“Yes,” she said. “She does.”
“Marry me.”
Chapter Twenty
If Sarah hadn’t already been sitting on the floor, she would have fallen over as that simple statement fell from Kit’s lips. Not a question, but a statement.Marry me. Two words, and yet she felt like they had flipped her over on her head.
“You…I…” She shook her head. “I don’t understand, Kit.”
He reached out and took her hand. His fingers traced over the webbing between her forefinger and thumb as he said, “Marry me. Please. This situation with Hannah could stretch on for a very long time. She dragged it out with my father for months, hiding my sister from him. We can protect her better if we are man and wife. We’ll have more options.”
She nodded slowly, to indicate she understood, for he seemed to need her to show him that she did.
“Phoebe loves you, Sarah. And you can’t deny that we have a…” He hesitated, and she found herself leaning forward, praying for him to say the words she so needed to hear in this charged moment. “We have a connection.”
She fell back against the wall, trying not to allow disappointment to overtake her. Yes, they had a connection. And they would use it for Phoebe. That’s what he wanted, not anything more. It wasn’t what she hoped for when she’d dreamed of a proposal in those girlish days before she had experienced loss and disappointment.
Before she’d wanted love from this man so much that it rocked her to her very core.
She pushed it aside. What he offered was the life she wanted. Not perfect, perhaps, but she would be with him. She would be with Phoebe. No one could take either one of them away from her.
“Yes,” she said softly.
Relief flowed over his features and he rested his head against the wall for a moment before he nodded. “Good. Very good. I’ll arrange a special license as soon as possible. And we’ll want to tell Phoebe.”
He got to his feet, then held out a hand for her. She took it, her skin tingling as he tugged her to her feet. She stumbled forward, into his arms, and they stood together in the hallway, bodies locked. His smile widened and she returned it.
He dipped his head and his mouth was on hers. She opened to him, pushing aside her doubts, her fears, her disappointments. She would marry him. They would be together.
And that would be enough. It had to be.
Kit smiledas Phoebe came into the parlor, her hand in Sarah’s. She looked rested after her nap and completely oblivious to both the drama about her mother and the news about to be shared with her and with Diana and Lucas.
Sarah brought Phoebe to the settee, where she settled herself in next to Kit. Then Sarah took a place beside her and he drew in a deep breath. “Did you sleep well, poppin? All happy dreams?”
Phoebe nodded.
“Good,” he said, and glanced toward his friends. Diana’s brow was wrinkled and she was staring between Kit and Sarah with concern lighting her pretty face.
He ignored it. “I have some news, Phoebe, that I think will make you very happy.”
“News?” Lucas repeated. “What news?”
Kit glanced over at Sarah and she nodded slowly. He cleared his throat. “Sarah has agreed to marry me.”
There was a stunned silence from all parties in the room. Diana’s lips parted in shock and Lucas flinched. As for Phoebe, she stared up at Kit and then she smiled. A wide, happy grin that lit up her face before she spun to Sarah.
“Marry Kit?” she squealed.
Sarah laughed, though Kit noted her eyes were not quite so happy. “Yes, darling. I hope that is all right with you.”
Phoebe had begun to dance and she squealed again. “Yes, oh yes!” She turned back to Kit. “I knew it. I knew you would love her. And now we will be a proper family. She like the mama, and you the papa.”
Kit stomach rolled. “You know I would never try to take the place of Papa.”
She nodded. “A different kind, though. Oh, Sarah, I’m so excited!”
Phoebe flung herself at Sarah, who caught her with a laugh. She cuddled the little girl into her arms, and Phoebe sank her head onto Sarah’s shoulder. As Sarah held her, her gaze slipped to Kit and they held eyes.
