"Was it? Is that why you refused my proposal, Brie? Because you thought me indifferent?"
When she made no reply, Dominic felt hope surge within him. He took a deep breath and drew Brie down to sit beside him. "I wasn't at all indifferent," he said solemnly. "The moment you left, I realized what a fool I had been—for not telling you that I love you."
Slowly, Brie lifted her head to stare at him. "You love me?"
Dominic studied her face, noting the guarded expression in her eyes. Striving to find the right words, he lowered his voice to a mere whisper. "You refused me once, Brie, but I hope to God it was my manner of approaching you and not your feelings that prompted your refusal. I'm asking you again. . . . Will you marry me?"
When she still remained silent, he gently cradled her face between his hands, holding her gaze. "I want you for my wife, my love. Will you have me?"
Brie searched his face intently, looking for any sign that he might be playing a cruel game with her. But his gray eyes were completely serious, holding a touch of uncertainty in their depths that went straight to her heart. "Are you sure Dominic? I couldn't bear it if you—" She broke off, her voice choking with tears.
Seeing her weakening, Dominic pressed his small advantage. "If it's your independence that concerns you, I'll have my attorneys draw up a contract leaving you in full possession of your fortune, to be given to your children or your designated heirs—whomever you choose. I'll even have them include a paragraph stipulating that your manner of dress is beyond my authority. You can wear those blasted breeches whenever you care to. I don't want to deprive you of your freedom, Brie. I only want you—on any terms you care to name."
When she lifted her gaze to his, he could read the answer in her eyes, could see the love shining in their clear depths. His heart soared with joy. But he wanted to hear Brie's answer from her own lips. "Will you marry me?" he repeated softly.
Brie nodded.
"Yes?"
"Yes, I will marry you."
Dominic closed his eyes in sheer relief. Drawing Brie into his arms, he simply held her, his cheek pressed against her hair. "How can I ever begin to say I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you?"
With tears of happiness running down her cheeks, Brie buried her face in his good shoulder. "You don't need to, just so long as you love me."
"God, Brie. . . . Do you know how humble you make me feel? I don't deserve you."
When she didn't answer, he leaned back a little and with a finger, tilted her face up to his. Seeing the tears trickling down her cheeks, he gave her a devastatingly tender smile. "No tears, my love. This is to be a joyous occasion."
"I know," Brie sniffed, wiping her eyes. "It's just that I don't believe this is h
appening."
"You should have accepted my proposal the first time and saved us both this misery."
"The way you phrased your proposal hardly inspired confidence in a rosy future, my lord," she interjected with some of her usual spirit. When Dominic's gray eyes filled with laughter, Brie pressed her hands against his chest and sat up. "I would not have married you under any circumstances, since you thought yourself forced to have me."
He grinned slowly, a heart-stopping grin. "But you are still forcing my hand, chérie. I would rather cut out my heart than let you go." Still looking at her with that mixture of love and laughter and tenderness that held her spellbound, Dominic pulled Brie into his arms once more. "I do love you, you know."
"You do?" she murmured, her thoughts suddenly distracted by the way his hands were caressing her back.
"Yes, my darling Brie," he whispered in her ear. "I love you passionately, madly, desperately. And I'd like to show you. Unfortunately, Jacques will be along at any moment, not to mention that Julian would truly kill me if I made love to you right now."
Coming to her senses, Brie sat up abruptly. "Julian would kill us both," she said, self-consciously dabbing at Dominic's wound again.
Dominic grinned. "I think we should send him to London. Someone has to tell your family that you are safe, and he can make up some kind of story to reassure the Langleys. Perhaps he can phrase it so Sir Miles won't feel obliged to call me out."
"My uncle won't call you out. Not if you intend to marry me."
Dominic reached out to run a teasing finger over her lips. "Does that mean I can have my wicked way with you?" he said huskily.
Seeing the gleaming lights in his gray eyes, Brie flushed. "You're in no condition to undertake such an activity. You're wounded, remember?"
"I remember. It hurts like hell. But I'm not sure if I can wait till after the wedding."
Brie smiled, meeting his gaze fully. "Neither am I."
They did wait, for even when Julian returned to London, Katherine remained at the inn to act as chaperon. Dominic and Brie were permitted a chaste kiss or two, but nothing more.