She rolled her eyes. “And youare. No, you ridiculous man.” Picking them back up, she shook the letters under his nose. “About these. Whatever you choose, I will support you. But make sure it’s what you want. Not what others expect. Including me.”
Oh God, how he loved this woman.
“Trust yourself, Colin. What does your heart tell you?”
He stared at the letters much longer than Anne could probably tolerate. But she remained quiet and waited. “The MP position.”
The most beautiful smile lit up her face like the early morning sun creeping across the horizon as it did the morning he went searching for willow bark. “Then you should write Mr. Sedley back immediately.” She glanced back at the letter. “It says he thinks I should accompany you.”
Damn.“I would be proud to have you on my arm, but only if you wish to. Don’t think for a moment that I would expect you to do anything you don’t?—”
She cut him off with a kiss. A long, sensual, and satisfying kiss. “Haven’t you learned anything, Lord Grumpy-Trousers? I never do anything I don’t want to.”
EPILOGUE
One week later . . .
As Colin sat at the desk in his study and read the letter from his father, Anne held her tongue and observed every nuanced tic of his jaw and crease of his brow. Unable to remain silent any longer, she moved behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Although her position provided an opportunity to glance at the lines of the missive, and although she was perhaps atinybit curious, she did so more to provide comfort to her husband than to sneak a peek at the contents of the letter. “Is he terribly angry?”
Colin peered over his shoulder, and the love in his green eyes pierced through her. He’d become exceptionally skilled at giving her goo-goo eyes. “Furious.” A smile tipped his lips as he tossed the letter onto the desk.
“You find his anger . . . amusing?” My, how her husband had changed!
“He’s more upset by the bland diet and the order for no more gooseberries Harry insisted upon than the fact the Crown has thrown out our petition for the writ. He seems to completely dismissthe evidence that changing his eating habits has greatly reduced his stomach pains.”
“But wouldn’t that mean the writ would be unnecessary even if you had pursued it?”
Colin rose and took her in his arms. “Most likely, but it doesn’t matter to him. He only views it as me not bowing to his will.”
“You don’t seem upset by that.”
“I won’t deny that part of me feels like I’ve disappointed him, but I’m learning to accept my failures. Thanks to you.”
After wrapping her arms around his neck, she drew him to her. “There is one thing you succeed at every time. Kiss me.”
He kissed her as if challenging himself to see how much he could befuddle her mind, clearly enjoying his success.
“Ahem.” A male voice rudely interrupted Colin’s demonstration.
Rather than breaking apart awkwardly, Colin ended their embrace by providing one final peck on her nose. “Yes, Alan?”
Still in Colin’s arms, Anne smiled at the former footman who now served as their butler in training.
“A letter has arrived, sir.” Alan’s gaze remained fixed on the silver salver before him. “It’s from Mr. Sedley.”
Anne’s stomach tightened. The results of the election.
Colin slipped his arm from her waist and plucked the letter from the tray. He blew out an audible breath and exchanged glances with both her and Alan.
The day after the election, Colin had been down only a handful of votes, the tally so close, Sedley demanded a recount, cautioning Colin to wait to concede.
Both she and Colin had several sleepless nights and anxious days awaiting the results. Sedley promised to write as soon as he had confirmation.
Colin broke the seal and read.
Anne didn’t need to ask about the contents. As Colin slumped into his chair, his dejected expression answered the unspoken question.
Colin’s opponent, a local merchant named Jefferson, had won the election. “Thank you, Alan. That will be all.”
