“Go get him!” Lady Moreland screamed from the bottom of the stairs, her hands clenched into two red fists. She glanced about at the two injured footmen and her husband, obviously expecting them to rush up the stairs and stop the actions unfolding in front of them. None of the men looked as if they were eager to do so. Shakespierre was contemplating his fingernails.
“There is absolutely no possibility that you are going to marry Cassandra!” Lady Moreland said with another stamp of her foot.
“Hell yes, there is,” Julian replied in a perfectly calm voice. “I’d like to see you try to stop me.”
“How do you expect us to agree to it?” Lord Moreland demanded. He remained at the bottom of the stairs and stared up at the couple, rubbing his arm.
Julian smiled but his eyes remained fixed on Cassie. “I expect you’ll agree with it because I’m about to thoroughly compromise her.” He scooped Cassie into his arms and carried her down the stairs. She kept her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. He marched down to the foyer, past both of her openmouthed parents, and a wide-eyed Shakespierre.
“Did you get all that?” Julian asked the butler.
The butler nodded rapidly. “Yes, my lord.”
“Good, then go tell your friends.”
Julian leaned down to allow Cassie to open the door for him and then he marched outside, down the stone front steps, and directly to his carriage.
“Come back here this minute, Cassandra!” her mother shouted.
“No,” Cass replied simply, a wide smile on her face.
“I… I… I intend to call my solicitor immediately,” Lord Moreland called after them, his jowls no doubt shaking.
“Good, be certain to tell him the part about the compromising,” Julian replied, his eyes never leaving Cassie’s face.
***
As soon as the door to Julian’s coach shut behind them, Cass turned her head to the side to look out the window and laughed. “Oh, my goodness. Did you see the looks on their faces? It was priceless. Absolutely priceless.” She clapped her hands together. “I do so wish I could have captured that moment. I may paint it later.”
“They’ll get over it.” Julian pulled her into his arms and kissed her senseless. A few minutes later when they were both able to speak again, he said, “You were about to leave for a life in the church, I hear.”
Cassie bit her lip and nodded. “Daphne told you?”
“Uh-huh.” He kissed her again. “Daphne told me. I forced her to. She took pity on me, I think.”
“I didn’t want to live without you.” Cassie pressed her forehead to his.
“Thank God I found you in time. Your parents are one thing, but I would have hated to have to fight off a group of determined nuns for you. But make no mistake, I would have won.”
Cassie laughed again. “Oh, I have no doubts.”
He nudged her forehead with the tip of his nose. “You never answered me, you know.”
Cassie shook her head. “Answered you?”
“Will you marry me?” he whispered softly against her cheek.
She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close. “Yes. Yes. Yes! Of course I’ll marry you, Julian.”
“Good, because I wasn’t joking about thoroughly compromising you. I’m taking you home to my bed right now.”
Cassie kissed him again and melted against him. She gave him a small smile. “Drive faster.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Ten minutes later, the coach pulled to a stop in front of Donald’s town house. Julian leaped from the vehicle and turned quickly to help Cass down. They walked side by side into the foyer. The moment they entered the house, Cass stopped. “What about your mother and Daphne? I’d die if they—”
“Don’t worry. They left an hour ago to visit my aunt in the country for a few days, to keep their minds off Donald.”
