“I’m in,” Fox said. “I’m always ready for a night of drinking. I don’t suppose I can convince you to forget about this marriage idea you have?”
“No,” Ezra said.
“Let it go,” Sheffield told Fox. “The man’s in love.”
Graystone chuckled. “And a man in love is quite unreasonable, as you know.”
“Tell me about it…” Fox grumbled.
They exited the house without any fuss. There was only one thing Ezra had left to do: ask Teddy to marry him.
Ezra had sent a note to her, apologizing. He had intended to call on her, but matters he claimed to be unforeseeable kept him away. Teddy crumpled the note up and tossed it on her desk. She had been anticipating his visit all day, and when he hadn’t shown, her heart filled with disappointment.
“Teddy,” Billie called out.
“In here,” she answered.
“Ah,” Billie said as she entered her bedchamber. “Good. You’re ready to depart.”
“Depart?”
“To the dinner party with Lady Amelia and Lord Carrolton,” Billie reminded her. “If you’re not dressed for dinner, why are you so…” She waved her hand over Teddy’s attire. “You know…done up.”
She’d dressed with care because Ezra was supposed to call upon her. Teddy couldn’t tell her sister that. “I assumed we would have some sort of engagement. I’ve not been able to recall what we are doing from one day to the next.”
“Oh.” Billie frowned. “Well, we need to depart. Zachary is already there and asked us to come by early. He sent a note.”
Teddy was confused but kept her thoughts to herself. She didn’t want to have dinner at Carrolton House. It appeared that it didn’t matter what she did want though. If it did, then Ezra would have paid a call on her, and then she could confess her feelings. She probably wouldn’t have a moment alone with him to do either of those things at Carrolton House.
“All right,” Teddy said. “If we must leave now, we might as well start. Are we walking?”
Billie nodded. “Yes,” she told her. “It’s not far, and Zachary will be with us to escort us home at the end of the evening.”
Good. A walk might help calm her before they arrived. She’d been on edge since the previous night. That kiss…it had been all she could think about. Ezra hadn’t told her he loved her, but she believed he did. Now she needed to hear the words, and say them in return. It was a bit odd to realize she was so willing to set aside her previous beliefs on love and marriage, but if she were to be honest with herself, she always considered Ezra the one man she would want to tie herself to. She just hadn’t fully believed in that possibility and had been preparing herself for a life without him.
Teddy followed Billie down the stairs where they put their bonnets on and headed outside. She didn’t say anything as they walked, and neither did Billie. Teddy was grateful for the silence. Her thoughts were so jumbled she didn’t believe she could have a proper conversation.
When they reached Carrolton House, Billie knocked. They waited for the door to open. A man with dark hair and gray on the sides greeted them. “Your Grace, my lady, please come in.”
They entered the foyer, and the butler turned to them and said, “Your Grace, the duke wishes for you to meet with him in the sitting room.”
“Wonderful,” Billie said. “Is Lady Amelia there as well?”
“Not yet, Your Grace, but she should arrive shortly.”
He turned to Teddy and said, “My lady, Lord Carrolton wishes to speak with you in private.”
“He does?” Billie lifted a brow. “That’s not…”
Teddy put her hand over Billie’s mouth. Billie glared at her and she’d retaliate later, but Teddy didn’t much care at the moment. She wanted to see Ezra and she would not let Billie prevent that. “That sounds lovely. Ignore my sister. She can be overprotective. Please take her to her husband, and then, if you’ll show me to Lord Carrolton.”
It didn’t take long for the butler to return and escort her to Ezra. He was in a library. There were so many books that she was momentarily stunned. She could get lost in them all so easily.
“Thank you, Brand,” Ezra said. “We won’t be long. Please tell our guests we’ll join them in the sitting room shortly.”
“Yes, my lord.” Brand said and then left them alone.
“You didn’t come to see me,” she said softly.
“I know,” he said apologetically. “I wanted to.”
She stared at her feet, unsure what to say next. This was quite awkward. How did one tell a man she loved him and wanted more than a few kisses.
“Teddy,” he began. “Look at me.”
She lifted her head and met his gaze. “Why did you wish to speak to me in private?”
He smiled and her heart soared. There was something about this man that made her entire being come alive. “For a few reasons,” he told her and crossed over to her. Ezra cupped her cheek. “I wanted to touch you, kiss you, and hold you without recriminations.”
“And?”
“Is that not enough?” He lifted a brow. She shook her head. “You’re right. It isn’t. I think it’s time we quit fighting what is between us.”
“What do you believe is there?” Her lips twitched. “I do not see anything that would deter you or me.”
“Teddy love,” he began. “I do adore you.”
“I am rather fond of you myself.” She told him. “But that doesn’t answer my question.”
He chuckled. “I love that about you. No matter what I say or do, you don’t let it stop you from speaking your mind. Our days together will never be dull.” Ezra picked up her hand and lifted it to his mouth, then placed a kiss there. “This courtship, if you can call it that, was fast and unconventional. Through it all, I know one thing with certainty. I love you, and there is no other woman I want as my wife. If you’ll have me…”
“Are you
