She drew back slightly. “What is it? You did not buy me a gift, did you? I thought we agreed.”
“If I have a gift for you, it’s not the sort one might buy.” He winked, his eyes full of promise. “I shall give it to you later.”
“You are very naughty.” And she loved him for it.
“I want to ask you for a gift.”
“Of course. Anything.”
He pushed back from the table, and she realized he was falling to one knee. “Pierce!”
“We’ve spoken of it, Eliza, but I must do this properly.” He took her hand in his and looked into her eyes. Ever since she’d been a small girl, plain and mousy, she’d dreamed of the day a man asked for her hand in marriage. She had not thought any man would ever see her, much less want her for his bride. And now Pierce was asking her, his words as sweet to her ears as honey was on her tongue.
“Eliza, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I love you. I cannot live without you. Please say I will never have to. Please give me the gift of your love.”
She kissed him tenderly. “Yes. Oh, Pierce. With my whole heart, yes.”
He had impeccable timing. On this night of traditional present-giving, when all the world celebrated the gifts given to celebrate God’s greatest offering to humanity, how could she not say yes? Pierce was correct. This love between them was the perfect gift, the most wonderful gift of all.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Grace Burrowes, Carolyn Jewel, and Miranda Neville for the work they did on this novella when it was published as part of the Christmas in the Duke's Arms anthology.
Thanks as well to my agents Joanna Mackenzie and Abby Saul for helping me release it singly.
Thanks to Kim Killion for the great cover and to Gayle Conchrane for her input.
About Shana Galen
Shana Galen is the bestselling author of passionate Regency romps, including the RT Reviewers’ Choice The Making of a Gentleman. Kirkus says of her books, “The road to happily-ever-after is intense, conflicted, suspenseful and fun,” and RT Book Reviews calls her books “lighthearted yet poignant, humorous yet touching.” She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston's inner city. Now she writes full time. She's happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making.
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More from Shana Galen
If you enjoyed this story, read more from Shana in her next anthology, A Gentleman for All Seasons.
Want more Moneypence and Q? Their story starts in Love and Let Spy.
In the mood for Christmas stories? Read Shana's novella, “A Prince in Her Stocking” in Christmas in Duke Street.
Or dive into one of Shana’s many series...
The Covent Garden Cubs series begins with Earls Just Want to Have Fun.
The Lord and Lady Spy series begins with Lord and Lady Spy.
The Jewels of the Ton series begins with When You Give a Duke a Diamond.
The Sons of the Revolution series begins with The Making of a Duchess.
The Misadventures in Matrimony series begins with No Man’s Bride.
The Regency Spies series begins with While You Were Spying.
