“Ah, my lord,” Kitty said as she got to her feet, moved to the grate, picked up a poker, and began sticking it in and about the fire.
“You will dirty your lovely gown,” he said softly, taking the poker away from her and setting it in its holder.
She smiled. “It is pretty, isn’t it? Simple, but quite—”
“Sometimes, simple is all you need.” His voice was husky and low. He was finding it hard to breathe. “Kitty … we need to talk.”
“Oh for goodness sake, what in blazes have I done now?”
“That, for instance, is not how a lady expresses herself. What in blazes … indeed.” He chuckled, stepped closer, and watched her finely winged brow rise.
“I thought you knew by now, my lord, I have no desire to be a lady,” Kitty threw back at him, her green eyes lit with flames.
He loved her beyond reason. Did she love him as well? She must, for he was sure he would end a broken man if she didn’t.
He took her into his embrace and murmured, “I believe you, and yet I mean to make you one all the same. Kitty, I want you to be my wife. I want you to be my one—my only, my Lady Halloway.” Thus declaring himself, he kissed her mouth and parted her lips for his tongue.
Her tongue tasted of sweet wine, and he drank deep. He pressed her into his body and backed her up against the wall. She was so pliable, so willing. She was going to be his bride. Suddenly his head exploded with passion and light, and all he wanted to do was start right that moment showing her how very much he loved her.
He got on his knees, took off his signet ring, and in a voice he did not recognize asked, “My own true love … will you be mine? Will you make my life complete and be my bride, forever, my bride?”
* * *
Was this a dream?
Was he here … saying words she had only hoped she might hear one day? His kiss took her away and into a world of starlight. Her body tingled with need. Her thighs clenched with desire. And then, before she knew what was happening, he was on one knee. This big, beautiful man, bowing to her, asking her to be his wife … and all at once she thought she might faint.
She nodded vigorously that, yes, she would be his bride, but she couldn’t speak. He slipped the ring on her finger, and the room actually tilted to one side before it started to spin right before her eyes.
Her knees crumbled, and she knew she was about to pass out.
He had her in his embrace. He shifted her, lifted her cradle-like into his arms, and hurried out of the library. She was vaguely aware and tried to tell him she was fine, but the words wouldn’t leave her throat. She rested her head against his chest, and he murmured words of love,
“My sweet girl … has it all been too much … do you not wish to marry me? You can say no, of course you can say no … if you don’t love me …” His voice broke on these last words.
“Love,” she said, but it came out as a hoarse whisper.
“What?” he asked, and hope filled his voice.
“Love … love you,” she managed.
He kicked her door, which was partially opened, and carried her inside, laid her gently on the bed, and went back to close the door. After locking it, he returned to the bed and shrugged out of his superfine, undid his waistcoat, and sat on the bed to take her hand.
“Kitty … I adore you … do you understand what that means?”
It was true. It was all true. He loved her.
She nodded her head as the world began to stabilize.
“Do you, my heart? It means, only you … no other, ever … just you,” he said desperately.
“Just me,” she repeated. Then suddenly she took a long gulp of air and sat up straight to eye him warningly. “Of course just me. If we are married, you may not have any other flirt.”
He laughed, but all at once she flung herself at him and, with her arms around his neck, demanded, “Kiss me again and again and again.”
She was on fire as his lips burned against hers. She wriggled into his embrace and whispered, “My dratted gown needs off …”
“Happy to assist,” he growled and began undoing the buttons at its back. She was impatient and pulled at it as she yanked it over her head and flung it to a nearby chair. She wore very little beneath her gown, and even that was soon off.