The clinking of metal against glass reminded him that they were not alone. In fact, they were far from alone.
Crawford and his duchess were standing on the edge of the ballroom floor and were demanding the attention of all their guests.
A handful of servants scurried quietly around the room, handing out glasses of champagne.
“I’d like to propose a toast.” Crawford raised his glass halfway. “Just a little over a year ago today, I returned from having spent nearly a decade aboard ship, engaging in battles, fighting various wars. But even here in England, we can lose those who we love on any given day.
“But this evening is not a time to dwell on our fears or the tragedies of our past. But to celebrate love. And so, I lift my glass in a blessing. To the betrothal we have been so very lucky to witness here tonight, of one of my dearest friends, Gabriel Fellowes, most honorable Earl of Kingsley, and dear sister of my beautiful duchess, the lovely Miss Olivia Redfield. May they know love, and joy in the years, nay, the decades to come.” And then he lifted his glass high, in Gabriel and Olivia’s direction. “Felicitations to my sister, and to my dearest friend.”
“Here! Here!”
And everyone in the room echoed with, “Felicitations.”
Exactly as Gabriel had planned.
* * *
“You wouldn’t rather sit down?”Olivia held tightly to Gabriel’s arm as he led her out to the terrace behind Crawford’s Mayfair mansion. After spending the last hour receiving the congratulations and best wishes from most of Crawford’s guests, Gabriel wanted nothing more than to be alone with Olivia.
His fiancée.
The Dowager Duchess of Crawford had given him a long stare and distinctly suggested he not take longer than thirty minutes when he’d excused them both to take some air.
He would have liked to place his other hand over hers but needed it to use his blasted cane. “You’re getting a sorry bargain, Olivia.”
“Oh, I think not.” The laughter in her voice warmed him, and she leaned into his side. “Is this a dream?”
They stepped onto a flagstone path, walking in a direction that seemed to lead to relative privacy. “Knowing you has been a dream. I am only too happy to make you my reality.”
“And to think I nearly lost you last month.” They strolled slowly, in no hurry and with no particular destination. “What of the promise you made to your father? I don’t want you feeling guilty for all of this in the future. I don’t want you to feel as though you have failed him.”
Ah, the promise.
“He was happy in the end. He was at peace. I spoke with my mother yesterday. She said she never felt quite right about it, but since I never complained, she did not wish to alter my course. I told her about my plan to ask you to marry me. She bestowed her blessing, by the way.”
“You knew Miss Shipley was going to jilt you?”
He would have no lies between them. Only truth. “I asked her to.”
“Oh! Gabriel! I hate to think I will gain my happiness at her expense.” She exhaled a small sad sigh. “I like Miss Shipley.”
He chuckled. “As she does you. She was more than happy to release me.”
“She was?” He could hear the smile in her voice. “I’m so glad! I must admit that I never was quite convinced she held you in great affection.”
“You wound me, my love.”
Olivia laughed. “But it is a wonderful thing!”
“It is.” He could not argue with such a manner of thinking, especially with the prospect of a life with this minx.
“But wait, you planned all this? Crawford knew?”
“As did your sister. And my brothers. And the dowager duchess.”
She stopped and stared up at him looking really, very adorably stunned. She shook her head. “I don’t know what to say!”
“Say you are happy?” She would be his to protect, his to make happy.
