Page 107 of A Match Made On Duchess Square

“But?”

She laughed gently. “Good gracious, must you be so dense? There is no ‘but,’ nor will there ever be. I have made my choice. My heart is yours. It has always been yours, but I was too scared to admit it. Perhaps just too stubborn. Certainly too set in my ways. Please tell me I am not too late.”

“You’re not,” Robert insisted. “Papa loves you and so do we. Isn’t that right, Papa? Tell her.”

Having gained her love, James knew the lad meant to hold on to it with all the strength in his sticky little hands.

So did he, although his hands were not quite as sticky as his son’s.

However, he did intend to hold on to her with all the love in his soul.

Her smile was as soft as a summer breeze as she looked at his youngest. “Thank you, Robert. I love you all so much. You, Jordan, and your father. For always. That is my solemn promise.”

“What of Clement?” James asked, because he needed to know that the man was out of her life for certain.

Her cheeks turned pink and her smile was sheepish. “Um, do not make a thing of this, James.”

“What thing?” he asked warily.

She took a deep breath. “I am going to set him up with Lady Millicent Hanford. I’ve told him so and I intend to see this through.”

His mouth gaped open. What in blazes?

“Miss Pointy Nose?”

His boys eased away and began to cheer, leaving him holding on to Gwendolyn alone. He shook his head and began to laugh.

“Oh, Gwen. You didn’t.”

“Yes, I did,” she said with an impudent tip of her chin. “I want him to be happy, and are they not an obvious match? Am I not a good matchmaker?”

His sons immediately agreed she was the best matchmaker in all of England.

“Thank you, boys. I doubt I am quite that good. But I think I did a commendable job for your father. Never mind that he sabotaged all my undertakings.”

James could not hold back his amusement. “But her, Gwen?”

“Yes, her. Don’t you dare complain about her nose again. You know your excuse was nonsensical and completely made up.”

He chuckled. “It may have been a bit overdone.”

“Quite overdone,” she muttered, then cast him a loving smile that had his heart leaping for joy. “I love you, James Milbury. How many times must I say it before you believe me?”

He cupped her face gently in his roughened hands. “Boys, go back to building the bonfire with Fiona and Durham. Gwendolyn and I will join you shortly, but there are things we need to discuss first.”

Robert frowned at him. “Do not mess this up, Papa.”

Jordan was scowling, too. “That’s right, Papa. Do not be an idiot and chase our Gwendolyn away.”

James sighed. “I will not be an idiot. Now, go. And shut the door behind you.”

His sons scampered out, slamming the door behind them.

“Good grief,” he said with a chuckle as he ran his thumb lightly along her cheek. “Is this for real, Gwen?”

“It is for me. I hope it still is for you.”

He kissed her on the lips, a deep, lingering kiss he hoped would convey all the love he felt in his heart. “Always and forever, my lovely matchmaker.”