“I planned to do this the night of the Twelfth Night party,” he started, not looking at her. “I began right before we went to the masque ball that night, you may remember?”
“I do recall you said we would talk about it afterward,” Thea said stiffly. Had he already been planning to leave then?
“Yes. Then everything happened. And, well …” Startling her, he dropped down on one knee before Thea and took her hand. “Miss Althea Bainbridge, will you do me the honor, the very great honor, of giving me your hand in marriage?”
Thea stared at him, unable to speak.
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “Thea? Don’t leave me hanging. I am making you an offer.”
“Gabriel!” She giggled, even as tears started in her eyes, and her hands flew to her mouth. “Oh, Gabriel! You can’t be serious!”
“Dash it, Thea!” He stood up. “Of course I am serious. I am asking you to marry me.”
“But I—but you—”
“I do believe I have rendered you speechless.” He chuckled, pulling her up and linking his hands behind her waist. “Come, my dear, I will help you. Just say, ‘Yes, Gabriel.’”
“But you are a lord, and I am a nobody. I am sure everyone would be shocked to see you marry a vicar’s daughter. And a spinster, as well.”
“I have no plans to choose my wife based on what others think.”
“But you are so handsome that all the girls doubtless drool all over you, and I am plain.”
“What a very off-putting picture you draw.” He bent to kiss her forehead lightly, following it with kisses brushed on the tip of her nose and the curve of her chin. “And you are not plain. You have beautiful, wild, silky hair that I want to bury myself in, and you have the most speaking gray eyes. And the longest, most devastatingly gorgeous legs.”
“Gabriel!” Thea laughed. “Stop. You are talking nonsense.”
“Are you really certain?”
“I have never been so certain in my life. You are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. The woman I want to raise Matthew with me. To bear my children. I cannot picture growing old without you. You are all I want. I love you, Thea.”
“And I love you. I love you so much!”
“Then why are we shilly-shallying about here? Just say—”
“Yes, Gabriel.” Thea smiled. “Oh, yes—”
Her words were cut off as his mouth covered hers.
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Table des matières
Cover
Back Cover
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen