Tears fell down her perfect face. Alexander had not prepared any of this but he told the truth and he knew that he was saying the right things.
“Alex—”
“Theo, I am asking you to marry me because I cannot imagine a future that does not have you in it. I am asking because I have fallen, madly, deeply, and scientifically, in love with you.”
Theodora stared at him in utter silence for far too long.
Finally, she whispered, “No.”
Alexander felt the world drop out from under him. His breath stopped as his fingers tightened around the ring box. For a moment, he could not move.
Then Theodora closed the distance between them.
“No, Alex,” she repeated steadily. “You are wrong.”
His brows furrowed in confusion.
She took another step towards him. “You cannot love me scientifically because love cannot be studied scientifically. It surpasses all reasoning. It defies every rule I have ever made. Every observation made no sense unless you were the subject. Every hypothesis led to you.”
Her voice trembled.
“All of this led to one conclusion.” She looked up at him and smiled. “I love you too, Alex.”
He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and felt the tension in his chest break apart. Alexander got on one knee before her and held the ring with both hands.
“So, what do you say, sorceress? Will you marry me?”
She held out her hand and Alexander felt as if he were on top of the world.
“Yes!” She grinned down at him as he slid the ring onto her finger with shaking hands.
“This is outrageous—” Lord Dowell began but Lady Dowell’s joyous laughter drowned him out.
“My darling daughter is getting married!”
Alexander did not take his eyes off Theodora, and she did not take her eyes off him. He reached for her hand, and she let him take it. Her fingers curling around his with a certainty that steadied him more than anything else ever had.
He turned slightly, positioning himself between her and the carriage that was going to separate them forever. He didn’t need to say it aloud, but the message was clear: she was not going anywhere except with him.
Lord Dowell stalked towards them, but his wife blocked him with a look that could have cut stone. “Benjamin, if you try to interfere, I swear I will make your life a misery you cannot imagine.”
Lord Dowell froze and cussed under his breath.
Alexander squeezed Theodora’s hand. “You are coming with me,” he said quietly, not as a command but as a promise.
She nodded. “Are you certain?”
“More certain than you will ever know.” Alexander turned to her parents. “You have my word that I will take care of her.”
“I know you will, Your Grace.” Lady Dowell curtsied and smiled through her tears.
Alexander finally looked at Lord Dowell. “You lost the right to decide your daughter’s future the moment you tried to destroy it.”
His face reddened, but he said nothing.
Alexander guided Theodora towards his carriage.
“Where are we going?” She asked curiously.
