“To me, you have never looked more beautiful,” Miles responded.
Edwina hesitantly turned towards him, her cheeks stained from tears. “Now I know you are lying to me. I just feel awful for what happened…”
Miles put his hand up, stilling her words. “You did nothing wrong, but I did. I was so afraid that I almost lost you that I took out my anger on you.”
“I should never have gone into that study,” Edwina said.
“If you hadn’t, the truth wouldn’t have been revealed,” Miles remarked. “No one suspected Mr. Stanley was stealing from your uncle.”
Edwina’s eyes grew sad. “Mr. Stanley was always so kind to me. I never thought he would try to kill me,” she said.
“Why would you? You have the kindest heart and I do not think you see the bad in anyone,” Miles remarked.
“Perhaps I should start.”
“No, do not let Mr. Stanley change the way you are,” Miles insisted. “For you are perfect, just the way you are.”
Edwina pressed her lips together. “I think not.”
Knowing there was much that needed to be said between them, Miles gestured towards the bench. “May I join you?” he asked.
With a nod, Edwina granted her permission.
Once he was situated on the bench, he said, “I was wrong, Edwina.”
Edwina gave him a baffled look. “About what?”
Miles met her gaze. “About everything,” he replied. “When I lost Arabella, I thought my life was over. And then when John died…” He stopped. “Despite going through the motions, I was empty inside. Devoid of any hope. But everything changed when I met you.”
“You helped me as well,” Edwina said.
“You did more than just help me,” Miles stated. “You brought my heart back to life.”
Edwina gave him a weak smile. “You deserve to be happy, Miles. No matter where life takes you.”
“But I finally know where I belong. For all my life, I have been making my way to you,” Miles said. “I have tried to fight it, repeatedly, but I have fallen madly, irrevocably in love with you.”
Emotions flickered across Edwina’s face as she stared back at him. “But what about Arabella?”
“A part of me will always love Arabella, but my heart, my whole heart, will belong to you,” Miles replied.
“I don’t know what to say…”
“You don’t have to say anything.”
“… other than I love you, too,” Edwina said.
Miles’ brow shot up. “You love me?” he asked.
Edwina leaned forward and placed her hand over his heart. “I do,” she replied. “You are engraved upon my heart.”
Reaching up, Miles placed his hand over hers. “Marry me, and neither one of us will ever have to be alone again.”
“Is that a proper proposal?” Edwina asked with a mischievous look in her eyes.
Keeping hold of her hand, Miles moved to a kneeling position on the moss-coated ground. “Lady Edwina Lockwood, would you do me the grand honor of marrying me?”
Edwina’s lips twitched. “I have one condition.”
