Page 50 of The Marquess’s Masked Archer

He couldn’t stand it any longer. The words spurred him to pull her close and drop his lips to hers, claiming her heart with words and actions. The kiss shifted his soul, leaving him thinking he would be a different man when it ended because they loved each other, and they could now have a future together. The secrets and disguises that had put walls between them were gone, leaving only a life-altering love that could only grow stronger with time.

Shifting Sylvie in his arms, Miles deepened the kiss with a tilt of his head. He lost himself in her for quite some time, if their labored breathing when they finally separated was any indication.

Miles ran a shaky hand through his hair. “Sylvie, can you forgive me for the deception all these months?”

With the sweetest smile Miles had ever seen and eyes shining in the dim light coming from the house, Sylvie nodded. “If you can forgive mine, as well. Or what I believed was deception, since you knew who I was, anyway.”

Gathering her back into his arms, Miles spoke with his lips pressed against the top of her head. “I’ll always forgive you. Now I must ask, do you want to enjoy your independence before we make this permanent? I’ll wait to propose if you want to pursue the show on your own for another summer. But if it’s up to me, I’ll do it as soon as I can.”

Stretching to look up into his face, Sylvie arched an eyebrow. “Patience is a becoming virtue, my lord.”

Miles groaned, unable to resist claiming another kiss, thanks to that teasing glint in her eyes. This time when he pulled back, Miles stepped away from her, aware they now had all the time in the world to tease and kiss and grow closer to each other. Gratitude filled his heart, overflowing into silent prayer before he responded more seriously. “Back to my question, Sylvie. Will you regret losing the chance for some independence if we move quickly? I don’t intend to restrict you in any way, but it will be different once we’re married.”

The way her lips parted and tipped up at the sound of his intentions sent Miles’s heart soaring. She shook her head, then rested it on his shoulder. “I won’t regret it one bit. I only wanted the freedom to choose who I would marry. And God cared enough about me to answer that desire. Even if you were Mother’s first choice, you’re still my choice too.”

With love for the strong, capable woman at his side growing intense enough that he almost forgot anything else existed, Miles drew a deep breath as he struggled to find some of that patience she’d teased him about. She might agree if he asked right now, but Sylvie deserved a thoughtful proposal. One that brought their relationship out of hiding. And he was determined to wait until he could give her just that.

CHAPTER 24

A week later, the lady archer had been summoned.

Sylvie ran her hands down her black skirt, wiping off dampness that had gathered on her palms as she made the journey by steamer from Cleveland to Cedar Point, along with her parents and Matilda. The bag pressed against her side on the bench seat held her disguise, although now it was more for show than for protecting her identity. The resort manager had requested that she do one more show for the closing day of the resort’s season. It had been an odd step forward to go to her parents and explain that she wanted to perform, and that she hoped they would come along to watch. To her immense relief, they had agreed without hesitation.

Miles was going to meet them there, since he’d returned to Put-In-Bay to stay in the Loftons’ summer cottage as long as he could. Ice on the lake would eventually make travel difficult, at which time he would rent a room in Sandusky. Sylvie’s heart beat a little faster at the idea of performing with him again. Mr. Miller had done a serviceable job filling in when Miles was away, but she’d missed her Will Scarlet.

On one side of Sylvie, Mother shook out the newspaper she’d brought along to catch up on the society news as they traveled. “That Lucy Casburn simply can’t get herself together. She was seen flirting with Mr. Kinsey, of all people. As if everyone hadn’t already noticed that she was rebuffed by Miles, now she’s after any other man who had an interest in you. It’s a wonder she hasn’t been linked to Mr. Greene yet.”

Sylvie had to smother a laugh with her hand, feeling terrible for being amused by Lucy’s situation. Miles had gone to Lucy’s parents the day after the Moreaus’ ball to put an end to her scheming, and word of that had flown around society for the last few days. Now she was already trying to worm her way into Mr. Kinsey’s affections? He was far too smart to fall for Lucy’s tricks, thankfully. Sylvie had returned to the disastrous ball long enough to apologize to Mr. Kinsey and to explain her feelings for Miles, and they’d parted on good terms. The only unfortunate remainder from the almost-proposal was the gossip that had also been flying about Sylvie all week.

But in the end, if she got a future with Miles, what did the opinions of others matter?

On her other side, Matilda nudged Sylvie. “I could almost feel bad for Lucy if she hadn’t been so terrible to you. But you don’t seem angry at her.”

Sylvie shook her head, grateful it was true. “I’m not. She’s in a terrible spot now, while I get Miles.”

Matilda grinned and leaned against Sylvie. “God led you to your dream, after all. I hate to say it, but I told you so.”

“You don’t hate saying it at all.”

They giggled together, but Sylvie’s thoughts turned to the truth in Matilda’s words. Instead of worrying about keeping everyone else happy by hiding her desires, Sylvie had decided to be more concerned with finding true freedom in following where Jesus led. No one else’s expectations of her mattered.

When the steamship finally docked at Cedar Point, Sylvie and her parents disembarked with a handful of other passengers. As the days grew cooler, traffic at the resort slowed considerably. But there were still enough people there to make her closing day show worthwhile. So after leaving her parents at the spectator bleachers, Sylvie headed to the Coliseum, not bothering to stop at a changing room and don her costume. She’d put it on at their meeting point, and even then, only because it was part of the theatrics, not to hide behind it.

She appreciated the lack of disguise all the more when she saw Miles was already waiting. He glanced up from his conversation with Mr. Miller and caught sight of her, a wide grin lighting his face. He held out his arms, and Sylvie scurried right into them. She nestled her face against his chest, which wouldn’t have been as pleasant with the hood and mask on. “Miles, I missed you.”

He rubbed her back, chuckling. “It’s only been two days since I was in Cleveland to visit you.”

Sylvie snuggled as close as she could possibly get to him. “Never mind that. It was too long.”

He dropped a kiss on the top of her head, and her knees nearly gave out. Behind them, Mr. Miller cleared his throat. She stepped away from Miles and held out her hand to Mr. Miller, realizing it was the first time he’d seen her face. “I believe an introduction is in order. I’m Sylvie Bryce. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Miller.”

He chuckled, shaking her hand with a firm grip. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Bryce.”

Scanning the seated crowd one more time, Sylvie’s eyes caught on a familiar brown suit, and she gripped Miles’s arm with her fingertips. “Miles, that reporter is here, Mr. Howell. What could he want now?”

To her surprise, Miles nodded. “I know. I invited him.”

“Why did you do that?”