“Ally.” He said her true name, and she looked up, amazed at the power it had over her to hear her true name on his lips. “I found your poem.”
Her heart fluttered in her chest.
He reached his other hand into the pocket of his frock coat and pulled it out. “I have kept it close ever since, unable to part with it. You’re a finer poet than I am.”
“No. No, I’m not.” She moved towards him, far closer than she should have been for propriety. On instinct, her hand lifted, her fingers curling around the edge of his waistcoat just to be near him. “I just wanted you to understand, Marcus, just how much I love you. How sorry I am. That if I had known –”
“I know.” He cut her off with a smile. She was so stunned to see that smile after so long that her stomach clenched hard. “I should never have let you walk out of my door, Alaina.”
“You mean you … you forgive me?” she asked breathlessly. “Despite the lie?”
“I forgive you if you forgive me for letting you go in the first place?” he said in a rush.
She laughed for a moment, tears springing to her eyes. She could scarcely believe what was happening, for she had dreamt of it so much in her dreams.
“I love you, Alaina.” His voice was clear now as he bent towards her. “You. This woman before me. I love you.”
“Marcus – I love you too.” Her hand slid up his chest as he moved his hand across her waist, pulling her to him. They kissed in the rain, his lips moving against hers slowly and sensually. When he playfully bit her bottom lip, begging for entrance, she parted her lips and let his tongue take control of her. It grew heated, their bodies pressed together in the rain.
Her mind was filled with what more they could do together again, but now was not the moment. Maybe he loved her, but it was not enough.
“Marcus,” she whispered, pulling back from their kiss as he opened his eyes. “I have no money. I don’t have a shilling to my name. You need a dowry –”
“Hang the dowry.”
“What!?” she spluttered in amazement. “Marcus, you need the money.”
“Then I’ll find it another way. Gregory is right; I would be miserable married to a woman I did not love for the sake of the money, but with you at my side …” He paused, smiling at her. “I would be eternally happy. Marry me, Alaina? Marry a poor duke?”
Her lips parted in wonder.
Could this be happening?
Then his hand slid further across her waist, reminding her that this was no dream but perfect reality.
“Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you,” she said in a rush.
“Thank God for that.” He pressed his lips to hers again, and they sank into their kiss, hands wandering all over one another in desperation to stay connected. When they pulled back, they were both smiling wildly, and this time, happy tears streamed down Alaina’s cheeks, mixing with the raindrops. Marcus raised his hands and brushed away those tears. “No more crying, Alaina.”
“Ally. Call me Ally,” she pleaded, and he smiled again.
Chapter 23
“What will he say?” Alaina asked in panic as the four of them scrambled towards the door of the earl’s house in the rain.
“He’ll be furious!” Caroline declared, coming up behind Alaina, her hand in David’s.
Alaina glanced at the two of them. She didn’t need to ask to see that whatever conversation had passed between Caroline and David they had made up. Judging from the way that David kept looking at Caroline, he admired her all the more for having the courage to take her future into her own hands.
“He will not see you,” Caroline said in realization, turning to face David. “He will still want me to marry the duke.”
“Then we take this one step at a time.” Marcus took control and nodded at David. “David, go back to the townhouse here in London. I shall see the earl now and ask for his blessing to marry Alaina. Once I have it, we’ll work to put you forward as a wealthy suitor for Caroline.”
“Wealthy?” David spluttered in alarm. “Look at me, Your Grace. He’d never allow me to have Caroline’s hand.”
Caroline smiled as Alaina had never seen her smile before, clearly thrilled to hear David say he wished to marry her.
“Leave that particular problem to me for now.” Marcus nodded once again at the road. “Quickly, go before he sees you today. We must take this slowly if we are to all get what we want.”
