“I wouldn’t have declared myself in front of those nitwits if I didn’t.” A
grimace supplanted his smile and he muttered, “I will never hear the end of it from Dunne.”
Victoria couldn’t help grinning. “You were extraordinarily romantic. Thank goodness you never showed your true nature to the rest of the unmarried ladies. One of them would surely have fallen for you long ago.”
He gave his head a quick jerk from side to side. “I never wanted any of them to know me. But you, I couldn’t resist sharing myself with you. In fact, I don’t think I could have stopped myself. The truth finally hit me Sunday. I was coming to tell you when I discovered you packing to leave.” He shifted his eyes briefly to the dancing flames of the candles. “How ever did you know I had questioned your ability?”
She cast her eyes down. “I overheard Peyton speaking to you that afternoon.”
Directing her chin back up, he asked, “When we were in the billiards room? How could you have misunderstood me?” Endearing puzzlement crept into his eyes. “I was explaining to Peyton how my opinion of you had changed so much since we first met.”
“Yes, well, I only heard Peyton’s part of the conversation and so...”
Taviston kissed her. “I am truly sorry I ever thought such horrible things about you, Victoria. I didn’t know you then—and I didn’t want to because you did not fit the image I had of my ideal bride. I never meant to hurt you.”
She pulled away. “Why apologize? You were completely right. That had to be the worst dinner party of all time.”
“Not true at all. Now, if Egham had died, I might allow you to say that, but since he didn’t...”
“Taviston!”
He smiled and closed the gap between them. “No, it wasn’t the social event of the year, but you did many things right, my dearest. Your mistake lay in not asking for help.” He hushed her with a finger on her lips. “I know. You were trying to prove yourself. I knew offering any assistance would only irritate you even more. But you can’t expect to know everything right from the beginning. No one does. My mother no doubt could have told you about Egham and the almonds. I could have warned you about the fierce rivalry of those MPs and Jane is probably aware of the affair going on between Lady Egham and Lord Linslade.”
She nipped at his finger and he removed it, freeing her to speak. “I suppose you also knew how brash and boorish the prince is.”
“I’m afraid so. I would have suggested you not invite him. We really aren’t a part of his circle, nor do I wish to be. I was surprised he even came.”
“I am sorry I put you through that. ‘Pride goeth before a fall.’”
He kissed her on the nose. “Do not apologize. I think you planned a wonderful dinner, and you handled the kitchen crises rather well, I hear. And, you can only get better.”
“What if I don’t?” she questioned in all seriousness.
“Then we will have the most scandalous, and therefore most interesting, dinner parties in town.”
She took a step away from him at that, remembering his discovery of the sketches. “You probably shouldn’t tease about scandal. There is still the matter of the drawings I sold to Mr. Ripley.”
He tilted his head and contemplated her, then reached for her hand and pulled her over to the yellow-cushioned bench lining the gazebo. He did not let go even after they were seated. “I assume Mr. Ripley prints Hither and Yon?”
She nodded. “We met by chance and he liked my sketches. Offered to pay me for them.” She looked out over the flickering candlelight. “I liked the security of having my own money. I have to admit I liked the praise too.”
“Well deserved praise.” When she looked over sharply, he turned to face her, his knee bumping hers. “As I mentioned the other day, you are quite talented. And I can but thank you for taking the risk to submit the drawing of us. That was very clever.”
Victoria stared up at him, surprised to see such softness around his eyes. “You aren’t angry about the sketches? About the potential scandal?”
He reached out and cupped her cheek, swiping his thumb gently across her skin. “No, I’m not angry. I’m proud. I’m proud of all that you are and all that you do. The only thing I care about is you, me, and our love. Nothing else matters anymore, Victoria. Yes, I wanted an impossibly ideal bride, but I was an idiot. I love you and just having you in my life is more important than anything.”
She ducked her head as tears welled in her eyes. Taviston swiped his thumbs across her cheeks.
“Don’t cry. I love you.”
More tears spilled over. “That’s exactly why I am crying. I thought I was going to have to live in misery, loving you but receiving nothing in return. I’m so overjoyed I can now show you how much I love you.”
“Oh, really?” he asked as a black eyebrow shot up. “Why don’t we say those marriage vows again, right here and now, with just you and I?”
“Meow.”
“And Arthur.”