Page 118 of Too Sinful to Deny

“And my parents’ carriage,” she admitted. “I can scarce believe the driver left without me.”

Evan’s gaze snapped to hers and he pulled her to him fiercely. “I wouldnothave let you go.”

“No?” she asked breathlessly. The idea of launching herself at him and attacking him with kisses was sounding better and better. Before she could do so, however, he loosened her fingers from his elbow. He dropped to his knees in the rocky sand and took her hands in his.

“I love you,” he said, and the stark emotion in his face nearly brought Susan to her knees as well. “I cannot imagine life without you. I swear I will do everything in my power to make you the happiest woman alive, from this moment until the end of our days, if only you will agree to marry me.” His strong voice cracked, and his grip on her hands tightened. “Please.”

Susan pulled him to his feet.Nowwas the moment for the scandalous kissing.

“I’ve been waiting for you to ask,” she told him in the brief seconds when her mouth was not open against his. She twined her fingers in his hair and pressed herself to him. “I love you, Evan. You’ve already made me the happiest woman alive.”

His lips trailed kisses along her jawline to the lobe of her ear. “That’s a yes?”

“Absolutely.”

He swung her into his arms and covered her with kisses. Whether they were the object of scandalous attention, she had no idea. In that moment, her world consisted of only Evan and her.

Which was as it should be.

Epilogue

He went to the stupid assembly after all.

It had been one of the many conditions set down by his wife after their wedding breakfast. Along with providing for Miss Grey and ordering beautiful headstones for Lady Beaune, the Runner, Red, and Timothy. His condition was for every one of them to receive a proper funeral ceremony, whether their bodies had been recovered or not. She’d stared at him as if that much was obvious, kissed him, and said, “Of course.”

Wife.Just thinking the word still made Evan’s head spin. As did the fact he’d get to keep her forever.

Bath, Susan had agreed, was a compromise for them both. She would give up London—where, apparently, things hadn’t been at their finest anyhow—so long as he gave up Bournemouth. Scarcely a hardship. He’d move to the farthest corner of the globe so long as it meant he could be with her.

Which was why he was piling bland sandwiches onto a tiny plate and juggling two cups of the worst punch he’d ever tasted in his life. Laughing at himself, he made his way back to her side.

She accepted both the punch and the sandwiches with a grateful smile, and sipped a fair bit of the insipid liquid without spitting any of it onto the dance floor. How she could look as though she actually enjoyed the stuff, Evan had no idea. He had half a mind to upend a bottle of brandy into the mix, just to give it some flavor.

He restrained himself. His wife would probably frown upon such behavior. And he was trying to be a good husband. Well, depending on how you defined “good.” He’d danced two waltzes with her, and even managed to sneak her into the gardens during the boring country sets. He should probably let her know bits of leaf still clung to the back of her chignon... but he didn’t. He got a wicked sense of satisfaction from knowing how it got there.

He was damn glad he hadn’t shot Forrester after all. Going to Canterbury to fetch a special license had worked out much better than going to Newgate for murdering a magistrate in front of witnesses. Evan still hadn’t decided if he wanted to be present when Forrester hung, but he kept an eye on the papers for news. His wife might wish to attend Ollie’s drop with her companion.

Even now, Susan and Lady Emeline were engaged in one of their odd conversations, wherein Susan did all of the talking and Lady Emeline mostly just nodded. It seemed to suit them both just fine.

Apparently able to feel the heat of his gaze on her neck, his wife turned and raised her brows at him from over the tops of her spectacles. Then she winked. Evan got the distinct feeling she well knew there were leaf bits in her hair and was keeping them there on purpose, just so he wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about her. As if he ever could. She was perfect.

Susan whispered something to Lady Emeline and both women toasted him with their matching cups of pink water. He toasted back with a flask from his waistcoat pocket. Susan affected a scandalized expression, but his partner in crime laughed her infectious silent laugh and held her pink punch out for another dollop of French brandy. Susan held out her cup, as well. When he took her cup, she plucked the flask from his hands and downed a healthy swallow. Was it any wonder he was absolutely mad for this woman?

Evan pulled her into his embrace and swung her in a circle. Still smiling, he covered her mouth with his. She nipped at his lower lip, then pulled him closer. Her kisses tasted like warm brandy.

She would’ve made an excellent pirate.

THE END