“Do you want to stay in jail?” Moran twisted in his chair, his patience with me at an end.
“Losing your temper won’t convince her otherwise,” Ash said, standing upright once more. “Birdie has her options. If she chooses not to accept our proposal, there is nothing you can do about it.”
“She is just being stubborn.” Moran shook his head, his stark regard full of desperation. “If you marry me, all of this would disappear.”
“You said you aren’t taking the title,” I pointed out. “Marriage is predicated on the premise that you will take the title, which, by your own words, you are abdicating.”
“I will take the title if it means helping you,” he said in a gentler tone.
“I don’t want your pity any more than I want your obligation.” I balled my hands into fists, exasperated by the entire affair. My love for him warred with my pride. For the sake of my heart, I wanted this all over with. Yet I had a sense I would never get over him.
“Moran, tell her everything.” Ash moved from behind my chair to stand beside me. The three of us formed a circle, an invisible bond that tied us to one another.
“What now?” I didn’t think I could take any more surprises. “Did you propose to Mrs. Engel?”
Even the thought of the other woman raised my hackles.
“Bloody hell, Birdie!” Moran hopped to his feet, knocking the chair over. I craned my neck to meet his exasperated stare.“I don’t pity you and I am not asking you to marry me out of obligation. I love you.”
Those three words hung between us. My heart thudded with such force it was difficult to catch my breath. “You love me?”
“Is that a question or a statement?” He palmed the back of his neck, restless energy spilling off him. If he were in his office, he’d be at the boxing bag.
“It is a...” words failed me and I caught Ash’s delighted grin. My own lips turned up and hysterical laughter burst forth. “It is both, I suppose.”
“I don’t see what is so funny,” Moran grumbled.
“Neither do I.” Standing, I clasped his wrists, unable to stop the joy from blooming inside my chest. I threw myself into his arms, the hardness of his torso a welcome anchor. “I love you as well.”
He cupped the back of my head, his fingers sifting into my hair. The tension left his frame and relief softened his features. “I am sorry. I should have told you sooner. Except you said you never wished to marry any man.”
“I didn’t wish to marry just any man for the sake of marrying.” I pulled back, caressing his cheek. “Youaren’t just any man.”
His flashing smile warmed more than my heart. It cut right into my soul. Head tilting, he swept his mouth across mine, his arms tightening around my waist. I wanted to hold him like this forever.
“I will fetch the pastor. The sooner the wedding takes place, the better.” Ash patted my back, a teasing lilt to his voice.
I broke the kiss and turned to look at my beloved friend. He had taken my sisters into his care and helped me out of the kindness of his heart. He was a special man and Suzette was a fool to have let him go. “Beg pardon?” I asked.
“I brought a pastor to marry us.” Moran offered me a sheepish smile.
“You were sure I would say yes?” I wasn’t sure if I was amused or annoyed. If he hadn’t confessed his feelings, he would have been wrong.
“You two need some time to talk. I will be right back,” Ash said before leaving us alone. The soft click of the closing door brought home another truth.
“I wasn’t sure of anything except that I love you. I didn’t want to admit it, even to myself.” Consternation furrowed Moran’s forehead. “You claimed to be in love with Frank, the mysterious and fictitious Mr. Worth, and I couldn’t compete with a dead man. Then you said you wouldn’t marry and...” he shrugged. “I can’t stomach the idea of you being in jail a day longer than necessary, especially as this is my fault.”
“It isn’t your fault.” I laid my hands on his chest, unable to stop touching him. “Nor could I stomach you taking the title for the sole purpose of saving me. You might not be in a jail with bars, but you would still be trapped in a life that you didn’t want.”
He entwined his fingers with mine. Earnest amber eyes looked into my soul. “If you marry me, you will be in the same jail.”
“I have always been a lady. It never hindered me. Being awomanhindered me, but being aladybenefited me. I am educated, and having fallen on lean times, I miss the days when I wanted for nothing. Selfish, yes.” I had to be honest with him and with myself. With a trembling smile I said, “Except, something important was missing and I didn’t realize what it was until I met you.”
“I will be honest, your accusations made me think long and hard about the title. I can’t run from my past, and if I do, my indifference will hurt many people. If that makes any sense.”He placed a kiss on the corner of my mouth, his lips warm and gentle.
I closed my eyes, yearning to be closer to him. “It makes perfect sense. Birth blessed you with what most dream of. I, too, fall into that category. No matter how far we run, it will always be a part of who we are.”
“If you say yes, you will be the next Duchess of Moreland.” Moran continued to trail his mouth down my jaw, his hand on my bottom bringing me tight into his groin. “Having been away from that world for longer than you, I will need your skills at organization.”
