“Oh, Orlando,” she sighed. “Do you not already know that I am deeply in love with you?”
“How could I when you have never told me?” he countered with a grin.
“Nor did you tell me, until today. I feared I was alone in my emotion.”
“Yet, you will not be my wife, why?”
“Perhaps it is because you have not actually asked me. You just stood there and told me how it would be.”
Orlando pinched the bridge of his nose. “I am a bloody fool.”
“I do not believe I can argue against you, dear.”
“Yes, well that was bluster and panic and fear.” He shook his head. “Then you will be my wife?”
“Are you actually asking me this time?”
“I will do this right.” He then dropped to a knee before her and lifted her hand. “Lady Blythe, you won my heart and I love you to the depths of my soul. Would you please consent to be my wife?”
Her smile widened and she leaned in and placed a palm against his cheek. “Nothing would make me happier, Dr. Valentine.” And then she kissed him.
He returned it with much more passion then brought her to the floor with him, and after a quick glance to make certain the door was closed, he went about showing her just how much he needed her. When they were finished and lay panting, Blythe upon him, he smiled. “Please, do not ever stop being wicked, my dear.”
Epilogue
Two Years Later
The Duke of Arscott stood over the bassinet of his newest granddaughter, Adeline, and shook the silver rattle. She laughed as she kicked her legs and tried to grasp it.
“Are you going to be as stubborn as your parents, Addy?”
“We are not stubborn,” Blythe objected.
Arscott snorted then pulled a document from inside his coat and placed it in the bassinet.
“This will be yours one day, or sooner if they reject it,” he whispered.
“What will be?” Blythe lifted the document from the bassinet and read it before handing it to Orlando. “You cannot deed us Seth’s home,” she argued.
“It is not Seth’s. It has never been. He only liked to believe it belonged to him,” her father explained.
“Then who owns it?” Orlando asked slowly.
“You do. Now.”
“I told you that I would not accept a home or anything else from you,” Orlando insisted.
Arscott dismissed him with a wave of his hand, not even bothering to look up from his granddaughter.
“Yes, I know. You are nothing like that blackguard my daughter first chose, all honorable and principled.”
“You say that as if it is an insult.”
“You should not take it as such. My tone was meant to infer that you are a fool.”
“Blythe,” Orlando warned so that his wife knew that his patience was running short. He had gotten past his father-in-law being a duke. He would not be intimidated by him anymore.
“We have explained why we need to support ourselves,” Blythe offered calmly.
