His question surprised her. She hesitated. “I don’t know.” There was a pause between them.She remembered his palm on her breast and how it felt to have him inside her. “Lady Woolfolk claimed the Duke of Winderton is interested in Lady Alice Pinwood.”
He made a face. “Pinwood? I’ve never heard of her. There are mothers who will spread rumors. I have no control over their behavior. I’m not promised to anyone.”
He placed his hand on her arm, almost as if he feared she’d reject him. “Holbert was very thorough with his fists. I came as quickly as I was able.”
She swallowed. She’d feared he’d been in danger. But now, here he was in front of her. But was it him? Or was he now changed?
There was a beat, and then he said, “I knew you would be here.”
“And so you chose this public place?”
“I could see you here or go running around the city tracking down Brogan’s residence. This seemed quicker. Do you believe me? Do you trust me?”
Trust.He’d used that word. There had been a time Elise had trusted everyone. Even her father. She was not so naive any longer.
As if reading her mind, he sank down to his knees in front of her. His hand slid down her arm to her hand. “But here is the true reason I’m here tonight, Elise. I’m in love with you. I fell in love with you, well, perhaps from that hour you blackened my eye. I admire your spirit, your courage, and your audacity. I promised myself that onceI found you again, I’d not waste time in telling you what is in my heart. You are intelligent and generous and I need you in my life.
“I need someone to walk with me in this life who sees my shortcomings, my occasional silliness, and the things I do right, as well. Someone who can hold a mirror to me and help me be the person I am meant to be. SomeoneIcan trust.
“That person is you, Elise. I need you. I need your honesty. I need your heart. I need your warmth and your fearlessness. I need you to serve as a conscience and prod me into action.
“Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? And, yes, that means you will be my duchess. It is a weighty title, but together, we shall find the joy in it.”
He loved her.
Elise lowered to her knees in front of him. They were equals. That was what he was offering. This man understood her, knew her, and loved her anyway.
Her heart filled with joy... because at last, she’d found where she belonged—with him whether he was a duke or a ditch digger. He was the one.
“I will be honored to be your wife. I love you to the deepest depths of my being.” And then she added, because she must, “I might even listen to you if you are my husband.”
He shook his head. “I’m not looking for an obedient wife but one who will challenge me, Elise.”
“Then I am the woman for you,” she promised and he laughed, as she knew he would.
And then, he kissed her. Right there in front of everyone in the polite world, and she kissed him back.
A cheer went up around them. The doors had opened and too many people had covertly moved outside and overheard the proposal, including her sisters and Tweedie. They were the first to surround her with well wishes, and to introduce themselves to the man who would soon be the newest member of their family.
Kit helped her stand, but he kept his hands lightly, protectively on her shoulders.
Lady Woolfolk was happily preening over the success of her ball, what with the Duke of Winderton proposing in front of the gathered company. She seemed to have forgotten her claims about Alice Pinwood, and Elise did as well.
“There is someone I wish you to meet,” Kit said. He motioned for an older woman to join them. Elise knew immediately that this was Kit’s mother. He favored her with his gray eyes and bearing.
The dowager smiled at Elise. “You have given me back my son. I don’t know if I can thank you enough.”
“Your Grace, I have done very little—” Elise started. The dowager cut her off.
“Nonsense. Love is the best tonic in the world. Love him, Miss Lanscarr. Pour love into him,and I pray he does the same for you. It is a gift to marry a man you can respect. Now, why don’t the two of you lead the next dance?” She placed Elise’s hand into Kit’s and gave them a small nudge toward the doors.
And as Kit led her into the ballroom, they walked by the Byrne sisters and their mother. The look on their faces was pure spite, but it didn’t matter.
Elise wasn’t marrying a duke. She was marrying the man she loved. And she prayed the Byrne sisters would someday be as happy as she was.
***
The Duke of Winderton’s public declaration to Elise made the Woolfolk ball the talk of the Season. Mayhap the decade. Many debutante hopes had been dashed by the loss of the “young” duke, but there were just as many people who could not wait to brag that they had been there.
