Valentin nodded, feeling a tic in his jaw as Hortense jumped to his mind. “It’s for the best. I will speak to my privy council the following morning when I’ll have full authority to do what I wish.”
“Then we’ll discuss it no further until then…except for one more thing.”
Adam’s expression had grown quite somberas he handed him the button, Valentin slipping it into the pocket of his trousers.
“Since Estelle’s father is not here, I believe you have something quite important to ask me.”
“Yes, I do,” Valentin agreed as solemnly, though he felt again like the impetuous suitor for having overlooked the proper formalities. “Lord Linley, if you would grant me the great honor of Miss Estelle Easton’s handin marriage.”
“The honor is ours, Your Highness, after everything you’ve done for us. The honor is truly ours. You have my permission.”
Now Adam did clasp his hand, and so warmly that Valentin swallowed hard against the moisture in his eyes as wild elation filled him. Good God, how could he possibly keep this news a secret even for a few days when he wanted to shout it from the highest tower?
“Go on, then.”
Valentin looked at Adam in confusion for a moment, until a smile of understanding spread across his face. He was already halfway to the door when Adam called out behind him.
“Don’t forget the—”
“I know! A chaperone! Robert, where are you?”
***
Estelle sighed as she pulled the covers snugly around her, watching as Mattie finished tidying up after helping her with a spongebath and to don a fresh nightgown.
She was so grateful her lady’s maid had promised to keep quiet about her wedding plans, and had appeared thrilled to be let in on the secret. Mattie smiled now as she came closer to the bed.
“Will there be anything else before I leave you to rest for a while, Miss Easton?”
Estelle shook her head, what she wanted so desperately at that moment not in Mattie’spower to grant her.
After everything that had happened, she longed to see Valentin! She wanted to look into his eyes and tell him herself that she was fine…and to thank him for once again rescuing her in the nick of time. If he hadn’t wrested the knife from Gaston, she didn’t want to think of what might have occurred—
“May I come in?”
Valentin!
Overcome by happiness to hear his voice and seehis handsome face, she nodded at him and held out her hand as he came to the bed while Robert took up a position just inside the open door. Mattie clearly must have changed her mind about leaving because she joined him, looking up at Robert shyly.
“There, you see,” Valentin said with a broad smile as he grasped Estelle’s hand and inclined his head toward the door. “Our two chaperones, everythingas proper as it should be.”
Estelle stared at him in wonder, never having seen him look so relaxed or so happy. Truly happy! He bent over to kiss her hand, but only briefly, the warmth of his lips upon her skin thrilling her more than she could say. Then he released her and pulled a chair closer so he might sit next to the bed.
She couldn’t stop staring at him, or him at her, his smile fadingto a look of such poignant intensity that she felt her breath still.
“I heard from your brother-in-law that you suffered no grave injury.”
“Yes, I’m fine, truly!” she blurted, able at last to reassure him just as she’d longed to. “A little sore, but Adam said I’ll be able to attend your coronation and the ball. Oh, Valentin, once again you saved my life! You were so very brave—”
“I’d say youwere the brave one to hurl yourself from your horse as you did…”
He fell silent, clearly finding it difficult to speak for a moment, while Estelle felt emotion clog her throat, too.
“Valentin…in the woods. Gaston told me a terrible thing he did to you, so terrible. He said he burned you—”
“Gaston is dead and won’t trouble us anymore, my love. We’re free of him forever.”
She nodded, his tenderendearment just what she’d needed to hear at that moment.
