Lily and the Duke (Sex and the Season 1)

God, yes, she had. “That’s not what I said.”

“I missed you,” he said, pulling her close to him, “and I know you missed me. You can deny it all you want, but you missed me.” He sprinkled wet kisses over her cheeks and her neck. “Tell me you missed me.”

His lips scorched her skin. A lie teased her lips, but couldn’t emerge. “I missed you.”

“Good girl.” He lifted his head from hers. “Since you missed me, I’ll tell you what you want to know. I went to London for you, Lily.”

“For me?”

“To find this.” He pulled out a small velvet box from his coat pocket and handed it to her.

Inside lay a gold ring adorned with a large striking green gem sparkling in the sun’s rays.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, her eyes shimmering.

“It’s your betrothal ring.” He took the box from her and slipped the ring on the fourth finger of her left hand.

She held her hand out, moving it slightly, the glint of the sun catching in the facets of the stone. It was the most incredible piece of jewelry she had ever seen.

“It took you all day to find me a ring?” she asked, unable to tear her gaze away from the beauty of it.

“I was looking for a particular color.”

“My, it is beautiful. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It’s the most amazing shade of green I’ve—” She looked up at him, her eyes misting. “Daniel, it’s the color of your eyes!”

His lips curled into a smile that illumined his entire face. “You wouldn’t believe the looks I got from the jewelers I visited when I told them what I wanted. There’s probably a rumor in all of London by now that the Duke of Lybrook is a complete narcissist.”

“It’s perfect. Just perfect. I’m so glad you—” She quickly willed back the tears that threatened to fall. “It’s not an emerald is it? The color isn’t quite right.”

“It’s a sapphire.”

“But sapphires are blue.”

“Not this one. They actually come in many colors. Do you like it?”

“I love it, Daniel. I really do. To think I was worried…”

“What is it, love?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“Tell me.”

“It’s just…when you wouldn’t tell me why you were going to London, and then you wouldn’t let me go with you, I just assumed…”

“What?”

“I thought you were going to see one of your mistresses.” She bent her head, unable to meet his gaze.

Daniel drew her chin up, forcing her to look at him. “Lily,” he said. “I don’t have any mistresses.”

“But Lady Gregory—”

“Was never my mistress. We had an affair. It went on and off for several years. But I never kept her. I never kept any woman. I never even wanted to.”

“But I thought…”

“It’s all right. I know my reputation precedes me. I’m not particularly proud of my exploits, and if I could erase them all for you, I would. But I can’t. I know I’m not worthy of you. But I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you. I’ll do anything to make you happy.” He kissed her lightly on the mouth and cupped her face in his hands, gently caressing her cheeks. “Lily, would it really be so terrible to be my wife?”