Lady Sheffield tsked admonishingly and then invited him in, ordered a tea tray, and asked him to tell her all the details. Leaving out some of the more alarming parts, Michael relayed what Lilly had told him. It was astonishing, really, how she’d managed to escape down the tree and flee from both Hawthorne and the fire. He knew she was going to feel guilty when learning of the man’s demise. News had arrived in town this afternoon that the earl had, in fact, perished in the fire. She would not be insensitive to a man’s death—any man’s death. Michael remembered how he’d felt when he had first realized he’d killed another human being while in combat. The man he’d shot had been an enemy. If Michael hadn’t killed him, he would have been killed instead. It didn’t do much to tell oneself this. The guilt remained forever.
Lady Eleanor explained to him Lilly was fast asleep and had been for four hours now. Glancing at his watch, he figured he could use a bath himself. He wasn’t tired. He felt energized. He had an idea and was eager to follow it through.
“I’d like to return this evening, Lady Eleanor,” Michael said seriously. “I would like to ask for Lilly’s hand.”
Lady Eleanor nodded and said, “I will tell her you are coming and that she should be prepared to receive you.”
Awakeningand lying in her bed, Lilly took a few moments to remember all that had happened over the last twenty-four hours.
He had come for her.
But what did it mean?
Sighing loudly, she sat up and stretched her aching limbs. No matter what, she would not allow any further self-pity. She had made it through the previous day’s events alive!
Nothing—no scandal, no guilt—was ever going to steal her peace again. If, and she was more certain each day, she was carrying Michael’s child, she would claim it as a gift.
There was a light knock on the door, and Lilly bid the maid to enter. Betty relayed that her aunt had declared this evening’s meal to be a celebration and requested that Lilly dress formally for dinner. After putting her aunt through so much worry the day before, Lilly was more than happy to comply. Rested, but slightly bruised, Lilly allowed Betty to pull her hair up and curl the loose tendrils that fell softly on her neck. Lilly donned the golden dress she had purchased with Lady Natalie. In dainty silk slippers, she descended to the drawing room where her aunt awaited her.
Lady Eleanor was not alone.
Michael rose from the sofa when she entered. He wore black and white evening attire, a perfectly tied cravat, and shoes buffed to a high sheen. It looked as though his butler had attempted to force Michael’s hair away from his face with pomade, but a few straight, heavy black locks had already escaped and fell along the side of his face.
A bouquet of peach blossoms lay on the small table beside him.
He strode forward and then bowed deeply over her hand.
Lilly didn’t move. She thought she ought to pinch herself in case she was still sleeping and this was a dream.
Aunt Eleanor had risen as well and was standing at the doorway. “I shall leave the two of you alone for a few moments. However,” she added, “I will leave the door open, and I will be eavesdropping, of course.” She smiled lovingly at Lilly and winked as she left the room.
For despite her words, the door clicked softly behind her.
Lilly rolled her eyes and laughed a little self-consciously. She certainly hoped her aunt was not expecting an announcement from the two of them. Michael was still engaged to Lady Natalie!
How she loved him, though.
He reached into one of his pockets and, still holding her left hand in his, dropped to one knee.
What was he doing? Surely not! Tears stung her eyes. “Oh.” Lilly covered her mouth with her free hand.
“Lilly,” he began, gazing deeply into her eyes. “I know I am late. I know you waited for me—nine long years ago—only to be disappointed.”
She was shaking her head though. No, she didn’t want him to blame himself for not coming. He’d had no choice.
“I made the biggest mistake of my life when I let your father take you away from me. I was an idiot, a young fool…but,” he continued, “I realize, now, there is nothing more important in my life than you. Making you happy is the only thing in the world that will make my life worthwhile.
“I love you, Lilly Bridge, Lilly Beauchamp. I love the person you were nine years ago, and even more, I love the woman you have become. Will you do me the greatest of honors andbecome my duchess, my wife?” He lifted a ring to her as his eyes waited for her answer.
“You are free to give yourself to me?” she asked, thinking he would never ask if Lady Natalie would be hurt by his doing so.
“I am,” he said, “I am free to love. Free to live.” And then, “Will you be mine?”
Lilly nodded as tears flowed down her cheeks. “Yes,” she said softly. She didn’t know how this had become possible, but she believed in him. If he said he was free, then it was so.
Michael slipped the spectacular ring onto her third finger and then rose. As he wrapped his arms around her, she slid her hands over his chest and around his neck. With his face buried in her neck, his words were slightly muffled. “You needed a hero, and I wasn’t there. I was a goddamned duke and didn’t do a thing to help you. And then yesterday, again, you needed saving, and I wasn’t there to save you. I couldn’t even be your hero then.”
But Lilly had tilted her head back so she could look into his eyes. Swallowing hard, she placed a finger on his lips. “I don’t need a hero.” She spoke earnestly, for she would never have him feel guilty for this again. “I don’t need a knight in shining armor. I don’t even need a duke. I just need the man I love. I just need you, my love.” She placed her lips against his. “My Michael.”
