‘When I returned, I feared the worst. I sent men to search all of his holdings, but I guessed that he would take you somewhere with an easy route to France. If it was not for your actions, I feared I may not make it on time before he managed to cross over.’
Grace let out a breath. ‘Well, I am grateful to you and Mr Smith Jr.,’ she said with a smile. ‘And to Heather, for dashing onto the road.’
The Duke laughed. ‘Yes, I have never seen anyone run so fast.’
Then, tilting his head, he studied her with amusement. ‘Have you finished your line of questioning, madam?’
‘No,’ she replied simply.
He sighed dramatically. ‘I do not see why I am being tortured in such a manner.’
‘See it as you like,’ she said playfully. ‘I remain suspicious of your proposal—no matter how charmingly it is wrapped. I would like to knowwhenyou decided to propose to me. I find it hard to believe you have been plotting and planning all this time, sir. And what made you so certain I would accept? It seems ratherpresumptuousof you!’
The Duke suddenly became serious.
‘You shall be convinced of my sincerity.’
He closed the gap between them. ‘What reason would I have to deceive you, little sceptic? I sleep with you on my mind, and when I wake, I think and plan for you.
‘You intrigued me from the moment I first saw you standing in that study. When I saw those lips, IknewI could not let you go—Ihadto see you again. The more time I spent with you, the more mesmerised I became.
‘When we sang together, I felt myself captured—body and soul. I have travelled the world, butyou—you strange creature—came so quietly into my life and pulled the rug from beneath my feet. I was deeply in love with you before I even realised it.’
Lifting his hand, he cupped her face, his thumb tracing her cheek.
‘At one point, I was convinced you had bewitched me.
‘After that night you confronted me, I had already decided I would never let you go. It lit a fire under me to solve the murders and find the killer as quickly as possible. Ileftbecause I felt weak—I could not trust myself not to confess my feelings the next day. I have never been in such agony.’
Grace saw the raw pain on his face and immediately regretted teasing him.
‘Hush now, Gabriel,’ she murmured, touched beyond words. ‘I was only teasing.’
But he seemed not to hear her.
‘I could not believe I had found you. I struggled with it. Truthfully, I had no idea whether I would even survive this quest. I wasannoyedat the fate I had been dealt. I had found my soulmate—and yet I could do nothing about it.
‘All I had to do was reach out, and I couldtouchyou—but at the same time, you were impossibly far away. I had to stop myself from taking you in my arms and kissing youthoroughlymore times than I care to count.’
Grace blushed furiously and turned away, walking towards the fireplace.
But he followed. In a single stride, he closed the distance and drew her into his arms.
‘I wanted to hold you when you told me you were alone in this world. I wanted to hold you the day we found Gibbs’s corpse and I saw your pale face. I wanted to dance with you all night at the ball—to keep you in my arms—it was painful to let you go.’
Her breath caught. She clung to his hands.
‘I had no idea,’ she whispered. Then, gathering her courage, she smiled mischievously. ‘In that case, Gabriel, I am yours—but on one condition.’
His brows lifted. ‘Name it.’
‘I wish to travel to India and meet my family,’ she said. ‘And I would like you to be my tour guide, as you once promised me.’
A slow smile spread across his face. Without hesitation, he swept her into his arms and twirled her around.
‘I am at your service,my Grace.’
