‘That is surprisingly sensible of you,’ he said, his eyes widening. ‘And what do you mean to do about the matter of the diamonds?’
‘He already knows,’ she said. ‘Grandmother told him immediately upon his arrival. She has decided to leave him to his fate.’ Though it was probably not ladylike to gloat over someone else’s misfortune, she could not seem to stop grinning. ‘And though he seems very nice, I do not think there is anything I can do to help him.’
‘You have spoken to him?’ he said, embarrassed.
‘To find you,’ she reminded him. ‘He said you told him he should marry me.’
‘I thought it was what you wanted,’ Gregory said.
‘I know what I said. I want to know why you said it.’
He rubbed his forehead, feigning confusion. ‘I am still feeling the effects of the brandy I drank after we parted. By the time I spoke to Comstock, I was in no condition to speak to a future employer. It was an act of mercy on his part to send me here. But I seem to recall informing him that you were hoping for a proposal.’
‘I have been hoping for that for some time,’ she said, giving him a significant look. ‘A decent one that has nothing to do with honour or duty.’
Apparently, the hint was lost on him. ‘By God, if you prefer the man, take him. But I will not say another word on the subject of marriage until I am sure you’ve had the offer you were expecting when we met. Accept him or refuse him, then notify me of the results so I might know if my heart will ever be my own again.’
She sat down on the bed. ‘Do you think I would be here, if I’d accepted the offer of another man.’
‘Where you are concerned, I have no idea what to think any more,’ he said, sitting down on the bed beside her. ‘Now tell me what I want to know. Did he offer, or not?’
‘He does not wish to offer. I do not want to accept.’ She smiled at him. ‘I do not want to settle for a man as ordinary as an earl. I would much prefer a man who is truly exceptional.’
‘You deserve nothing less,’ he agreed. ‘As I said before you are an exceptional woman. But what does any of that have to do with me?’
‘I think you know,’ she said.
‘Please reassure me.’
‘Comstock was relieved to find that I loved you. You are his employee now and I am to tell you that you must marry me within the week so that everyone will stop bothering him about me.’
The corners of Gregory’s mouth twitched. ‘I am, am I? And how much will he pay me to do it? For I do not recall marrying you as being part of our original agreement.’
‘You said before that you were too foxed to remember what was said,’ she replied. ‘But we all know that he has nothing to offer you. If you still want me, I am afraid you will have to take me without a dowry. I am poor, you know.’
‘If I still want you?’ The smile he gave her as he said it was the same one he had worn the last time they’d been alone in this room, as if she was the most wonderful thing he had ever seen. ‘I have never stopped.’
Without another word, he slid from the bed and dropped to one knee. ‘But if you will not have me, Hope Strickland, I don’t know what I shall do, for I cannot manage to let you go.’
‘Nor I you,’ she said, smiling back and taking the hand he held out to her and kissing it.
With his free hand, he reached into his pocket and produced a ring, captured her hand and slipped it on to her finger. ‘It is not as big as the Comstock diamond, but unlike them it is genuine.’
She spread her fingers, admiring it. ‘It would not matter if it were real or not, as long as we can be honest about it. How long have you had it?’
‘I found it in one of the shops I visited, when searching for your family jewels.’ He shrugged. ‘I had meant to offer it to you yesterday morning. But things did not go as planned.’
‘Things are going much better now, I think,’ she said, standing and pulling him to his feet.
‘I agree.’ He pulled her forward and wrapped his arms around her waist. ‘So Comstock wishes us to wed within a week? That is very close to the amount of time your grandmother allowed me to secure your hand.’
‘And when you promise to do a thing you never fail,’ she reminded him. ‘Since I do not want to spoil your perfect record, I think it best that we abide by their wishes.’
‘It is too late to marry you tonight,’ he said, with a yawn. ‘And I have not completed nearly as much of the inventory as I had hoped to.’
‘Then I will help you,’ she said with a smile. ‘We have already done the rug. I think, next, we must inventory the bed.’
Chapter Twenty-One
