As she wondered what to say she saw a flurry of green feathers and a kingfisher flying down the bank. She recalled their first meeting in this same woodland grove and how she had felt a connection with Marcus that very first day.
When she turned back, she found herself gazing, into the earl’s intense honey-brown eyes.It was impossible to look away.
What was it Jocelyn had said about Lord Ludlow? That when she was close to him that it felt like home. As she melted into Marcus’ gaze, she knew she had found her safe harbor and refuge from the stormy seas of life. This feeling that she had come home.
“Marry me,” he said. “I can’t live without you.”
Before she knew it, she smiled and said simply, “Yes.”
Olivia gasped with surprise as she heard the words come out of her own mouth. She had fully intended to say ‘no’. Yet her answer felt right, and Marcus drew her into his embrace.
“Dearest, delightful Cendrillon” he murmured, as she felt his breath close to her ear. “I’ve dreamed of this day for so long.”
His lips found hers, and everything spun around as her lips tentatively responded to his. They stood alone together apart from the world around them.
All that mattered to her was the need to be held close in his arms. She clung to him, wondering if she would ever feel steady again. She reached for his hand, and he responded by stroking her palm gently, before lifting his hand and running it through her hair. She gasped as she felt the tiny kisses along her forehead and hairline.
“You’re so beautiful, and I mean that all of you is beautiful,” he told her. She gasped as she felt tears of joy forming in her eyes as he kissed the damaged skin to the side of her face.
Olivia felt a warm, melting sensation spreading through her mind and body like soothing balm, as she relaxed in a safe haven of love.
***
When they arrived back at the Abbey, Marcus raced into his study and re-appeared with an antique wooden box.
“I’m not going to give you chance to change your mind,” he said laughing and took her hand and slipped an exquisite, glistening, moonstone ring onto her finger.
“It was my grandmother’s ring,” he said. “Do you like it?”
“I do, very much. It reminds me of the shimmering surface of the lake.”
They ate a quiet supper with the duke and duchess, and Jocelyn. Jocelyn was so excited she could hardly sit still.
“We’ve decided not to discuss our engagement in public yet. It is partly because we do not want Lady Cressida to gloat about forcing us into marriage. We’re going to leave it a fortnight before making the announcements,” said Marcus.
“I’ll tell Marianne, and Uncle Harold,” Olivia said. “It isn’t a secret. We just don’t want to announce it formally yet.”
“And I’ll visit and speak to him as soon as I get to London in about ten days’ time. I plan to travel to town with Colin,” said Jocelyn.
“We’ll be in London before you then,” said Olivia. “And it makes sense to announce this when we are both in town.”
“My dear Olivia, we are both delighted to welcome you into our family,” said The Duke of Hargrove.
“And I am so looking forward to having a daughter,” added the duchess.
Olivia felt tears welling up in her eyes and embraced them both. She could hardly believe that Belvedere Abbey would soon be her home.
***
After a few days at Leighton Manor, they returned to London. Olivia had been glad to have the time with Marianne, and the chance to walk quietly on the Leighton estate. She felt content, yet exhausted, after all the emotion of the last few days. Marianne held back from discussing wedding plans, and limited herself to looking at Olivia’s ring and saying it was one of the most beautiful that she had ever seen.
As soon as they arrived back in London, Olivia spoke with Uncle Harold. He surprised her by kissing her on the cheek and telling her that he hoped she would be happy. “Marcus, the Earl of Hatfield, will come and speak with you as soon as he returns to town.”
He soon began to talk of Silverton Hall and his visit there. Olivia listened to all he had to report about the new furniture, and artwork, which he was purchasing for the newly rebuilt wing.
When she settled by the fire in the library to go through her correspondence, she was surprised to find at least six messages from Mr. Rawlings, the family solicitor. She vaguely remembered her uncle had mentioned that Rawlings had been trying to contact her.
There had been a letter too. She had pushed it into a drawer and forgotten all about it and so she went to find it.
