calm and reasonable man, not given to wild tempers and uncontrollable rages.”
She laughed and, wriggling free of his loose grip, resumed her seat on the sofa. “And I do not, as a rule, behave like a hoyden with as much commonsense as a chicken.” Her ringless hand still rested in his.
“I have something to ask you, my love. Will you marry me? Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife? Will you make me the happiest man in England? You must answer me from your heart. I will understand if you feel that you cannot tie yourself to a brute like me.”
Her answering smile made his heart turn over. “I love you, and you love me, that is all I ever wanted in a match. I do not care how volatile our relationship will prove to be; if we truly love each other, it will survive.”
Instantly he looked younger, more like the man of scarcely four and twenty that he was. He smiled and his eyes bored into hers. “You still have not answered my question. Are you going to marry me? And how soon?”
She tipped her head as she considered. “Well, I promised Grandfather we would return for the Christmas festivities perhaps we could be married then, make it a double celebration.”
To her astonishment he leapt to his feet yelling out in triumph. The sound of smashing crockery outside the door announced the unfortunate demise of the expected hot chocolate. Sebastian froze in mid-air and his look of horror sent Emily into a fit of giggles.
“For God's sake, Emily, desist. The poor girl will think you are laughing at her expense.”
Still laughing, she ran across to open the door. Outside a smiling parlour-maid was scooping up the mess. “There is no hurry for my chocolate; I am sorry that Viscount Yardley startled you.”
“Not to worry, Miss Gibson. It's grand when a gentleman is so happy that he shouts it out like that.”
Emily closed the door and turned to face the man she had promised to spend the rest of her life with. He was watching the play of emotions cross her face.
“I have something here that belongs to you, my love.”
She held out her hand and he slipped the emerald ring back where it belonged.
