His gray eyes softened. “I see the future clearly, sweetheart. And I welcome it. If you will share it with me,” he said. “I love you dearly, Laura. I don’t seem able to live without you. So, will you please marry me?”
“Yes, darling, yes, I will.” Her voice hitched and tears came to her eyes. “I love you. I have wanted no one but you.”
“It’s become clear to me I loved you from the first time we met, which resulted in that shameful bargain I made with your brother,” he said huskily. “A way to see more of you. When I believed I could have nothing more, I might have at least had that.”
“It was a very good bargain you made, darling,” Laura said. “For we got to know each other.”
He shook his head. “I was an unmitigated, selfish fool. It could have ended badly.”
“But it did not, so please don’t be so hard on yourself, and kiss me again.”
When he drew away, his eyes brimmed with tenderness and love. “How will your aunt take such news thrust upon her without warning? We’ve had no courtship. I expect she’ll be shocked and wish to know the details of how we met. Naturally, we cannot tell her, my sweet.”
“I am very fond of Aunt Gertrude. I’d hate to make up a story.” She thought for a moment. “I shall say when we met months ago, we were drawn to each other but could not marry because of financial obligations. I am sure our engagement will delight her.”
His lips quirked up. “She won’t object to you marrying the Phantom Earl?”
She knew her aunt would be happy for her. But she wouldn’t be so easily put off about how it had come about. Laura would handle that when the time came. Aunt Gertrude appreciated a good romance. She had discovered her aunt’s Gothic novels, and the much-thumbedPamela, or Virtue Rewardedby Samuel Richardson, on her bookshelf. “You are no phantom, darling. You are real,” she murmured, raising her chin for another kiss.
Debnam groaned against her mouth, his hand firm and warm on her waist. After a moment, he drew away, took a deep sip from his brandy glass, and stood. He offered her his hand. “We must do this properly, Laura. I can weather unwelcome gossip, but I won’t have you subjected to it.”
“I suspect gossip will always follow us, Brendan. But may it be the right kind.”
His big hand holding hers, they walked back. She didn’t care about her reputation nearly as much as he did, and she would have liked to stay in the library much longer, but she allowed him to lead her into the bright lights of the smoky, noisy ballroom.
*
Once Laura’s aunthad given them her blessing, the news of their engagement spread throughout the ballroom, and friends and acquaintances rushed to congratulate them. Their response heartened Brendan, and with great pleasure, he introduced Laura to Hart and his lovely wife, Madeline.
While the women talked together, Hart expressed his delight at seeing his one remaining single friend entering the parson’s mousetrap. And his hope for an invitation to the wedding. “Tate and Ianthe will wish to come.”
“If not a large wedding, then a house party at Beechley Park when we return from our honeymoon.” Brendan had waited long enough for Laura, and he would endure an elaborate wedding only if she wished for one.
Hart nodded with a knowing wink. “I foresee this wedding will be a rushed affair.” He glanced at Laura. “And I cannot say I blame you.”
As his bride-to-be chatted to friends surrounding her, asking eager questions about weddings and honeymoons, Brendan had time to reflect on the last few weeks, which had changed his life so completely. At Camela Grove, after the doctor had come, removed the ball, stemmed the bleeding, and then stitched him up, Brendan had returned to Beechley Park.
Ordered to bed to avoid infection, he’d restlessly waited for news of Hunter. The dog had taken a nasty blow to the head, which could have crippled him. The veterinarian had advised him to have Hunter shot, but Brendan had flatly refused.
As Brendan had healed, so had Hunter, lying on his bed before the fire in the library, while Brendan had worked with his secretary and the steward. The more he got involved in the estate’s maintenance, the more interesting and satisfying he found it.
Then, almost two weeks after Gaylord had struck him down, Hunter had stood and crossed the carpet to Brendan on wobbly legs. Brendan had left his chair and sunk to his knees to praise him. From then on, the dog’s recovery had been remarkably swift.
Brendan had discussed the matter of Gaylord’s death with the magistrate, Sir Ewen McCorquodale, who’d decided he would take no action against him. Sir Ewen said he would make it public that Gaylord had killed Brendan’s parents. Brendan had then visited his parents’ graves at the family crypt, savoring the fact that, at last, his father’s name was cleared.
Then, all he’d wanted was to see Laura. When his letter to Longworth had remained unanswered, he’d feared she had married, and had written to Netterfield. The baron’s secretary had replied. Robert was on his honeymoon, and Laura lived with her aunt in Richmond. He’d furnished Brendan with the address.
Brendan had driven there, only to discover they had gone to London. A day later, he’d arrived in Mayfair, prepared to search the city for her, and miraculously found her at the first ball he’d attended.
Laura turned from talking to her friend Miss Burton, and smiling sweetly, nodded to him.
Brendan approached her. “Please excuse us, Miss Burton.” He whisked Laura away to a quiet corner.
Once they could speak without being overheard, Brendan broached the possibility of a special license and a wedding within the following weeks. “But not if you have visions of a grand affair, my love.”
She laughed. “I do not. That is perfect. Shall we go in search of my aunt and tell her our plan?”
“Will your aunt be disappointed?”
