He drew her hand from his cheek and kissed the center of her palm. “I will tarry off to the side, watching over you as your most steadfast friend. I will cherish and protect you until my dying day. I’m not claiming I’m much of a catch—”
She cut him off. “Don’t denigrate yourself to me. You’re a fine man.”
“But I offer you what I have: my name, my home, and an exalted role as my countess. Say yes, Libby-Henrietta. Be my wife.”
“Would you demand I cease my performing?”
Gad, was she actually considering his wild scheme? If she would ask such a question, she must be. Obviously, she was as deranged as he was.
“I would never tell you what you could and couldn’t do,” he said. “I wouldn’t be that foolish. You wouldn’t heed me anyway, would you?”
“I’d heed you—if you ever voiced a remark that didn’t annoy me.”
“You’re Little Libby Carstairs. You’re the Mystery Girl of the Caribbean, and you’ll always be her. Even if you become Lady Barrett, even if you become Mrs. Lucas Watson, you’ll always be Little Libby and Little Henrietta. I could never take any of that away from you, and I’m certain your fawning admirers wouldn’t permit it.”
He was still on his knee, prostrate before her, and gazing at her with such affection.
The few weeks they’d been acquainted, where they’d misbehaved so egregiously, had been the best of her life. If she rejected him, when would she ever again be that content? He would be lost to her forever.
He was offering her what she craved. A devoted husband. A beautiful home. And someone to love. Someone who would love her back.
Why wouldn’t she consent? Why wouldn’t she reach out and grab Luke Watson? Why wouldn’t she keep him for her very own?
He dug into his coat and pulled out a ring. It was a simple gold band with a gorgeous sapphire stone in the middle that exactly matched the color of her eyes. He slipped it onto her finger, and it fit perfectly. As she stared down at it, she decided she would never remove it. Not ever.
“Libby-Henrietta,” he said, “will you marry me? Will you be my bride once and for all? Will you make me the happiest man in the world?”
She delayed as long as she dared, until he glowered and squirmed. When he grew too impatient, he clasped her waist and gave her a firm shake.
“Answer me, you tempting vixen. Stop being such a tease.”
“Yes, Lucas Watson, Lord Barrett, I will marry you. I will be your bride. I’ll try to make you happy, but it’s more likely I’ll drive you mad on a very regular basis.”
He smiled and she smiled too, then he rose and lifted her up too as he asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“You can’t get cold feet later on. I won’t allow it.”
“Let’s don’t worry about me,” she told him. “You’re the bachelor in this crazed duo. If anyone gets cold feet, I’m betting it will be you.”
“You figure it will be me? Why would it? I’ll have you, Libby Carstairs, as my wife for the rest of my days. I’m predicting I’ll never have a dull moment.”
‘I promise you won’t.”
“Shall we elope to Scotland like Penny and Simon? I’m afraid if you have an opportunity to reflect on this, you’ll change your mind.”
She studied him, reveling in how handsome he was, how dashing, how marvelous. “We don’t need to hurry off to Scotland. I’ll never change my mind.”
“Swear.”
“I swear,” she said.
Then he was kissing her, twirling her in circles until they were crashing into the furniture like a pair of drunken fools. Finally, he released her, and he was grinning, preening.
“I knew I could convince you,” he arrogantly said. “I never had any doubt about it.”
“I won’t argue the point,” she replied. “With you, I never stood a chance. Not from the very start.”
THE END
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SOMEONE TO WED
SOMEONE TO CHERISH
SOMEONE TO LOVE
MY SCOUNDREL
ALWAYS MINE
ALWAYS YOURS
ALWAYS
JILTED BY A ROGUE
JILTED BY A SCOUNDREL
JILTED BY A CAD
FOREVER
FOREVER AFTER
FOREVER MINE
FOREVER YOURS
ONLY MINE
ONLY YOU
HEART’S DEBT
SCOUNDREL
HEART’S DEMAND
HEART’S DESIRE
HEART’S DELIGHT
WONDERFUL
WANTON
WICKED
SEDUCING THE GROOM
LOVE’S PERIL
LOVE’S PRICE
LOVE’S PROMISE
SWEET SURRENDER
THE WEDDING
MUD CREEK
MARRY ME
LOVE ME
KISS ME
SEDUCE ME
KNIGHT OF SEDUCTION
NICHOLAS
DREAMS OF DESIRE
TASTE OF TEMPTATION
PROMISE OF PLEASURE
SLEEPING WITH THE DEVIL
DOUBLE FANTASY
FORBIDDEN FANTASY
SECRET FANTASY
TOO WICKED TO WED
TOO TEMPTING TO TOUCH
TOO HOT TO HANDLE
FURTHER THAN PASSION
DEEPER THAN DESIRE
MORE THAN SEDUCTION
COMPLETE ABANDON
ABSOLUTE PLEASURE
TOTAL SURRENDER
LOVE LESSONS
MOUNTAIN DREAMS
MY TRUE LOVE
MY ONLY LOVE
MEG’S SECRET ADMIRER
THE WAY OF THE HEART
Someone to Love
Copyright 2020 by Cheryl Holt
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
ISBN: 978-1-64871-195-4 (Print version)
ISBN: 978-1-64871-193-0 (E-version)
Copyright 2020 by Cheryl Holt
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