Sadie’s brows rose.What exactly had been promised? Meanwhile, Lord Heath’s cheeks turned pink.
“Er, no, your highness. You, um, wish to see it now?”
“We do. We find Miss Allen to be an intriguing woman.”
“She is that and so much more, Your Highness.”
“Very well,” the royal said with a pleased grin. “I await your delivery. I expect it shall be pleasing to our ears.”
“Er, yes, Your Highness.” At which point, Lord Heath turned to Sadie. His smile was genuine if a bit strained. Then his gaze seemed to zero in on her face before he went down on one knee.
Sadie gaped at him. “You cannot be serious. Not now. Not in front of—”
“Sadie Allen,” he interrupted. “Would you do me the greatest honor and become my wife?”
A myriad of emotions choked the breath from Sadie’s lungs. All she could think was that he’d said they would not suit. That she was no example for his children. He’d said he’d changed his mind, but the words wouldn’t leave her thoughts.
But before she could voice any of that, the Prince Regent interrupted. “That is not the kind of eloquence that we expect from you.”
Lord Heath blanched, but his shoulders straightened, even as he drew out a ring from his pocket and showed it to her.
“I know I said we would not suit. I know I said that you were not a good example for my girls.” He rolled his eyes. “Lord, I was an idiot. You are strong and vital in ways that make every other woman pale by comparison. If my daughters follow your example, then I shall be the proudest of parents.”
Sadie’s heartbeat throbbed in her throat. Her eyes began to water, but still words would not come through. She loved him, but this—this royally decreed proposal—was not what she wanted. Worse, it felt like the opposite of what he wanted. Lord Heath was a discreet man. He would not do such a public display unless forced.
“Pray do not look around you,” he said, and at his words, she realized her gaze had moved to the prince. “Do you feel this is unseemly? In front of the wholeton?”
She swallowed. “It is not your unusual action.”
“On the contrary,” he said. “When I make up my mind, I am not shy about letting everyone know my opinion.”
“Your opinion? On our marriage?”
He chuckled. “Would you like to know my true and honest opinion, Miss Allen?”
“What?”
The countess huffed from the corner. “Say, yes, you idiot Scot!”
Sadie winced, but Lord Heath caught her hand and drew her toward him. “My opinion on our marriage is this.” He paused, waiting until her attention was firmly centered on him. “I love you. I noticed you early, of course. You are impossible to miss. I thought you beautiful and willful, and so I said.”
“Repeatedly. Except for the beautiful part.”
“My mistake.” He flashed a rueful smile. “My pride got in the way. Truly, Sadie, I thought you so beautiful, it hurt to look at you. It isn’t your face, my love, it’s the fire with which you grab life. You didn’t hold back from helping the ladies who neededyou. You cared not for your safety or reputation in the face of their needs, and for that I honor you. Respect came when I realized you were taking precautions, that you were amenable to common sense.”
“I’m not an idiot.”
“Oh no. You’re smarter than I am about children and women. You saw before I did what’s important.” He drew her closer to press a kiss to the back of her hand.
The touch of his lips sent a wave of heat through her. Was this really happening? Did he truly mean the things that he was saying? Or was he being forced?
It was that last question that made her try to tug him to his feet. He refused to move. If she wanted to look him in the eye—and she did—then she needed to kneel before him. She did so, dropping down onto one knee in a bizarre echo of his position.
“Lord Heath, my reputation is safe now,” she said. “The Prince Regent himself has declared me interesting. I do not need you to rescue me anymore.”
“But I need you to rescue me,” he said. “My life before you was…” He shook his head. “Dull. So dull before you burst into my world. I want your fire in my life. I want your laughter and your touch. I want my children to know you, and I want you as their mother. I want to marry you—”
“Because you love me?” The words were a bare whisper.
