The two of them looked so damn worried, Bullhadto smile.
Och, bless ‘em. So innocent.
“Well, Rupe, that’s theeasypart,” he drawled, the fingers of his left hand beating a tattoo against his knee. “The Hawthorne family might be barely accepted by Society, but as the fiancée to a Duke’s heir, Allie would be protected…”
For as smart as the dobber was, it took Rupert a moment to understand what Bull was saying. His gasp was echoed by Allie’s as she caught onto Bull’s meaning.
Bull’s grin grew as Rupert’s expression hardened into something like determination and he slipped from Allie’s hold to lower himself to one knee beside the sofa. He took her hand and gazed into her eyes.
“Marry me, Allison?” he whispered in a hoarse voice. “Not just to protect you from scandal, but because you are the most perfect woman I could possibly imagine. You’re kind and brilliant and beautiful and you make me laugh. I love you.”
Allie’s mouth opened and closed a few times, her shockedgaze darting around the room. “Rupert, I—you are under no obligation to?—”
But when Rupert reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box, she gasped again.
“A ring?” Allie squeaked as Rupert opened it. “You have been carrying around abetrothal ring?”
“Maybe. I’ve been waiting for the right moment,” Rupert confessed, pulling the sparkling jewel from the box hopefully. “Although I kept it in my front pocket, because Bull has explained to me how easily it is to have something stolen otherwise. He used to be an award-winning pickpocket, you know.”
Allie was clearly confused—or possibly in shock—as she glanced between the ring, Rupert, and Bull. “Award-winning? There are…awards?”
Taking pity on her, Bull shook his head. “Nay. And I dinnae do that sort of thing anymore.”
In fact, each time one of his family members referenced his childhood talent, the skills he’d perfected to make sure he couldn’t be ignored, he felt… Well, there was still pride there, aye, but shame as well. As a lost child, friendless and almost familyless, stealing trinkets from the pockets of those around him had been his way of gaining notice. But that was a long time ago, Bull told himself. He’d spent two decades building himself into the sort of man who didn’t need that sort of attention…hadn’t he?
Rupert, however, wasn’t aware of how his casual comment had affected Bull. He was still on his knees, his smile still hopeful, as he waggled the ring box. “Ahem.Please say yes, Allie.”
Bull eyed the ring. That thing wasn’t just aring; it was a monstrosity from the Peasgoode vault, covered in diamonds with a ruby the size of a quail egg. When Bull’s stepfather had become the Duke of Peasgoode he’d inherited the estate jewels, and it seemed Rupert was finally putting them to use, since Bull’s mother Felicity refused to wear them.
She claimed they got in the way of her experiments, Lord love her.
But Allie’s gaze had locked on that ruby—quail egg? It was the size of achickenegg—and now she slowly looked into Rupert’s eyes. “Really, Rupie?”
Rupie. Bull managed not to snort, reminding himself that he was witnessing something beautiful and meaningful and special,et cetera et cetera.
“I love you,” his brother whispered to the young woman.
The young woman who promptly squealed and threw herself into the waiting man’s arms. “Oh, Rupie, I love you so much! Yes! Yes, yes, I will marry you!”
Bull murmured, “Oh, bravo, congratulations,” but doubted the pair of them—whose lips were currently locked together—could hear him.
So he sat back with a sigh.
Another couple marrying. Not just any couple, but his brother and the woman everyone could see was perfect for him. Before long, judging by the almost horizontal kiss before him, it would be bairns.
So what was this hot, knotted feeling in Bull’s stomach? Surely it wasn’tenvy?
Why would he beenvious?
He had never had any interest in tying himself to one person; he’d spent the last two decades meeting, befriending, and sometimes loving the most fascinating people Britain and Europe had to offer. He had friends in every walk of life, from dockworker to royal princess, and saw no need to nail himself in one location, to one adventure, to any one person.
So why are ye staring into the fire instead of at their happiness?
Bull scowled, telling himself it was becausenoone needed to see how enthusiastic the kissing was getting.
Ye’re a shite chaperone.
His lips curled, thinking of his sister Honoria and the adventure they’d taken to London all those years ago to kidnap her now-husband from prison. Bull had been a shite chaperone then, too, but it had been worth it to gain Crowe as a brother-in-law.
