“You were expecting me?”
“I hoped you would come very much? Would you mind locking the door? I don’t wish for any interruptions.”
“Beth said I was wanted in the morning room. She didn’t say by whom.”
“You’re always wanted. I’ve told you that before.”
She locked the door, amused by his demeanor. He sounded decidedly uncertain. The first time she could remember him being so. “I remember.”
When she returned, he grinned. “Alone at last, my lady.”
“Alone again, sir,” she whispered.
He took the key from her fingers and set it aside. “Keys are dangerous. I have a confession to make. Do you remember how you lost all your servants?”
She nodded. “Yes, I still cannot believe they are gone.”
“They are not gone. They are not far from here actually.”
Blythe gasped. “Where are they?”
“It
seems I neglected to retrieve my key from your housekeeper when you came to Harrowdale. She took it with her and when the staff of Walden Hall heard Lord Venables plans to lease the house, forcing you out, they decided to seek employment elsewhere.”
“You poached my servants for Harrowdale?”
Tobias raked his hands through his hair. “As if I had any say in the matter. No, your staff poached Harrowdale for you. It seems your housekeeper believed we would marry one day and has taken it upon herself to prepare the house for your arrival.”
Blythe shook her head. “I said no such thing.”
“Neither did I. But I do not entirely dislike her plans.”
He removed a bunch of flowers from behind his back and held them out. “For you, my lady.”
Her hand shook as she accepted them, and Tobias dropped to one knee. He caught her free hand in his and pressed a kiss it. “My Angel. If I was a poet I should write a sonnet singing your praises. If I were a rich man, I would shower you in jewels to prove you would never be without. If I were a true gentleman I would have asked your brother for your hand. But he is not here and I cannot wait another day to tell you how I feel. I love you. I never want to pretend otherwise again. Marry me, B.”
Blythe had lifted the bouquet to her nose to hide how his words affected her. She had never expected to find love a second time, but she loved her wild pirate so completely that she could not say yes immediately because she was so overcome with joy.
When she remained silent, he got to his feet and moved the bouquet aside.
Tears spilled down her cheeks and she started to laugh. But her laughter was merry, and her elation and tears bubbled over.
“Is that a yes? Did I do everything the way you wished?”
She sniffed and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Yes. Yes. I’ll marry you, my wild pirate.”
“There’s my girl.” Tobias scooped her up into his arms and spun them about the room until she was giddy. When he stopped, he held her face between his hands. “There is my precious angel. The woman who conquered her pirate.”
Blythe dropped her bouquet and twined her arms about his neck. She clung to him, drinking in his scent, his strength, and the surety that he was the only man she could ever love.
He drew back suddenly. “Finch has unfortunately set up the nursery. I fear she’s trying to rush things in that direction.”
A hot flush of embarrassment swept over her skin and she dipped her head to hide her disappointment. “She was smitten with Adam, but I understand that you would prefer not to have any children of your own.”
Tobias lifted her face to his. “What I’d prefer is not to have children whose mother isn’t married to their father.” He brushed his lips against hers softly. “I don’t want you to feel pressured. I know I can never replace what you lost, but I vow never to make you regret your decision to marry me. I’m not titled or rich by any stretch of the imagination. But I truly care about you and long to see you happy.”
Blythe bit her lips as she nodded and then buried her face in his chest. “I thought my life was over when I lost my family. I never thought I could be this happy again.”