“Nothing to see out here, folks.” The earl waved the others back to their rooms while Jasper closed the door, effectively cutting off the grumbling and murmurs of complaints.
The silence was unnerving.
And wearing nothing but her night rail, Nia stood in the dark, staring at him, barely able to make out his face in the moonlight filtering through the curtains.
“You didn’t come.” She was the first to speak, wishing she could make out his expression. Then, forcing her limbs to move, she began searching around the room. “There’s a flint here, somewhere.”
Jasper’s voice caught her. “I didn’t read your note until it was too late.”
She froze and turned around.
“I was afraid to,” he said.
“You were afraid to?”
“You left. I thought you’d gone on to Standish’s country estate and I didn’t want to read an apology. But you had every right. I took advantage of you.”
“No. No. No!” She shook her head. “It wasn’t like that. You know it wasn’t like that.” He stood just a few feet away, and she nearly threw herself into his arms.
But what did this mean? He’d come. He’d turned around and come back to Gretna Green. But he had not met her at the blacksmith’s.
And then he finally put her fears to rest.
“I love you.” So simple.
Nia squeezed her eyes closed. “Say it again.”
“I love you.”
She nearly burst into tears for the thousandth time that day when he took her into his arms.
Jasper suddenly surrounded her—his taste, his scent, his body. She lifted her hands to drag her fingertips through his hair as his mouth found hers in the dark.
And he was here. Kissing her. He’d told her he loved her!
“I’ve wanted to marry you all along.” She barely managed to speak in between his kisses. Like every other time before, her body ignited at his touch. Her limbs turned to molten liquid, and all she wanted was to be closer.
“Wait,” he gasped. “We need to talk. We should have talked before.” He released her suddenly, and she realized he was searching for a flint. “God, I’m an idiot,” he murmured even as she watched the spark and then a candle flicker to life.
Nia began to shake, but not because she was cold or scared. She’d just awoken from a restless sleep and wasn’t sure that this was real.
Did dreams really come true like this?
They must, because Jasper was here, moving about the room, lighting candles until wispy flickers warmed the furnishings in a golden light.
And she watched him, strong and coiled, looking more gorgeous, even, than before.
“You love me,” she said.
He paused and slid her a look. A look that said he knew her. A look filled with promise.
And she didn’t have to wait long before he crossed the room and then dropped onto one knee. “Marry me, Nia. Not because you have to. Not because I need you. Marry me because we were meant to be together. Marry me so that I can spend the rest of my life loving you. Make me the happiest of men in every possible way. Will you? Marry me?”
Swallowing hard, she nodded. “Yes.” And then, taking his hand, she helped him off the floor. “That’s what I want, oh, Jasper.” She touched his beautiful face.
Jasper didn’t kiss her right away but walked them together and pulled her to sit beside him on the bed. “God, when I read that note—you cannot imagine. I was thrilled to learn that you loved me but realized I only had half an hour to cover ten hours’ distance.” He buried his face in her neck. “I was terrified you’d give up on me.”
“I nearly did.” Oh, but she had. Hadn’t she? “But you are here.”
