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“I love you, Roxina Danforth,” Shelby whispered, his voice rough with emotion, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might shatter his ribs. He couldn’t tear his gaze from hers, desperate to make her see the truth that surely must blaze from his eyes.

He took her long-fingered hands in his, unable to stop himself from brushing his thumbs over her knuckles, as if he couldn’t quite believe he was finally touching her—holding her. That, at long last, the moment had finally arrived when he asked her to be his wife.

“Marry me,” he breathed, his voice low and unsteady. “Let me spend the rest of my life proving just how fiercely I love you.”

He held his breath, still terrified he’d overstepped, petrified Roxina would hesitate or look away. Or tell him now wasn’t the time.

But she didn’t.

She stared at him, her breath catching, and for a moment, the entire world seemed to freeze, suspended on the edge of possibility. Tears glistened in her eyes, but they didn’t fall. Instead, she smiled—a radiant, breathtaking smile lighting up her face and filling the room with a warmth that chased away every lingering shadow.

“And I love you, Shelby Tellinger,” she whispered, her voice steady yet husky with emotion. Seeming not to care that her sickly brother looked on, she rose onto her toes and looped her arms around Shelby’s neck, drawing him down to her.

“Yes,” she breathed against his lips, her own trembling with the force of her happiness. “Yes, I will marry you.”

Relief rushed through Shelby so fierce, his knees almost buckled. His breath left him in a shuddering exhale, and he crushed her to him, burying his face in her hair as he slid his hands around her, holding her as if he’d never let go.

He didn’t trust his voice, didn’t even try to speak—just tightened his hold and tangled his fingers in her silky hair, reveling in the softness against his skin.

After a long, desperate moment, he pulled back just enough to cup her face, brushing his thumbs over her cheeks as he memorized every line and curve, every expression.

Then Shelby kissed her, softly and sweetly, a vow wrapped in tenderness, a promise made with lips and breath instead of words. The kiss stole the last of his restraint and left him breathless, but he didn’t care.

His beloved Roxina was his.

Nothing else mattered—neither the pain of the past nor the heartache that had dragged them both through hell. Only this—this unbreakable, soul-deep bond that wrapped around them like a sacred vow, binding their hearts as surely as any words spoken in a church. When he finally drew back, he rested his forehead against hers, his breath mingling with hers in the small space between them.

“I will love you until my last breath, Roxina,” Shelby whispered, his voice rough with the truth of it. “You’re mine, and I am yours—forever.”

“Yes, and once we are married and Mitchel is well, we can find a cozy cottage like this and start our life together.”

Perhaps now wasn’t the time to tell her that little chance remained that Mitchel would recover or that Shelby had bought a stately manor in Greenwich.

“Ahem.” Mitchel finally made his presence known. “Shouldn’t you be about acquiring that license instead of compromising my sister?”

TWENTY SIX

In Mitchel’s bedchamber

The Cottage in Blackheath, England

Several hours later–nearly five in the evenin

Where is he?

No sooner had Roxina asked herself the question for at least the hundredth time while glancing at the mantel clock, a quick rap echoed upon the door. She rushed to open it, and there Shelby stood, grinning with the license in his hand.

Before she could speak, he dropped a quick kiss on her mouth.

“Are you ready to become Mrs. Shelby Tellinger?” he asked, his voice rich with anticipation.

“I am,” she replied, breathless with relief and excitement.

Time had dragged on, each minute scraping by like a rusty wheel during the hours he had been away.

She had taken it upon herself to contact Reverend Pritchard, asking if he might be available that evening, should Shelby return at a reasonable hour. The reverend had graciously agreed, his wife, Mrs. Pritchard, offering to serve as a witness.

Roughly calculating how long it would take Shelby to travel to and from London as well as allowing time to procure the special license, Roxina asked the Pritchards to arrive at half past four.