He started walking toward the center of the room. The place quieted. Everyone stepped aside, giving him plenty of space, and once he stopped, they formed a wide circle around him.
Zane had recollection of telling Brina he’d give a grand speech, but he wouldn’t. It would be two short words. He started to speak but saw her rush into the entryway. It felt as if his heart stopped beating for a few seconds and then suddenly thundered like the sound of a hundred galloping horses in his chest. She was wearing the bright pink gown they’d seen in the shop near the abbey. She looked glorious dressed in it. It shimmered with every step and so did she.
Watching her made losing her all the harder.
Some in the ballroom must have noticed her too. The quietness just moments before turned to murmurings. The whispers got louder. Her chin was demurely high, her shoulders softly confident. She was breathtaking as she walked down the three steps into the room and started toward him. His admiration for her grew. Shewasn’t ducking out. She wasn’t going to stand on the other side of the room from him or cower near the door. No, damnation. Not her. She was going to come right up to him and make him look her in the eyes when he apologized.
Good.
He was glad she decided to make him pay for hurting her. The crowd parted as they had for him, and she stopped in front of him. All he could think for a moment was that she was the most beautiful person in the world, and he loved her with all his heart. If there was anything he could say or do to win back her love, he would do it.
With the same poise she always had, she curtsied before looking at him with serenity settled in her lovely features. “Permit me to go first, my lord.”
He bowed. “A gentleman always allows a lady to go first.”
How was he going to live without her?
“Thank you,” she answered softly. She turned away from him and addressed the room. “I know that all of you gentlemen here tonight are far too proper and kind to wager on anything concerning a lady. Especially something as delicate as a lady—awidow’shand in marriage. I appreciate your restraint in that matter and your resolve not to resort to gossip about it either. You have set the standard for all gentlemen.”
Zane kept his eyes riveted on Brina. Her statement was odd. What was she doing? She knew almost every man in the place had wagered on his proposal to her.
There were more than a few clearings of throats, and men looking down at their toes in hopes of hiding their guilt.
“But,” she continued, “if you have friends or acquaintances who wagered that I would reject Lord Blacknight’s offer of marriage tonight, please tell them they lost.”
Zane felt a jolt of hope slam his chest. Had she said what he thought she had? He took a small step toward her as a roar of cheers mingled with some jeers resounded around the crowd.
“However, however,” she hastened to quiet the crowd with a loud voice and movement of her hands, “if you happen to have friends or acquaintances who wagered that I would accept Lord Blacknight’s proposal, you can tell them they also lost.”
Zane’s heartbeat suddenly thundered in his chest again. The cheers and jeers turned to rumblings of discontent and confusion. Zane had no idea what she was talking about, and judging from the mutterings, neither did anyone else.
“How can she accept his proposal if she rejects it?”someone asked.
“What does she mean?”asked another.
“What about his apology?”another commented.
Brina seemed to hear the last question, as she glanced in the direction from which it came before saying, “You see,” she continued, still addressing the crowd, “I do not wish to hear an apology or proposal tonight from Lord Blacknight, but I would like to ask him to answer one question.”
The room fell silent as she turned to him. She looked up at him with her big bright eyes and held out her hand to him, and said, “Lord Blacknight, will you marry me and be my husband?”
Zane felt as if his heart might beat out of his chest as his fingers closed around her hand. He took it to his lips and kissed it. He smiled and said, “I accept with pleasure.”
He then did a very ungentlemanly thing and swooped her up into his arms and kissed her quickly but soundly in front of everyone before setting her back onto her feet.
Brina looked up at him and smiled as gasps and sounds of horror echoed, and mumblings and rumbles of confusion continued to circulate around the room. Her eyes squinted a little in mock concern. “Must you always do the wrong thing, my lord?”
His gaze swept down her face as his hands tightened on her back. Zane swelled with love. “I do believe I still need training from you.”
“Gladly.”
“You are amazing, Brina Feld.”
Love for him shone in her eyes and she laughed softly. “Thank you. So are you, Lord Blacknight.”
He nodded. “You realize you just conquered every man in this room and canceled all their bets by asking me to marry you, don’t you?”
The gathering scattered and the orchestra started playing. She looked around the room and smiled triumphantly at the grumbling crowd before settling her attention back on him again. “Of course I do. It’s what they deserved, but I only wanted to conquer you.”
