Page 98 of Only a Duchess Would Dare
“No, I won’t,” Race said as he walked over to stand by Susannah. “They belong to the Raceworth family.” He looked over at Mrs. Parker and said, “With your permission, I’d like to marry your daughter.”
Susannah gasped and felt her heart rising up to her throat. Race looked at her with loving eyes before gazing back at her mother.
“The Talbot pearls will no longer be yours or mine. I will give them to Susannah on our wedding day, and then they will be hers.”
Race took Susannah’s hand and kissed it. “I know I’m asking a lot of you to give up your title as duchess to marry me, but I promise to love you forever and never make you sorry you agreed.”
Susannah was too astonished, too euphoric to speak at first because he had asked her in front of everyone. “You want me to marry you?”
He smiled. “As soon as I can make it happen.”
“Yes,” she said without hesitation as she looked up into his glowing eyes. “I love you, Race, and I will gladly give up my title to marry you.”
The room erupted into cheers and clapping from everyone, including Susannah’s mother.
Race bent down and whispered into Susannah’s ear, “Leave your door unlocked. I will be coming through the yew again tonight.”
“You can’t. My mother is here,” she whispered back to him.
“Then I suggest you put her on the second floor with Mrs. Princeton. I will not be denied your bed tonight.”
Race turned to Susannah’s mother and with a smile said, “Hide your eyes if you so desire, Mrs. Parker, because I’m about to kiss your daughter.”
Without further warning, Race pulled Susannah into his arms and kissed her soundly on the lips.
Susannah thrilled to his touch.
THE END
