If only she could pull Anthony aside. Wasn’t Cornelius nearby when Abby and Nicolas were abducted and when the lab blew up?
Anthony nodded and stood. “With that settled, I’d like to speak to Miss Thornealone.”
Rachel gaped.
The Duke of Rutland nodded his assent and escorted the reticent, Aunt Margaret, who dodged a wink at her, and Sebastian closed the doors behind them.
Anthony knelt in front of her and her heart went to her throat. “I think I know what you are going to say, but”
He pressed two fingers on her lips. “You will listen and let me voice what I need to say.” His blue eyes were breathtaking in their intensity, deep sapphire blue. “I love how you drag me out in the cold and snow, making me aware of the simplest things that I’ve long taken for granted. I love how you wind your hair around your finger when you are thinking. I love how you temper my strong-willed nature, putting me back on track and pointing the right way with my experiments. I love how that brain of yours works. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your lemon and lavender scent on my clothes. I’ve been lonely all my life and now realize when you meet someone that is the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, you want it to begin as soon as possible.”
Unshed tears scalded her eyes, coming deep from the soul’s well. The greatest treasure of her life, she’d have to give up. There was a disturbance in the hall, but Rachel was wound so tight with emotion, the commotion seemed a million miles away. Silence filled the room and the time seemed never-ending. Her body shook with the strain, ripping her insides.
She stroked his hair, swallowing an upsurge of sobs. “That was the most beautiful proposal any woman could have been offered, Anthony. But I cannot marry you.”
He frowned, the confusion in his mind flashed across his face. “Why? Tell me you don’t love me.”
She swallowed hard, not trusting her voice. “It’s because I love you, Anthony, I’m turning you down. You are the heir, the next Duke of Rutland. I am a Colonial, far from the pedigree you need to have at your side. I am unable to fill those shoes. Your family would forbid it.”
“Pedigree be damned. I don’t care what anyone thinks. I want you, Rachel.”
“You are not thinking clearly. I will go. You will find someone who suits you.”
He stood up holding her hands. “You are a woman who is bent on pleasing others. As long as everyone around you is happy you pretend all is well, concealing your despair and guilt while supporting the wretched status quo to reject your true desire. Let me make you happy.”
She pulled to free her hands from his, but he held firm.
“If I become duke, the well-being of the tenants and the estate depend on my sound judgment. If my brother returns, I will need help and a clear head to continue my experiments. All those things depend on my state of happiness. I could never be happy without you, Rachel, and I want to have a family with you.”
“No, Anthony.” She shook her head, trapped in a lonely world, a longing for connection, a hidden cry to be possessed.Impossible.“I’ll be leaving within the week.”
“Then I’m forced to do something to prevent you.”
Rachel froze. “What are you going to do?”
He strode to the door, yanked it open. In fell Aunt Margaret, clutching her swaying ear horn to her chest. Anthony’s father straightened his waistcoat. Behind them, Sebastian inspected an area of the ceiling that suddenly needed his scrutiny. Rachel put her hands on her cheeks. They had heard every word.
Anthony looked them dead in the eye. “I have compromised Miss Thorne and shewillmarry me.”
Dying from the mortification over what they had heard was bad enough, but this added humiliation? All she could do was stare at Anthony. He’d gone mad. Oh, to pound every unpredictable bone in his body.
The duke spoke. “I will correct one misconception, Miss Thorne. You will be averywelcomed addition to the family. I would be very proud to have you as a daughter-in-law.”
Aunt Margaret tottered closer, planting herself next to Rachel before she could bolt. “You will marry Anthony.” She leaned in, spoke low and confidingly. “We could discuss the bath in the new bathtub and the day spent out in the laboratoryalone.”
Rachel widened her eyes. “You wouldn’t.” How wily the old woman was.
“I would,” confirmed Aunt Margaret. “We want you to stay.”
“Before we go any further,” Anthony said, pointedly looking at his aunt’s ear horn. “Do you really need that contraption?”
She puffed herself up like a peacock. “Of course not. For someone so smart, my feigned deafness took you long enough to figure out.” She waved a hand dismissively, and then pivoted to Rachel. “Abby sent you here for Anthony. It was her plan. The duke, and I, with a little help from Sebastian, created an environment where two extraordinary and lonely souls who were meant for each other had time to develop a romance. If you want to blame anyone, blame Abby, but she had both of your hearts in mind.”
That these three knew all along? That they had conspired with Abby and they wanted her as part of their family? Rachel turned and blubbered into Anthony’s shirt. His strong arms automatically enclosed her.
He held her face in his hands. “You haven’t answered me. Will you marry me?”
“Oh Anthony, you are the light of my heart. Yes. A thousand times, yes.”
