“He’s a rogue. A scoundrel. A-a…”
Hero and Ian both held their breath, hoping that with his loss of words, Beaumont would also lose interest in the subject, as was his wont. But they weren’t so lucky. “A scalawag!”
“Your grace,” Ian began, but she spoke again.
“Papa, really. Stop this nonsense right this instant.”
“Nonsense?” the duke thundered at her. “You think it’s nonsense to protect my daughter’s person and honor from a cad such as this?”
“Yes!”
But Ian interrupted with a resounding “No.”
Hero turned to him with wide, disbelieving eyes that quickly turned to pleading. “You’re not helping. He’s serious, you know.”
“I know.” He cast her a tender smile before turning to her father. “Your grace, if you would allow me to put this to rights? Instead of a duel for Hero’s honor, perhaps I might instead ask you for the honor of allowing me to pay my addresses to your daughter.”
“Ian,” she squeaked in surprise.
Beaumont did not seem to share her astonishment at all. Instead he nodded gravely as if that had been his very thought all along. “Just so, Lord Ayr. I knew a man of your integrity would do as duty demands.”
“It is no duty, your grace,” Ian answered, waiting to see if there was anything further that Beaumont cared to add.
The duke only waved his hand impatiently. “Well, get on with it then, lad.”
It was a difficult thing to begin an impromptu proposal not only with an audience but with the subject of that proposal staring at him as if he had suddenly grown two heads. Hero was shaking her head at him with a dazed expression that denied the turn of events.
She wafted a hand back and forth between them helplessly. “You don’t have to do this, Ian. Just because…”
“No one is forcing me, my love.” Beaumont cleared his throat impatiently, and Ian threw him an exasperated glance. Turning back to Hero, he searched her wide eyes for some encouragement, but her usually vivid eyes were almost glassy with shock.
Certainly not how he’d envisioned this moment.
Taking her hand between his, Ian smiled down at her. “I know these last couple of days haven’t allowed us an opportunity to speak of what I said in the caves. It may have been rash and unexpected but I do not regret saying it. I love you, sweet Hero. I know our time has been short. I know some might think me insane, but I do, and you have said you love me as well…”
“When did this all happen?” Beaumont interjected, but Ian just cast him another more impatient look and the duke subsided, taking a step back and waving imperiously for Ian to continue.
“I didn’t intend to do this under these circumstances…or with an audience.” A grin lifted the corner of Ian’s lips. “But I did intend to do it. It is the right thing to do.”
Hero knew that he didn’t mean only that it was the right thing to save her honor but that it was also the right thing for them both overall. As if he knew that this had always been the inevitable outcome of their meeting. Still, she was still flabbergasted by his announcement. “I’m just so surprised.”
“In my experience, doing the right thing usually has the tendency to astound some while it gratifies others,” her father intoned solemnly. “I am, of course, one of the gratified.”
“Harry, please,” Ian said with exasperation, “I can take it from here.”
The duke raised both hands defensively, taking another step away, but leaned in quickly once again to add, “You do have my permission to kiss her now, though…should it become necessary.”
“Thank you, Harry,” Ian said, and shook his head as the duke walked away, smiling benignly.
Turning back to Hero, he saw that her wide-eyed expression was still firmly in place. “What say you, my love? Are you going to keep me on pins and needles?”
“I’m just so…”
“Surprised. I know.” He grinned down at her though some reservations had begun to worm their way inside. Not doubt that she loved him, but doubt as to whether that love extrapolated in her mind as it did in his. Into a life shared. He’d never been one lacking in confidence. A large portion of his life had literally been spent standing in the line of fire. What was it about this woman that cast him into doubt?
He knew the answer even as he questioned himself. More than his pride and satisfaction was riding on her answer. More than a broken heart. It was his future. His life. Something he had never known he could desire so much, need so much. Hero might carry him to the highest mountain with the joy of an affirmative answer, but a negative one…
“It is too soon,” he said, turning away.
