“I am French?”
He nodded. “You are from a family called the Saint-Bonnards.”
Dimity listened as he talked, his eyes holding hers as he spoke. When he had finished, she looked away.
“And now you love me?”
“I loved you before.”
“No, you didn’t. You love me now because my blood is suddenly blue.” She tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
“Stop the carriage!” he bellowed, thumping a fist on the roof.
“Wh-What are you doing?”
He didn’t speak, just opened the door and dragged her outside behind him.
“Your arm!”
“Is fine.”
“What’s the problem?” Zach said, sounding testy.
“She doesn't believe I loved her before I knew she was a Saint-Bonnard,” Gabe said loudly to the men who all sat astride horses looking exhausted, as was she.
“Lord Raine—”
“Shut up.” He glared at her.
“I will not.” He placed a hand over her mouth.
“Tell her I told you I loved her before I knew who she was.”
“He did, Dimity,” Michael said. “We got that confession out of him on our way to the duchess’s house today. And that was before we knew Ombrage had taken you.”
“Ouch!” She’d bitten him. “Tell her, Nathan,” he said, shaking his hand.
Each of them told her that Gabriel had said he loved her before he knew her identity.
“Now get back inside.” He pointed to the carriage, and the look in his eyes had her obeying.
He watched her as they started moving once more. Walter snored at her side.
“I love you, Miss Dimity Brown or Charlotte Elise Saint-Bonnard—”
“Is that my name?” she breathed.
“It is, and you come from a noble French family, but if you didn’t, I would still love you and ask you to marry me.”
“You asked me to be your mistress.”
“Forgive me for that.” He reached across the seat and lifted her, lowering her to his lap.
“You have a bullet hole in your arm!” she protested.
“Marry me,” he said softly. “Be my wife, Dimity. Only with you can I truly be myself. From the start, I felt something for you but fought hard against it. You challenge me and make me a better man. Say you’ll be mine, love.”
“I won’t let you control me like you do your siblings.” Her heart seemed almost too big for her chest now.
