“It has!” With a shout of laughter, he caught her up in his arms and swung her in a circle. She clung to him, also laughing. Then he gently set her back on her feet and kissed her. This time neither of them held anything back. The kiss went on and on, and he realized dizzily that not only was Sarah his best friend, but her sensual responsiveness set his blood on fire.
He had to catch his breath after releasing her. “Let’s go down and announce our betrothal to any of the guests who remain and are awake.”
“Some of the husband hunters will probably still be dancing. They’ll not be happy to find you’ve made your choice.” With a hint of mischief, Sarah added, “I will try not to gloat about the fact that the plain librarian has won the prize.”
“You’re not plain, I’m not a prize to be won, and you’re too much a lady to gloat openly,” he said firmly. “But a smile of modest satisfaction would be acceptable.”
“I will be very modest,” she promised, “butverysatisfied!”
Rafe took her hand and turned to the steps, then looked down in surprise at the sound of a feline yowl.Mroowp!A very long black cat with white paws and whiskers was rolling acrobatically across the landing, paws waving.
“It’s the Black Rogue!” Sarah exclaimed as she bent and scratched the cat’s tummy. “You’re looking very happy, Sir Rogue. Have you heard that there are lobster patties in the kitchen?”
An even louderMroowp!sounded as the cat rolled even more wildly, his long legs slashing around him. One clawed paw caught Sarah’s skirt. As she laughingly disentangled him, Rafe studied the cat thoughtfully.
“Sir Rogue, do you have two forms, one of which is a ghost cat who locked me in the attic?”
Mroowp!The cat rolled again and sunk one set of claws into the toe of Rafe’s well polished shoe. “Cats never give straight answers,” Sarah said thoughtfully. “But I suspect that he may be one of the matchmaking ghosts who brought us together.”
“If so, you have my sincerest thanks, and there will always be treats in the kitchen for you and your friends.” Rafe inclined his head to the cat respectfully. “Shall we now descend, my love?”
She smiled and tightened her grip on his hand as they started down the stairs, lit by the lamp that Rafe had retrieved from the floor.
Pleased, the BlackRogue watched them as they descended. With a swift flicker of light, Lady Fluff emerged from the wall and condensed to her normal size. “Well done, Sir Rogue! You have succeeded in your mission!”
“I could not have done it without your advice and guidance,” he said. On the landing below, the humans paused and kissed. The Rogue asked, “Did I really drive him to his doom?”
“Doom comes in many forms. Rafe Delafield had been wounded in his spirit. He didn’t feel as if he belonged in his ancestral home, so coming here felt like a sentence of doom and he’d never be happy. I knew better, of course,” Lady Fluff said complacently. “He’s a sound lad and he’s always loved cats. This castle and the book lady are his fate, and a very happy fate it is.”
The Rogue thought about that, then nodded. It made sense. “But why do they press their mouths together like that? It seems odd.”
“Because they enjoy it,” Lady Fluff said. Turning her head, she began licking the Rogue’s neck. “Just as cat-kind enjoys this.”
Her gentle tongue on his neck sent a shock through him that ran from his whiskers to the tip of his tail. “I…I see,” he said a little unsteadily. “Thank you for the demonstration, my lady.”
To his regret, she stopped licking his neck and said, “Let’s follow them down in stealth mode to see the final act of our mission.”
Liking the idea, he nodded and the two of them proceeded down the steps on soundless paws.
Rafe and Sarahpaused for another kiss on the final landing before starting down to the ballroom. He contemplated a lifetime of kissing Sarah and couldn’t believe how lucky he’d become. When they finally ended the kiss, he said, “Just as you didn’t believe it was possible that we might marry, I never thought it would be possible that I would someday rule here as the lord of Castle Carrollton, much less be glad about it. Yet here we are!”
She smiled up at him. “Who says dreams don’t come true?”
Clasping hands again, they descended the last steps and entered the ballroom. There were fewer guests than earlier, but as Sarah had predicted, there was still dancing because most people didn’t have many opportunities to dance and didn’t want the evening to be over.
As they entered the room, Lady Cynthia Howard spotted them and broke away from her dance partner to approach. “Lord Carroll!” she cooed. “When you disappeared, I thought perhaps you were resting from your long journey from London. I’m so happy that you’ve returned to us!”
Rafe noted that she still didn’t quite look in his face and she totally ignored Sarah. “I wasn’t resting, I was courting my future countess.” He smiled dotingly at Sarah. “Have you met Miss Sarah Wesley?”
Lady Cynthia stared at Sarah, aghast. “But she’snobody!And…and she hasfreckles!”
“Sarah is very much somebody,” Rafe smiled peaceably before raising their joined hands and kissing her fingers. “She’s the love of my life and soon she will be the Countess of Carroll. Now excuse me while I announce our betrothal to Lady Carroll.”
Geoffrey and Molly Milton emerged from the group of dancers, both of them beaming. “What wonderful news!” he exclaimed, as Molly hugged Sarah. “You’re perfect for each other, and you always have been.”
The other guests looked shocked, but most also looked pleased, except for the more determined husband hunters. A path opened in the crowd and Rafe escorted Sarah to the table where his great-aunt was still holding court.
Rafe bowed to his aunt as Sarah curtsied. “My lady, your plan has been successful. I have found my bride among the lovely ladies here at the castle. Of course you already know Miss Wesley.”
