“Lady Anna, will you ride on Lord Perish’s behalf?” she asked.
“No, I d-dare not. I don’t like to r-ride fast.”
Rupert’s intense gaze made Delia’s stomach sink. Terrified he would ask in front of the others, she walked swiftly away, not caring whether Lady Anna came after her. The gardens would offer refuge.
In the midst of the fragrant flowers, he found her.
She held up her hand. “Do not ask me. There are other female guests, and any one of them is a better rider and thus a better choice. At least one of them will brave Lady Lillian’s wrath and ride for you.”
“I don’t want any of them. I want you. You have done so well in our lessons all week. You shall beat her because we will pick out a horse with heart and spirit to match yours. All you must do is give the animal its head.”
“IfIlose, you will forfeit your horse.”
He smiled. “I’ve learned in the past fortnight there are things more important than horses.”
She blinked up at him. He was going to make her do this. Thus, there was no point in fighting, not when they could be kissing.
Before that thought flitted from her mind, she was in his arms. His mouth upon hers roused all the sizzling sensations in her body. They had swived twice in the night before she’d awakened alone. Now she knew about this mysterious age-old custom, Delia was ready to do it again.
When Rupert drew away, she sighed. “Being ravished was far better than I imagined.” she confessed.
“Ravishing you was precisely how I imagined. Monstrously good! And I want to do it for the rest of my life.”
His green gaze held hers, and she would vow her heart stopped before speeding up.
“What are you saying?” Her voice was little more than a whisper.
“Will you marry me, Lady Delia Barnaby?”
Chapter Thirteen
Was he serious?Delia wondered. Surely, Rupert had felt desire for women before, and even to the same degree as he felt for her. Yet he hadn’t askedthemfor their hand.
Why her?
He put a hand to her chin and held her steady. “I can see you are thinking thoughts that are untrue. I have never felt this way about a woman before. Desire, yes,” he acknowledged, “but never the passion that flares between us. I know it has been a ridiculously short time, but I have fallen for you,plant lady. In truth, I love you.”
It was happening so fast, yet she was unable to deny the depth of her feelings for him.Could two souls fuse so rapidly?
“I love you, too,” she confessed. “I cannot imagine not loving you, nor going back to a life without you.”
“Then we are of the same mind. If you allow me, I will speak with your father when we return to London. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Indeed, I shall.”
“And will you be my jockey?” he asked.
Still, she hesitated. “What if I lose?”
“We have made a match against all odds, so we have already won. Lady Osbourne will be thrilled to learn of it. I believe her cousin is coming to the ball to learn of her success or failure.”
“Somehow Lord Crenshaw knew you would choose me,” she guessed. “Perhaps because you were my defender from the first evening.”
“The man is an ass,” he declared. “But our dancing thrice did not escape him, it seems.”
Delia nodded. “Lady Lillian thinks I cannot ride any better than what she witnessed a week ago.”
“She, too, is an—”
