Page 110 of To Catch A Thief
“Idiot,” his grandmother said again.
“If I love her, and I’m not admitting it, then I wouldn’t want to bring her down to my level.”
“If you love her, you’ll go after her and never let her go.”
He stood there, staring at her, his breath coming unevenly.
“Excuse me, but is there going to be a wedding?” The Reverend Pettiforce demanded in a fretful voice. “If not, I’d like to return to my home.”
The dowager duchess turned to look at her grandson. “Well, Jamie? Are you going down in history as the first saintly Ormond? Or are you going to take what you want?
She tried everything, Georgie thought. Thrown herself at his feet, even brought his grandmother along with her for extra ammunition, though, since the carriage belonged to the duchess, it was more accurate to say she’d been brought along.
All for nothing. She’d been wrong all this time, he didn’t love her.…
The door to the carriage was yanked open, and Rafferty stood there, a thunderous expression on his face.
“What are you doing in here?” he demanded.
“You… You said you didn’t want me.”
“I said I wasn’t going to marry you,” he corrected.
A sudden light filled her eyes. “You mean I can be your mistress? Oh, that would be perfectly fine. I’d enjoy being a fallen woman.”
“You’re not going to be my mistress,” he said, his voice grumpy. “I’ve changed my mind. Assuming I even have a mind left after dealing with a hoyden like you.”
She eyed him warily. “Changed your mind about what?”
He looked absolutely furious, never a good sign, but hope was stirring within her. “Remember when you told me that true love meant letting someone go?” he said.
“Yes,” she said uncertainly.
“Then I guess I don’t love you enough, because there is no way in hell I’m letting you get away from me ever again. That unpleasant man will marry us with my grandmother and Jenkins as witnesses, and you’ll have to live with the consequences. I need you, Georgie. I can’t let you go.”
Her smile was dazzling enough to light the universe. “Really? Truly?”
“I’m in love with you, Georgie. And I’m tired of being noble.”
“I would think so. You’re a bad man, or so you told me. Do the bad thing and marry me.” And she jumped from the high carriage into his arms.
He caught her, holding her tight. “No one will accept it if you marry your butler,” he warned her. “We’ll be outcasts.”
“I know,” she said cheerfully.
“I’ll ruin you.”
“Yes, please,” she said, and she kissed him.
