Page 108 of A Match Made On Duchess Square

“Well then…” She cast sparkling eyes upon him. “Seems the matter of finding you the perfect match has now been brought to a successful conclusion.”

“Thank goodness! Does this mean there is to be no summer house party?”

She sighed. “I suppose it is no longer necessary.”

“Hallelujah,” he said with a gust of relief. “I’ll have Harting toss out those invitations. But there is one last piece of business to address.”

“And that is?”

“The proposal. As in my proposing to you again. This time, I hope for a better outcome.”

Her expression turned serious and she looked perhaps a bit remorseful for her past rejection. “You shall have it,” she said with an ache to her voice. “I’m so sorry for—”

“Hush, love. We are here now, and that is all that matters.”

She released a light breath and nodded.

“Marry me, Gwen.”

She nodded again. “Yes, most happily.”

He kissed her with a hot, possessive ardor this time, his mouth closing upon beautiful, giving lips that felt soft as velvet against his own.

He wanted this kiss to convey so much to her, mostly that she would never be an afterthought for him but always a treasured wife.

It was a fulfilling ardor, for she would make their family whole again. Not as a replacement, but for being herself. For bringing compassion and all her strengths into the marriage. For adding wonder and joy to his life and that of his sons. They were so desperately in need of her warmth and love.

When he ended the kiss, he lifted her in his arms and cast her a wicked grin. “Is tomorrow too soon?”

“Why not today?” she teased in return, and hugged him fiercely.

He kissed her again, this time more tenderly, although his kisses would always be laced with heat because she had a stunning body that could drop any man to his knees, and he was not immune to her allure.

“Thank you, James,” she said with a shaky breath. “I thought I had lost you.”

Her admission tore at his heart. He never wanted her to doubt the faithfulness of his love. Theirs was to be a true marriage in every respect—most of all, that he would never be an absent husband. “No, that’ll never happen. You are quite stuck with me, Gwen.”

“I hope so.”

“There’s another thing we must do today besides announce our betrothal.”

She frowned lightly, obviously confused by his rakish grin. “What is that?”

“Teach you to swim.”

Her eyes widened. “Right now?”

He nodded. “If you wish it.”

“Oh, yes! Put me down and I shall run upstairs and put on my bathing costume.”

He set her on her feet, his heart still thumping and his smile as broad as an ocean. How had he won her heart?

Until a moment ago, he was certain Clement had won out.

But hearts were odd things, weren’t they?

His had known his perfect match had to be Gwen from the first.