“We’re eloping,” he growled against her lips and kissed her deeply.
She pulled back and giggled. “I’ll clarify. You choose from the options you mentioned before. Gretna Green wasn’t on the list.”
“Damn the list.” He kissed her quickly.
“Your choice.”
“You’re a menace.” He chuckled against her skin as he pulled her close into a warm embrace.
“And don’t you soon forget it.”
“You won’t let me. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. What’s that quote…” He arched a brow.
She quirked one brow in question.
“‘All is fair in love and war.’” He kissed her lingeringly and then tugged her hand as he led her up the stairs.
Elizabeth laughed. “Certainly words we will live by.”
Thirty-four
New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common.
—John Locke,An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
The evening of the ball, Collin was breathing epithets aimed at his sister. He’d tried all day to see Elizabeth, but his pest of a sister had kept her cloistered under the guise of preparing for the evening.
He didn’t buy that lie for a moment. It was about making him wait. But the hardest part was admitting that she was right because waiting for Elizabeth was always worth it.
“Why does this seem familiar?” Rowles handed him a glass of champagne, eyeing him over the glass before he took a sip. The party was well attended, for the end of the season, and he’d been given many questioning glances. It was, after all, his engagement ball and his betrothed had yet to make her entrance. Collin swore under his breath once more at the person at fault, his sister.
“I was going to ask you the same question.” Collin took a sip of the chilled champagne, its bubbly flavor teasing his senses, although it was nothing compared to Elizabeth’s kisses. Waiting be hanged, he wasn’t going to practice patience while the banns were read and announcement in theTimesall took their time. No, one kiss and he’d made up his mind.
Because he wasn’t a patient man, and Elizabeth was too tempting for his sanity and for his honor.
Yes, it was certainly the wiser choice to get a special license. Of course, it helped to have a duke or two—he raised a glass to Quin who was grinning at him from a few yards away—in his pocket to help motivate the clerk at Doctors’ Commons.
“What has you all serious?” Rowles asked, regarding him curiously.
“Just thinking about the quickest way to the altar,” Collin replied with a wicked smile.
“Ah.” Rowles chuckled. “That.” He grinned. “That is certainly a sentiment I can understand.”
“Yes, well, remember the ‘sentiment’ you’re referring to is my sister, and I’d rather not think about that…at all…ever.” Collin grimaced.
“What a lovely sentiment it is…” Rowles took a sip of champagne.
“And may I offer a change of subject?”
“I will. Consider it an early wedding present, not discussing your sister’s finest qualities.”
“Dear Lord, save me.”
Rowles continued. “I find it delightfully amusing that you’re searching for the quickest way to the altar, when only a few weeks, maybe a month ago, you were doing everything in your power to keep away from one.”
Collin speared him with a glare. “It makes a difference when you meet the right person.”
“Yes, that I can agree with. But it’s still amusing, the complete change in you. Except that’s not all. Your sister and I—”
