Besides, she’s enjoying this, standing here with his arm around her as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Laughter escapes Rominy’s lips, his chest rumbling against her back, and she follows his gaze. The man with the flowers is kneeling in front of a young woman.
“Is she someone important?” Elowyn asks.
“She looks pretty important to him.”
“Why is he kneeling before her?”
“What? Oh, he’s proposing.”
“Proposing what?”
“Marriage.” Rominy pulls Elowyn closer to his chest, and tiny thrills shoot all the way to her toes.
The woman flings her arms around the man as he rises.
“She looks pleased,” Elowyn says. “I think she accepted his suit.”
“Looks that way.”
“Is this a normal courtship ritual?” Elowyn asks. “Bowing before the woman and...proposing a marriage arrangement?”
Rominy laughs. “It sounds much less romantic that way, but yes.”
“And what does the man say? He hopes she accepts his troth? Is that the word?”
“Maybe when my grandparents were children,” Rominy teases. “It’s an archaic word.”
“Oh. What would the proper words be?”
“I’m not really sure. I never composed a proposal of my own.”
For a moment, neither of them speaks as his words repeat in Elowyn’s head. The sudden desire to experience every part of being romanced by Rominy fills her. A soft sigh escapes her lips before she can stop it, and his heart rate increases. As she glances over her shoulder at him, he steps away, removing his arm from her waist.
“Perhaps it would have gone something like this.” He drops to one knee, never taking his eyes off her face. Her heart races along with his as he continues speaking. “Ihaven’t practiced this, so I may make a complete fool of myself. Bear with me.”
He clears his throat, and Elowyn attempts to hold back the smile that threatens to overtake her face.
“Elowyn Westaria, the first time I saw you, you smiled at me, and it’s a moment I’ll never forget. Your face lit up in the most breathtaking smile I’d ever seen, and I may have panicked at what happened next, but through everything, you’ve been there to steady me and keep me sane. And breathing. Though you steal my breath away a lot, too.”
He pauses to smile up at her, and her breathing speeds up at the look in his eyes.
“I didn’t have a chance to do this the right way,” he says. “And you deserve everything. The romancing and the proposing and flowers and candy and...stars above. I didn’t give you a ring.”
“A ring?”
“I’ll get you one. I promise. Where was I? Oh. You deserve all those things, and I didn’t ask you this before, so I’m asking now. Elowyn, I know we just met, but whether it’s magic or not, I’m...I’m falling in love with you, and I can’t imagine my life with anyone else now. Your curiosity and your compassion. How you melt when I touch your ears. The way you always know how to calm me when my nerves run away with me. You’re gorgeous. And I love everything about you. At least, I’m starting to. And you taste so good.”
He pauses for a moment as Elowyn’s eyes prickle at his words. Who knew Rominy could be so perfectly romantic?
“I probably didn’t need to add that last part. Though you do taste good, so why not?” He shrugs, and she can’t help the laughter that bubbles up inside her. He smiles at her before frowning. “I lost my train of thought.”
“I think you’ve said it all.”
“No, wait. The most important part. Elowyn Westaria, will you marry me? At least, if you hadn’t already marriedme? Will you spend the rest of your life with me? I’d offer you a ring if—”
But she doesn’t wait for him to finish as she drops to her knees and wraps her arms around his neck.
