“Are you happy now?”
“Yes, because I rarely win when you are involved and I am going to enjoy my moment of triumph, for I am certain there will be few in the future.”
“It is likely we will not even speak in the future, let alone argue,” Penelope insisted.
He took her hand in his. “I certainly hope that is not the case, Penelope, because the stunning revelation that came upon me is that I have fallen in love with you.”
It was not possible that she had heard him correctly.
“Penelope, I have fallen in love with you,” he said after a moment when she did not respond.
“Is this because you feel that you must do the honorable thing.”
“Because I ruined you?”
“Yes!”
“No, I love you and I want you as my wife.”
His words were even more unsettling than her own realization that she had fallen in love with him. She never thought it would happen to her and she wasn’t certain what she should do. “This topic has been discussed before, but you still have not asked.”
“You told me not to.”
“Yes, well, I did not think…I thought you were just being honorable.”
“I was, at first, but then…” He smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “I realized that it was love.”
He really did love her. They were not just words being spoken so that he could do the right thing. He truly meant what he was saying.
Goodness!
This was…Penelope’s heart started pounding, not certain what to do. “Please excuse me.”
She turned and rushed back into the ball and made her way to the retiring room where she knew that he would not follow.
He loved her.
She loved him.
He ordered her about tonight.
She had not truly minded.
He would not be a tyrant of a husband. It was what she always feared, but that was not Eldridge’s character.
She would be safe with him.
Her heart would be safe with him.
Did she dare trust….
She would be a fool not to.
He loved her. She loved him, so why was she hiding?
Penelope marched from the retiring room, found Henry just inside the doors, and went directly to him. “A moment please.” She then strode right past him and into the gardens. When she turned, she found him directly behind her.
“Marry me.”
