Apprehension nipped at Florian’s neck but he shrugged it aside, telling himself he was able to answer anything Huntley asked him. “I love her, if that is your concern.” Ordinarily, he would never have shared such feelings so openly, but where Juliette was concerned, he felt compelled to give them free rein. His affection for her had grown so vast that containing it was no longer possible.
Huntley eyed him while taking a seat behind his desk. “It is not. The distress you showed when her life was in danger has left no doubt in my mind that your feelings for her are profound. What worries me is her reputation.”
Florian understood. “Marrying me will not be enough to save it.” Not when his own social standing had been torn to shreds.
“I feel as though I have spent most of my life trying to protect her only to fail for the silliest of reasons, because of a social class that places appearance above all else.” Huntley took a sip of his brandy. “Juliette’s well-being has been in my hands since she was five years old. I cared for her and worried over her, even though I was just a child myself. And since her constitution was always weak, she caused me greater concern than Amelia, who was always so much stronger.”
“And yet Juliette has been doing much better since moving to Mayfair.”
“Undoubtedly.” Huntley swirled his tumbler while studying Florian with forthright pensiveness. “I owe you a debt of gratitude for what you did in order to save her.”
A knock at the door was swiftly followed by the arrival of Huntley’s valet who came to deliver the cravat Gabriella had requested. Helping Florian don it, the valet tied the length of fabric with expert flair and stepped back to examine his work. With a quick nod, he gave his approval and took his leave.
As soon as he was gone, Raphe said, “I want your assurance that you will treat Juliette as your equal and that you won’t ever keep secrets from her again. I know that legally a wife belongs to her husband and has few rights, but when it comes to my sister—”
“I promise,” Florian told him. “I will never force my will on her and I will always be completely forthright.”
Huntley nodded and set his glass down. “In that case, if she wishes to marry you as much as you wish to marry her, you have my blessing.”
A sigh of relief swept through Florian’s body. He expelled a breath, even as he realized it would not be quite so simple. “As far as her reputation goes, there is little I can do besides trying to salvage my own. But if I can convince Society that it was wrong to believe what the papers have written, then perhaps I have a chance of regaining my reputation and hers by association.”
Huntley met his gaze with interest. “How would you accomplish such a thing?”
“By asking Armswell to deny the story and insist I am his actual son.” He’d not yet had a chance to speak with the viscount after everything he’d learned about his dealings with Bartholomew. It wasn’t a conversation he looked forward to having, but it was a necessary one, under the circumstances.
Huntley nodded. “In the meantime, I will talk to Coventry. Perhaps the two of us can help by reminding everyone of what an excellent physician you are.”
“I appreciate your support, Huntley.” Florian set his empty glass aside. “Now, if you do not mind, I would like to speak with Juliette in private.”
Huntley grinned. “I will allow it. The parlor is at your disposal, as long as you leave the door slightly open.”
When Florian entered the parlor and his gaze met Juliette’s, she felt her entire body relax. It was as if his increased nearness helped restore harmony to her soul. And to her own fanciful way of thinking, she imagined her spirit stretching toward his from across the room and pulling him closer until he’d reached the sofa on which she sat.
“Gabriella.” Raphe’s voice intruded from the doorway. “Might I have a moment of your time?”
As if propelled into motion by her husband’s words, Gabriella stood. “Of course.” She gave Juliette a quick nod before leaving the room.
The briefest pause followed before Florian lowered himself to the vacant spot beside Juliette and reached for her hand. He swallowed audibly while brushing his fingers gently over hers. A frown creased his brow, and his eyes, those stunning blue eyes, were more reserved than she’d ever seen them. A knot squeezed her heart as awareness crept in, alerting her to his apprehensiveness. Hoping to ease it, she offered a smile and placed her free hand over his, trapping it there while meeting his gaze with every bit of warmth, gratitude and devotion she felt for this man who had come to mean everything to her.
“Juliette.” The sound of her name on his lips was like tonic. “So much has happened these past few weeks I scarcely know where to begin.”
“May I suggest the part where you officially ask for my hand in marriage?” Blood trembled in her veins, pulsing with enthusiastic expectation.
His characteristic severity shattered, giving way to an unexpected grin. “I do not plan on proposing more than once in this lifetime, so I prefer not to rush it.”
Biting back the teasing retort that tempted, Juliette forced herself into silence even as her stomach tightened and her heart beat more rapidly than ever before.
“You are like a ray of sunshine spreading light on a dreary world.” As far as beginnings went, Juliette had to concede that this was an excellent one. She held her breath while he continued. “Becoming a husband was never something to which I aspired. Until I met you.” His hand squeezed hers. “Your kindness, your dedication to ensuring the well-being of those around you and your devotion when pursuing your goals is incredibly admirable. You made your way past defenses no other woman has ever managed to scale. You burrowed your way inside my chest and took up residence in my heart.” Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to her brow with so much reverence, an emotional tear spilled from her eye. “You have become my entire world, Juliette. I have never felt as lost as I did when your life was threatened.”
“Florian.” She could scarcely reply she was so overcome by the beauty of his declaration.
“Now that you are healthy and safe and here for me to see and touch, I feel restored, as though the part of me that was missing has been returned.” He flattened his hand against her cheek and swiped away the fallen tear with his thumb. “To lose you again is unthinkable. Marry me, Juliette. Be mine and let me be yours. Love me as I shall love you, until my dying breath.”
Unable to speak on account of the painful lump that had wedged itself in her throat, Juliette could only think of one way to convey her answer. Without hesitation, she closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to his in a kiss wrought from endless depths of affection. It was hungry but sweet, an aching portrayal of true devotion wrapped up in yearning.
Winding her arms around his neck, she shifted closer until their thighs touched. His hand stroked over her back, holding her to him while he followed her down the steep path of desire, catching momentum as he deepened the kiss until thoughts of all else were whisked from her mind.
It wasn’t until his teeth nipped her earlobe and sent several sparks dancing over her skin that she recalled time and place. “Yes.” She was finally able to offer a verbal response to his question. “Yes, I will marry you, Florian. Nothing in the world would make me happier than spending the rest of my life with you.”
