The words echoed in Selina’s mind, but they didn’t seem real. Free? How could she be free? She had spent the past few days preparing herself for loss and ruin and even death. But this?
She’d never been prepared for this.
Robert cleared his throat. “Do you have something you’d like to discuss with me, Derrick?”
Selina caught her breath as she realized what he meant. And when Derrick’s handsome face broke into a grin, she thought she would shatter into a thousand pieces right there.
“Yes,” Derrick said, catching her hand. “Your Grace, I would like your permission to ask for your sister’s hand.”
Robert smiled and then glanced at her. “Do you desire the match?”
“With all my heart,” she said swiftly. “But—”
“But?” Robert laughed. “Dear God, this man just rode two days for you, nearly surrendered his honor and probably believed he was going to be shot. What else must he do to prove himself worthy?”
“Nothing,” Selina said with a smile for him. “He will never have to prove his worth. But I will. And I can only step into my own future if I believe my family supports me. You say you don’t blame me for my past. Will…will Katherine ever forgive me?”
“My dear,” Robert chuckled. “Who do you think sent me along on this wild chase in the hopes you would find true love? My wife could never hold a grudge. And when she understands all that happened, I know she’ll tell you so and celebrate this marriage with as much joy as she did Morgan’s last year.”
Selina bent her head. “Then Iamfree. If this gentleman desires my hand, even though he knows all my faults, I could never want anything more in this world than to be his wife.”
“Excellent,” Robert said, and patted her cheek. He shook Derrick’s hand. “Then I’ll leave you to the rest of the details. We’ll talk again in the morning.”
“You don’t want to argue and protect my virtue?” Selina called out as he exited the room.
His snort as he closed the door was his only response.
And suddenly she was alone with the man she loved. He came around to sit on the settee beside her, his gaze focused on hers. “Marry me?” Derrick asked.
It was so simple a question. And she didn’t need more than that simplicity. After all, they had already endured, said all the rest of the words that needed to be said because they feared the future would part them.
Now that they knew it never could, there was only one word.
“Yes,” she whispered as she cupped the back of his head and brought his mouth to hers. “Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.”
Epilogue
One month later
“You have never looked more radiant, and that is saying something,” Katherine said as she kissed Selina’s cheek, and then positioned her veil more firmly into the beautiful crown of hair the maid had been arranging.
Selina looked at herself in her mirror, and the joy that had been overtaking her all day rose up once more.
“I’m ready,” she whispered.
Katherine led her from the chamber and down the long hall. Her heart skipped as they neared the ballroom, where friends and family were gathered for her wedding.
Robert stood at the door, looking devastatingly handsome. Katherine paused to kiss him before she squeezed Selina’s hand and slipped into the ballroom. Music lifted behind the door, a signal it was time for them to join the others.
Robert took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. “Ready for your next adventure?” he asked.
She laughed as the door opened. Her brothers were near the front of the room. Morgan with Lizzie, beaming. Nicholas leaning on his cane, his smile a bit more subdued, but certainly filled with support and pride. Barber sat beside him, his expression clear, as if he had no doubts about what they were about to do. She had come to see him as a friend in the past few weeks.
But really her eyes were only for Derrick in that moment. He stood waiting for her, his face bright with joy and love and emotion to see her in the last moments she would be Miss Oliver. Mrs. Huntington would leave that room with him.
“I think my adventuring days are over,” she said softly.
Robert guided her up the aisle with a laugh. “Oh no, dear sister. I think you’ll soon see they’ve only just begun.”
