Page 78 of The Valet Who Loved Me
“Hmm,” came Lady Courtney’s reply. “Ask for an extended honeymoon and invite your friends.”
“Not a problem whatsoever,” Beau replied without skipping a beat. “With the money I won from a certain bet a while back, I’m prepared to take the whole lot of us on the best honeymoon money can buy.”
“It sounds promising, Lady Courtney,” Marianne replied, smiling at Beau with tears in her eyes.
“I agree, dear,” Lady Courtney replied. “I quite agree. He may be a madman, but he’s an eligible madman.”
“Ask for some jewels!” another lady shouted from a nearby coach.
“I can’t help that I’m a marquess,” Beau continued, smothering his laugh about the random lady’s comment, “and I cannot blame you for not relishing the role of a marchioness, but I love you madly. Please, please say yes. I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy. I’ll even pretend I’m a valet if it will help.”
“That seems unnecessary,” Lady Courtney added.
“Yes, Beau,” Marianne replied. “A thousand times, yes. I’ll marry you.”
“Tell him you love him, girl,” Lady Courtney advised.
“Oh, and yes, of course, I love you, too,” Marianne added with a laugh.
Beau leaped to his feet, picked her up, and spun her in a circle as the entire line of carriages gave them a deafening round of applause.
“I loveyou, Marianne,” he whispered as he set her back down and gave her a robust kiss that earned ahuzzahfrom the crowd.
“I love you, Beau. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the valet who loved me.”
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