Page 70 of A Single Obsession

“Yes, there is. I left you alone in the dark, and I’m sorry.”

Eliza’s countenance lit up at his words. “You’re apologising for leaving me?”

Beau screwed up his face in confusion. “What else would I be apologising for?”

“I thought you were sorry you…” Her colour deepened with every word.

As Beau stared at her rosy cheeks and the eyes that would not quite meet his, he realised what she meant. She assumed he was apologising for kissing her.

The corners of his mouth turned up and a wide grin spread across his face.

“No,” he said. “I’m not sorry for that—and if you continue to look so adorable, I’m going to do it again.”

Eliza finally met his gaze. Her eyes shone as a shy smile crept onto her lips.

He wanted to kiss her. Desperately.

He remembered how she’d trusted him to take her to see the badgers and the way she’d responded to his kiss before he’d deserted her, leaving her with desolation on her face.

But now the trusting look was back. It made him want to conquer the world for her. To cover her in kisses—but there was something he needed to do first.

He pressed his eyes closed and took a deep breath. When he reopened them, he tried to speak, but his mouth went dry, and no words came out.

Beau pulled at his neckcloth, which always felt too tight at such moments, and cleared his throat once, and then again.

“Eliza, will you do me the great honour of becoming my wife?”

He stared into her face, suddenly uncertain what her response would be. Afraid she would reject him and break his heart. It seemed like an eternity before she gave him her answer.

“Yes.”

That was it. A simple yes. She had agreed to marry him.

The smile that had temporarily fled in his nervousness returned with full force. He couldn’t help it.

Eliza wanted to marry him.

He opened his arms, and she walked into them, nestling up close to him. It felt so right. He lowered his head and, tipping up her chin with one finger, he pressed his lips to hers.

The kiss was tender and sweet, and he let it remain so, keeping his desire well under control in the cool light of day.

“I’ll try to make you happy,” he said, kissing her forehead. “I promise.”

He placed her hand on his arm and gave it an affectionate pat, holding it there as they returned to the house together.

The first person they saw as they walked through the door was his mother. She stared at their linked arms and then at him.

For once, he didn’t wilt under her gaze. “I’m delighted to tell you Eliza has agreed to become my wife.”

“Has she, indeed? What a lovely surprise.”

Beau shot his mother a curious look. She did not seem at all surprised that he’d finally done what she had been nagging him to do for so long. He had the distinct impression it was what she had expected, and that he had, once more, acted as a puppet, moving as she pulled his strings by proposing to this woman at this time.

He shook off the feeling that his mother had contrived his marriage and revelled in the pleasure that Eliza was his choice.

And she had said yes.

Chapter 31