His hopeful gaze flew up to hers.
“I’m scared,” she said.“Terrified, actually.But a wise man once said to me, ‘If you want to move the horses you have to pick up the reins and try to drive them.’”
The corner of his mouth quirked.“Was it me?”
She nodded.“It was you.”
He squinted at her.“Am I the horses or the reins?”
“You’re the love of my life,” she said with a choking laugh.“I don’t want to live without you.Not for a single day.”
His grip on her hands slackened.“But?”
“I’m not ready to get on the boat,” she admitted in a tiny voice.“But if you’re willing to start with something small and work together toward something big, I’m willing to start taking risks.”
“Are you sure?”His eyes searched hers.
She had never been more certain of anything.“You are worth the adventure.”
He straightened his shoulders.“So, in response to my earlier question…”
“Here is the answer.”She pressed his hands to her lips for a kiss, then dropped to one knee.“Mr.Christopher Pringle.”
His eyes sparkled.“It’s actually ‘the Right Honorable’ but I wouldn’t dare interrupt.”
She smacked his leg.“Ahem.The following question goes out to the Right Honorable and Insufferably Pedantic Mr.Christopher Pringle, explorer of the world.”
“You know, I think thatismy full name.”His warm gaze was full of love.
Her heart sang.“Would you make me the happiest of women and be my husband, now and forever?”
He pulled her up and into his arms for a kiss.“I love you, soon-to-be Mrs.Pringle.”
“I love you, newest resident of our humble village.”She peered up at him through her lashes.“Did you ever think you’d fall for the matchmaker?”
“I fell for you before I knew you were the matchmaker,” he admitted.
“W-what?”She gaped at him in surprise.
He nodded.“When I saw you giving that sky-walk, I thought you were the most beautiful creature I had ever seen.Add that to your obvious interest in stars, your sweetness in providing such tours, the respect that everyone else clearly had for you… How could it be anything but love at first sight?”
Her mind emptied of thought.“But I… You…”
“To be clear,” he continued.“That was before I got close enough to hear the twaddle spouting from your kissable lips.Face full of cold water, that was.You ruined my favorite hobbyandthe moment, all in one go.”
She burst out laughing.“Short-lived, but I’ll take it.Five minutes of love at first sight is better than none at all.”
He wiggled his eyebrows.“Want to try something that lasts longer than five minutes?”
She wrapped her arms about his neck.“What exactly do you have in mind?”
He carried her into the bedchamber and showed her.
Chapter 18
The following year
“You’re back!”Nigel shouted with delight.He ran up to Gloria and threw his arms about her waist in a fierce hug.“Where did you go?”
