She nodded. “I knew that. And it shouldn’t matter, but it does,” she said. “I—”
“And so do you,” Greys interrupted. “Matter—greatly—to me, that is.” Greys couldn’t stand it if she kept on believing she couldn’t hold her own as his wife. It was important that she believe the two of them were not so different that they couldn’t find a way to be happy together.
“Do you know why you never feel as though you quite belong? It’s because you don’t fit in just anywhere. You, my love, fit ineverywhere. You are not like so many people who only exist in one world, who are like planets rotating around the only sun they’ve ever known. You are your own sun who brings light with you. You, little one, have a unique ability to fit in wherever and with whoever you want.
One of those tears lost its hold on her lashes and rolled down the gentle curve of her cheek.
“But that’s only one of the reasons I fell in love with you. It doesn’t matter where you come from, where you live, or who your family is… because you, Diana, you are more than all those things. You are… Diana.” Greys held his breath, aching for her to understand.
Aching for her to forgive him and to…
By God, she had tolove him back!
His knees nearly gave out beneath him when he watched as that luscious mouth of hers stretched into a wickedly teasing smile.
“You think I would make a good marchioness?” Greys could have burst into tears. It was ridiculous. But he was not afraid to admit that he was utterly, thoroughly besotted.
He leaped onto the stage and lifted both of her hands to his mouth. “An excellent marchioness.”
She blinked slowly and then drew their clasped hands from his lips to hers. “I’m sorry, Zeke, I’m so very sorry.”
He shook his head. “You have nothing to be—”
“But I do. It wasn’t fair of me to assume the worst about everyone—about you. You told me once that you thought I was brave, but I haven’t been brave at all. Instead, I think I’ve been shallow and cowardly and—”
“Hush.” He couldn’t listen to her berate herself for a second longer. He took her into his arms. “I love you.” He held his breath, waiting to hear her say it back, but didn’t have to wait for long.
“I love you, Zeke. And I’m so sorry I pushed you away.” She frowned. “I suppose I had to learn for myself, though, that belonging isn’t about what I am doing, or where I live, or even who my parents are. It’s about us, isn’t it? About you and me, and what you and I are willing to do to make each other happy.”
She tilted her mouth up to his invitingly. “My kiss belongs to you.”
It was the invitation he’d been waiting for all his life.
She loved him. The thought ought to be terrifying. It ought to invoke nightmarish memories of his parents and the chaotic nature of their life together.
But knowing she felt the same, none of those things mattered. As he explored her familiar taste, his heart soared. He wound his arms around her, holding her tightly against him. She was right. What they shared wasn’t about either of their pasts. It was about their futures.
Their future—together.
He broke the kiss and drew back. “So, this means you’ve changed your mind about marrying me?” He went to drop to his knee again, but she tugged on his hands.
“You don’t need to do that.” She was laughing.
“But I do. I want to make this right.”
She shook her head. “It already is.”
What mattered most in his life had finally become crystal clear. The stars didn’t need to line up perfectly, he didn’t need always to be impeccably proper, and he certainly didn’t require anyone’s approval of this woman but his own.
Because she, quite simply, brought him joy.
“I love you, Diana.Will youmarry me?” He dipped down to peer into her eyes.
