The front parlor was a pretense and everyone knew it. Mrs. Weatherby had given her consent from the moment she’d glimpsed him.
The only person whose opinion mattered on the subject was Priscilla.
“Take me to Miss Weatherby, please,” he said firmly.
The butler knocked on the closed door to her drawing room.
A cacophony sounded inside. “Grandmother?”
“Mr. Middleton to see you,” the butler responded.
The cacophony ceased and the door swung open.
“Thaddeus?” she said in wonder. Her parrot sat on her shoulder.
The butler discreetly took his leave.
“May we speak privately?” Thad asked.
She motioned him inside and shut the door.
“Tea and cake?” squawked Koffi.
“Shh.” Priscilla upended the contents of what appeared to be a snuffbox onto the closest windowsill.
Koffi immediately began to dine upon the crumbs.
“I wasn’t sure…” Priscilla bit her lip as she gazed up at Thad. “I’m glad to see you.”
“I left things unfinished,” he said. “Now I mean to finish them.”
He had never been more terrified. He wondered if this was how mountain climbers felt, when they dangled from a rope halfway up a cliff. If things went well, they would become the hero of the story. But if things went badly…
“I love you,” he said. There. He’d got the most frightening part out first. He ignored the racing of his heart and pushed on. “I want to share the rest of my life with you.”
Her eyes flew open wide.
Thad rushed on before she could speak. This was his only chance.
“There is no fate,” he said, the words coming faster. “You taught me that. I’m here not to make my own destiny, but to forge one together. You and me. Husband and wife.”
She bit her lip.
“I know my limitations,” he said quickly. Best to admit the worst bits first. He swallowed hard. “I’m not rich. I can’t promise you endless expeditions and escapades. But I’ll do my damnedest to fill our lives with as much adventure as a man in love possibly can.”
Her gaze didn’t leave his.
“‘Happy ever after’ isn’t something that happens to us when we least expect it,” he continued, heart beating faster. “It’s a future we make for ourselves. Something we work toward together. Happiness we deserve because we’re creating it for each other.” He stepped forward. “You are the only adventure I want.”
She opened her mouth.
He stopped her, his heart pounding. “Almost forgot the most important part.”
Her gaze was unreadable.
“Miss Priscilla Weatherby…” He inhaled shakily and dropped to one knee to gaze up at her. “Will you marry me?”
Chapter 12
