“Yes. And it is an event I want to repeat. Every night. For the rest of our lives.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Genevieve. I haven’t been the same since the first moment I saw you, when I hid behind the statue in your bedchamber. It was as if lightning stuck me. God knows I haven’t been able to think of anything other than you. I knew I cared about you when I left Little Longstone, but I convinced myself I’d get over you. Forget my feelings.” He gave a short laugh. “What a bloody nincompoop I was. I quickly learned the folly of
Genevieve’s heart was beating so wildly, he surely had to hear it. “You love me?”
“So much it hurts.” He leaned forward and touched his forehead to hers. “So much I couldn’t stand another day away from you. Not another hour. Not another minute.”
“But your life is in London.”
“That doesn’t seem to matter-my heart is in Little Longstone.”
Dear God, he sounded perfectly serious. “But what of your work for the Crown?”
He lifted his head and looked at her through green eyes that reflected the seriousness of his tone. “I am officially retired. As for my life in London, I’ll keep my townhouse, but I’ve decided I’d rather spend the bulk of my time here. There is a fifty-acre tract of land for sale just west of the village. Beautiful trees, a lake, a pond and, best of all, four hot springs. It would be the perfect place to build a home.”
She swallowed, trying to find her voice. “You’re serious.”
“Never more so. Before I came to Little Longstone, I’d been discontented. Something was missing from my life, but I didn’t know what. Then I met you. One touch from you and I knew.
She actually felt the blood drain from her face. He meant it. Really, truly meant it. He loved her. Wanted to marry her. It was unbelievable. “My God,” she whispered.
Alarm flickered in his eyes. “Bloody hell, you’ve gone pale. I don’t think that’s good.”
A laugh escaped her, one that turned into a sob. His alarm grew. “Oh, God, you’re crying. I
Another laugh and sob. “I’m not crying. I’m…stunned. And deliriously happy.” She set down her flowers and paper then framed his face between her hands. “I feel exactly the same way you do-I love you so much I can barely
Anything else she might have said was lost when he snatched her against him and covered her mouth in a deep kiss filled with love and hope and passion. When he finally raised his head, he said, “I thought you were going to be stubborn and say no.”
“And what would you have done if I had?”
“There are six dozen more roses in my carriage. Along with the finest art supplies I could find-in the hopes that they’d encourage you to paint something for me.”
Emotion clogged her throat at the extravagant, romantic gesture. “That’s…lovely. And so thoughtful. I’d like to do that. Very much.”
“Excellent. But in case you still proved stubborn, there is also something else in the carriage-the Kilburn sapphire.”
“The Kilburn sapphire?” she repeated weakly.
He nodded. “Ridiculously large at five carats, but in spite of its gaudiness, impressive just the same. The Kilburn diamond is a more manageable three carats, but as I recall you saying you found diamonds cold and lifeless, I thought the sapphire a better choice for an engagement ring.”
A breathless laugh escaped her. “Really, all you needed to do was kiss me and tell me you loved me.”
“Now you tell me,” he teased. “I can see you’re going to be easy to please.”
“On the contrary, I’m going to be very demanding. Especially in the bedchamber, as all Today’s Modern Women are.”
“I don’t know when I’ve heard better news.” He peeled off her gloves and pressed a dozen kisses to her bare hands. “Please tell me you don’t want a long engagement.”
Heat and love and desire and pure, utter happiness whirled through her. “There are still two weeks left in November. How do you feel about a November wedding?”
His smile dazzled her. “My darling Genevieve, it just so happens that as with everything pertaining to you, I harbor a profound weakness for them.”
Jacquie D’Alessandro
Jacquie D’Alessandro is a
