Her eyes glistened and her lips trembled. A jerky nod made his heart beat a little bit faster. Gulping and with a distinctive crack to her voice she managed to get the words out. “Yes. A thousand times yes. But—”
He was back on his feet and kissing her fiercely before she could finish her sentence. Yes. That was all he needed to hear. One little word that made all the difference. It righted his world and brightened the day.
“How will we manage?” she asked moments later. “What will people say?”
“First of all,” he told her with a new sort of calm – the kind he’d not known since his father died. “I’ve realized something since the Axelby ball.”
“And what’s that?”
“I’m a duke. So to hell with what others might think. You and I will get through it.”
“Your marrying down won’t affect your sisters?”
“I am not marrying down,” he informed her sternly while pulling her into a warm embrace. “Don’t ever think that. If anything, I’m marrying up, Ada, for you are by far the best woman the world has to offer. Becoming your husband will be an honor, and I intend to make sure everyone is aware of this fact.”
She grinned. “You’re very charming when you’re fighting for someone you care for. But I still fear your sisters might suffer.”
“They will be fine. As will we. The income I’ve received from the sale of a few unnecessary possessions is more impressive than I’d have expected. My plan is to set a portion aside for daily expenses and reinvest the rest so we can start growing our wealth. I realize it’s not a quick solution, but as long as we refrain from excessive spending, we ought to manage. Which was the other thing I realized.” His shoulders relaxed as the weight of the worries he’d carried for so very long slipped away. “Keeping up appearances may not be as important as I used to believe.”
“And once that brilliant book of yours sells, you and your friends will hopefully be rewarded with a small fortune.”
“Yes, but that will likely take time – longer than I’d imagined, at any rate. Until then, I’m selling a few additional paintings. I’ll also part with the pianoforte since no one ever plays it. There’s a clock that—”
“I love you,” Ada murmured, her smile broadening as she rose onto her tiptoes and kissed him once more.
He kissed her right back, grinning a little because of the all-encompassing joy he felt. “I love you too.”
She chuckled as she withdrew and linked her arm firmly with his. “Uncle James will be thrilled.”
“I hope so.”
“You mustn’t forget he’s the reason we met. Quite a matchmaker, wouldn’t you say?”
“Without a doubt,” Anthony murmured, drawing her close to his side and dropping a kiss on top of her head.
Ada was in heaven. That truly was the best way to describe it. Fairytale land was another, she supposed, while snuggling up against Anthony in the carriage. The smile she’d been wearing since his proposal remained in place. Nothing in the world could make it falter.
Thank goodness she’d chosen to listen to him instead of relying solely on what she’d seen and heard. It was clear now she’d made a mistake, albeit an understandable one, but a mistake nonetheless.
“I’m sorry I thought the worst,” she told him, realizing she had yet to apologize for misjudging him. “You did well to use Pride and Prejudice as a means to make me stop and listen to you. Clever.”
“I was determined and rather desperate at that point. I’m also incredibly glad it worked or I might have been forced to hit you over the head with it.” He snatched up the book he’d brought with him and waved it at her. “As I recall, books have a history of falling on you when you’re meant to pay attention.”
“It only happened once.” She grinned, pushing into a more upright position.
“And a good thing it did or you and I might not have started talking.”
True. What a terrible thing that would have been. Smiling at him, she closed the distance between them and kissed him. Her sister had been appalled when they’d said they’d be travelling together without a chaperone present. But Anthony had assured everyone he would marry Ada, so what was the harm in ignoring propriety a little?
Ada saw none. She was just glad to have smoothed things out with the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. His proposal, while not exactly as he had planned it, he insisted, had been perfect. She’d always look back on that moment with fondness.
Noting the lap desk he’d placed on the opposite bench, she asked, “How’s the ending of your book coming along?”
“It’s proven a challenge,” he confessed. “I tried to write on my way to your sister’s, but worrying over our relationship proved a hindrance. Now that the mess between us has been untangled and you are to be my wife, it might be easier for me to write a happy ending.”
She smiled at that thought and bit her lip, her gaze still on the lap desk. If she were to lean across the distance and lift the lid, she had no doubt she’d find the latest pages tucked away inside.
Her fingers twitched with increased curiosity. “May I?”
