Time stopped. “Ibeg your pardon?”
He set his jawdeterminedly. “I love you.”
“Ifyou wouldn’t mind repeating that again, I would begrateful.”
At her politetone, a reluctant smile teased the corner of his mouth. “I loveyou, Sera.”
“Doyou mean it?”
“Yes,” he said softly.
Oh. Oh, thatwas...
Emotion swelledin her, too great to contain. She placed a hand over her mouth,trying to stop it, but emotion defeated her. It exploded, a harshsob battering her as tears welled and spilled over.
His expressionturned horrified, his hands reaching for her even before heobviously restrained himself, clearly uncertain if he should touchher. “God, Sera, I didn’t mean to make you cry. I take itback.”
“Don’t you dare,” she said fiercely. She took his hands,pulled his arms around her. “No one’s ever chosen me. Never. Youcan’t take it back. I won’t let you take it back.”
“Iwon’t ever take it back.” Wrapping her tight, he brushed his mouthagainst her temple. “You are never an obligation, Sera. You arenever not my first choice. Always, forevermore, you are first forme. All my options have narrowed to one—you, and only you.” Hesmiled ruefully. “That is what I should have said.”
“That would have been better,” she agreed.
He laughed, andthen he kissed her. She fell backwards on the bed and he followedher, stretching himself over her and settling between her thighs.She draped her arms over him, dragging her fingers up and down hisspine.
Looking into hereyes, he said, “Will you marry me?”
Joy bubbledinside her. “What about asking Oliver?”
He stroked hercheek. “He will allow it. I will accept nothing less.”
Her cheeks hurtwith her smile. “Then I will.”
He smiled, oneof pure joy. He bent his head. “We probably should go down to thebreakfast room,” he murmured against her lips.
“Wewon’t be missed until at least luncheon.” She rubbed her footagainst his calf.
“Lady Seraphina, are you suggesting some sort of wickedness?Lady Asterd warned me about you.”
“Well, then,” she said, dragging his shirt from his breeches.“Far be it from me to disappoint her.”
Epilogue
Roxegate
London, England
Twenty-four years later
HER COUSIN MADE A beautiful bride.
Miss DavinaFarlisle watched as Holly and her new husband greeted their guests.Holly fairly beamed with happiness, while Hugh Delancy looked athis bride with a mixture of awe, pride, and love.
At therefreshment table, her other cousin stood with her husband.Charlotte and Nicholas had been wed not long after she and hercousins had turned nineteen while Holly had waited until they'd allhad their twenty-first birthday before she'd wed.
Davina picked ather gown. She was being left behind. Her cousins had found the menthey wanted to be with and it would no longer be the three of them.Now, her cousins had husbands and would be working on families oftheir own, while she would enter yet another season in anotherdoomed attempt to attract a mate.
Her motherpersisted, though it seemed it was completely pointless. LadySeraphina Farlisle was a noted beauty and a triumph of the Ton, andshe wanted nothing less for her children. Unfortunately, Davina washorribly tongue-tied around those she did not know, and herattractions were middling at best. She’d always relied on Charlotteand Holly to sparkle, and she would be a dull lump without theirbrilliance.
