she was looking at him. He was so much taller than she was that she barely came to his sternum. For a moment, he simply looked at her, absorbing her, memorizing her, seeing the face he was going to wake up next to every day for the rest of his life.
He was not displeased.
“You were lovely,” he murmured. “Youarelovely. More than lovely; you are beautiful. And I will lay down my life a thousand times over to make sure you are always safe and always happy. As your husband, I will make you that promise.”
A smile spread across her face. “Those are the most wonderful words I have ever heard,” she whispered. “I can only thank you profusely and promise you that you shall always have my faith, my focus, and my loyalty.”
“Mayhap even your heart, someday.”
“I hope so. And I would take great care of yours, too.”
Caius thought that perhaps it was too early to be speaking of hearts and adoration, considering how short a time they’d known each other, but he was swept up in the moment. He’d never been a man who had hoped for love. In fact, he’d scorned it, taunting those who had found it. But he wasn’t taunting any longer.
He was coming to understand.
It was as if a whole new world has been opened up for him.
