Page 70 of The Matter of a Marquess
“Isn’t it?” he repeated softly.
She nodded slowly. Because there was nothing else to do. He was right, and her heart sang as she finally let go of all her drive to protect him and embrace the pulsing, powerful decree to love him. For now and forever. Through whatever would come and whatever would be gained or lost. The love would always be there, just as it had always been there.
And it would be enough.
“I love you,” she said, and then she laughed as she shouted it louder. “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you!”
He cut her off with a kiss, and they clung to each other, this time not in desperation but in surrender. And it was the most beautiful feeling she’d ever felt. She was his, he was hers. There was nothing else but that now.
He broke away from her at last, and his smile was so wide and bright that it could have lit up her parlor on its own. She couldn’t help but return that smile and laugh with pure joy.
A laugh that was cut off when he said, “I did not plan to do this in your parlor after we were nearly killed,” he said. “But in the spirit of not letting another day go by…”
He tensed his body, and she saw the flicker of pain on his face as he put all his weight against his cane and dropped to one knee. She covered her mouth with both hands as she realized what he was about to say.
“Nicholas, you’ll hurt yourself,” she whispered.
“You are worth the pain,” he said. “You areallthe pleasure. And one must be on one’s knee when one asks the woman he adores to marry him. Aurora…marry me.”
It was a request and an order all at once. And she nodded without hesitation before she followed him to her knees and kissed him with all the love she felt, all the joy she now allowed and all the hope she could finally let in after everything they’d gone through. And as he pulled her closer, she knew that would be the rest of her days. No matter what came.
Epilogue
The ring, when Nicholas later produced it, was the most beautiful thing Aurora had ever seen. She couldn’t help but keep looking at it as they gathered with their friends in Robert and Katherine’s parlor. It was a joyful party, for not only were they celebrating the engagement, but that the case involving Imogen was solved.
“She’ll be free to return to her life within a few days,” Willowby said. “I know she is anxious to see you.”
“And I her,” Aurora said, finally able to look away from that sparkling ring. “Thank you for all your help when it came to her.”
“It was our distinct pleasure,” Diana said. “And congratulations on your engagement.”
The couple smiled and then peeled away to join Robert and Katherine, who stood with Aurora’s brother, her beaming mother and Bertrand Gillingham. While Nicholas’s father didn’t look entirely comfortable being included as a guest at this gathering, she could tell he was as pleased as any of the rest for his son’s joy.
“They look happy for us,” Nicholas said when they were alone and she realized his gaze had followed hers.
“They are,” she said. “My father may have been a cruel arse, but my mother and my brother approve of us.” Her smile faltered. “Even though the scandal I created and the one furthered by what happened at Fitzhugh’s club has made their own situation all the harder.”
“I’ll help them,” Nicholas said. “I promise.”
She glanced at him. “I know you will.”
“I’m probably the only Roseford bastard who actually invested their settlement,” Nicholas said with a laugh. “And I am happy to share it with your family.”
“Ourfamily.” She smiled up at him and found him watching her as he always watched her, with deep and abiding love. With protection and respect. With everything she had ever dreamed of, and more than she ever could have hoped for.
“Only a few more weeks until the wedding.” he said.
She nodded. “It’s been a very long time coming.”
He smiled, that bright smile that took years and pain from his countenance. The smile she wished to keep on his face every day for the rest of their days. “It was,” he agreed. “But our future starts today. And the next and the next.”
“I can’t wait,” she said, and then leaned up to kiss him.
