“This is not intended for a wedding. It simply happens to have a white veil.”
“Well, if there were to be a wedding suddenly and unexpectedly, you would be prepared for it. He bent to kiss the corner of her mouth. “You look adorable, my darling.”
“And you are quite dapper in that bottle-green waistcoat.”
Guy straightened. “We do make a handsome couple, I must say.”
“Mm,” Hattie distractedly agreed as she hunted for the other glove of the pair, which had been on the vanity only minutes before.
He snatched the missing glove off the floor and offered it to her. “Looking for this?”
“Thank you.” She tried to wedge her fingers inside, cursing under her breath before giving up.
Guy leaned against the vanity, arms folded. “Are you nervous about your speech?”
“Of course not. Why should I be?”
“Because you are about to address a crowd of perhaps a hundred or more, making an impassioned plea to male businessmen to accept and encourage their sisters in commerce.”
Hattie glared at him as she powdered her nose. “Thank you for putting me at ease.”
“I’m sorry. It probably won’t be that well-attended.”
“Not helpful,” she said grimly.
“That is to say, you’ll do fine no matter how large or small the audience. This is a topic you know well. You’re speaking to men who need to hear the message.”
Hattie replaced the puff in the powder box. “Most won’t actually listen. They’ll take one look at my skirt and dismiss me. Females will never possess the same level of power in the business community. I doubt their voices will ever truly be heard.”
“Not with that attitude they won’t,” Guy chided. “Do your best knowing if you reach even one or two of them you will have made a difference.”
She rose and slid her arms around him, finding the waistcoat silken to the touch and the man beneath it warm and solid. “Your encouragement is so sweet it makes my teeth ache. I don’t know what I’d do without your eternal optimism. You always improve my mood.”
“That’s my job.” He winked and kissed the tip of her freshly powdered nose. “I encourage, promote, flatter, distract, divert, and soothe. I place inklings of an idea in men’s minds. Since Mrs. P. set me a task to perform, I am an undercover operative for the WSPU, and no one but you and I know it.”
“And Rose,” Hattie pointed out.
“And Will,” Guy added. “But no one else. It’s quite thrilling, acting as a sort of spy, especially when I can feel some politician swaying toward our cause.”
“Our cause,” she repeated. “I like that. And I am very proud of you. Your sister and mother would have been, too.”
“But not my father. The idea of women as equals would have horrified him, and rightly so, since your gender is so terrifyingly strong and resilient compared to us weak men.”
Hattie cuffed his ear. “Stop joking. I need to focus on recalling my speech, and my knees are trembling at the thought of delivering it.”
“If you get on the stage and become rattled, find me in the front row and speak only to me. We’ll be the only two in the room, all right?”
She nodded, aching with love for this man who supported and believed in her. There was so much more to Guy than she had thought upon first meeting. His charm was merely a slick surface presentation. Underneath, he was warm, caring, loyal, and loving.
“Do you know that I love you?” she asked when she’d controlled her emotions sufficiently to speak.
“I thought you might, but it is very good to hear you say so. Thank you.” He struggled not to smile as he refrained from returning her proclamation. “Will you hold that thought for a moment? I have a gift I want to give you before we leave.”
“Is this really the time?” Hattie started to smile even before he opened the wardrobe and took out a very familiar hatbox. She knew precisely what it contained. Some time ago, Guy had insisted on buying Mrs. Darrow’s ugly hat from the shop. He’d taken to planting it in odd places around his house where Hattie would find it unexpectedly, always with a note attached begging: Wear Me!
He offered her the box with a bow. “A minor token of my esteem and affection. Please, open it.”
Hattie accepted his offering and removed the lid, prepared to laugh at its contents. But amidst the furbelows on the grand hat was a new addition. On the crown a real flower bloomed, and in the center of its unfurled petals a jewel sparkled—a diamond ring.
“Oh!” she gasped. “Good grief!”
Guy peered down at the glittering gem alongside her. “Good grief, indeed. What do you think? Might you make dual purpose of that hat you’re wearing? It’s so simple and elegant. So you. I would like to see it on you as we stand before a minister.”
Shock filled her so she literally did not know how to respond. She may have dreamed of marriage to Guy at some point in the future, but had certainly not expected a proposal so soon. Did she want to marry him? Of course. But was she ready to set a date? That was a trickier question.
Hattie pushed the box aside, slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for several long kisses. She pulled away to scold him, “You picked a terrible time to surprise me. I shall be utterly distracted during my speech.”
“That was my intent, to take your mind off being nervous.” Guy dropped to his knees and took her hands. “You are the queen of my castle, Hattie Glover. And I am not the king but merely a loyal subject worshiping at your feet. I am mad about you, utterly adore you, and would marry you tomorrow if you would have me.”
Hattie swiped away tears. “A businesswoman doesn’t accept a proposal without giving serious consideration.” She leaned to
