They were the heroes of their own story.
Chapter 16
Priscilla stood in the middle of the street, arms in the air, holding the book aloft.
After a lifetime of trying to stay out of sight and away from wagging tongues, she was now singlehandedly causing the scandal of the season.
She had stolen a carriage to come shout from the street… with no shoes, half her hair curled, and her heart at her feet. There was only one man she could not let get away. She didn’t want to waste another moment without Thad by her side.
If he still wanted her.
He’d been staring down at her with an aching mix of love and hurt and hope and doubt.
Belatedly, she realized she’d forgotten the most important words of all.
She tucked the journal back under the squab and hiked up her hems in preparation for sinking to one knee.
“Thaddeus Middleton,” she began.
Before she could so much as bend, he dropped from the balcony and landed on his feet before her with a slow, devastating smile.
“Wait,” he said and pulled her into his embrace. “It’s my question.”
She wrapped her arms about his neck and held on tight. “My answer is yes.”
He grinned at her. “I haven’t asked you yet.”
“You asked yesterday,” she reminded him. “And the answer is yes. Yes today, yes tomorrow, yes forever. I’m yours for as long as you want me.”
“I’ll want you forever,” he said and touched his forehead to hers.
Thunder crackled overhead and the sky fell down to greet them.
Priscilla pushed a matted tendril out of her eyes and blinked up at the rain. “Maybe we’ll see a rainbow.”
“Who needs to wait for that?” Thaddeus answered and slanted his mouth over hers.
This kiss was different than all the rest. It wasn’t shy and exploring, or bold and adventurous, but sweet and sensual. A mutual claiming, a romance of tongues and a meeting of hearts.
There was nothing to prove. Just joy to share. She loved him. He loved her. They belonged together. This was the first day of forever.
He swung her up into the carriage.
She blinked down at him in surprise. “What are you doing?”
“We,” he said as he hoisted himself up beside her, “are going to do things right.”
He made a gesture toward the front door of his townhouse, where his maids had gathered to watch the proceedings.
A footman came loping over. “Yes, sir?”
“Follow us in the gig, please,” Thaddeus instructed him, then turned to give Priscilla another kiss. “This is my chance to officially ask for your hand while your father is still here.” He stroked the satin squab with obvious reluctance. “And also return a stolen carriage.”
She grinned at him. “I’m not sorry.”
“Neither am I,” he admitted, grinning right back.
They were halfway to Grosvenor Square when she remembered she hadn’t told him the entire story.
