Suddenly, he blurred before her eyes, and she felt a tear slide down her cheek. He caught it with his thumb, caressing her cheek. “So, will you, Amanda?” he asked. “Will you save me from that terrible fate and marry me and spend your life with me?”
Before she could answer, another voice entered the conversation. “You have to kneel down, Papa,” Colin said, tugging at his coat. “Mrs. Richmond says it doesn’t count unless you kneel down.”
Amanda laughed through her tears as Jamie sank down to one knee in front of her, still holding her hand. He opened his mouth to continue, but he was once again interrupted.
“The ring, Papa,” Owen whispered, nudging him in the shoulder. “Show her the ring.”
“You bought a ring?” she choked.
“Of course.” Jamie let go of her hand, patted his pockets, and pulled out a small box of white velvet. When he opened it, the pear-shaped sapphire set in platinum and surrounded by diamonds took her breath away.
“I chose this one,” he said as he pulled it out and handed the box to Colin, “because I think it looks a bit like the kite. Remember the kite?” he asked, taking up her hand.
“Of course, I do! It was this shape, and this exact shade of blue.”
“Yes. I chose it because it will remind you every day of your primary responsibility as my wife and the mother of my children.”
“Kite flying?” she asked, laughing through her tears. “That’s my primary responsibility?”
“No, my darling. It is taking me to task whenever you catch me watching my children play from a window instead of joining them. Can you do that? Will you?”
“Yes,” she cried, capitulating utterly. “Oh, Jamie, I love you so.”
The ring slid onto her finger, and then his arms were around her, his lips were on hers, and she knew in a haze of bliss that she would never have to face the world alone again.
After a moment, a cough interrupted them, and they pulled apart as Owen said rather disapprovingly, “I thought people weren’t supposed to kiss until they’re married. You’re not married yet, you two.”
Jamie pressed his forehead to Amanda’s. “Isn’t it about time we sent them to school?”
“No,” three voices told him at once.
“They’re not ready for school yet,” Amanda added, twining her arms around his neck, laughing as the twins cheered. “But at least they’ve finished polishing all the silver.”
“Yes, well . . .” Jamie’s voice trailed off and he sighed. “About that . . .”
She groaned. “What have they done now?”
“Kiss her quick, Papa,” Colin said before his father could answer. “Then maybe she’ll forget all about it, and you won’t have to tell her anything.”
“Now that,” his father murmured, “is excellent advice. Who needs Lady Truelove, when we have these two to guide us? I think, Amanda, I shall have to employ Colin’s strategy whenever you and I have an argument.”
“If I kiss you first, there won’t be an argument,” she said, and pressed her lips to his before he could say another word.
About the Author
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By Laura Lee Guhrke
Governess Gone Rogue
The Trouble with True Love
The Truth About Love and Dukes
No Mistress of Mine
Catch a Falling Heiress
How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days
When the Marquess Met His Match
Trouble at the Wedding
Scandal of the Year
Wedding of the Season
With Seduction in Mind
Secret Desires of a Gentleman
The Wicked Ways of a Duke
And Then He Kissed Her
She’s No Princess
The Marriage Bed
His Every Kiss
Guilty Pleasures
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Digital Edition FEBRUARY 2019 ISBN: 978-0-06-285370-7
Print Edition ISBN: 978-0-06-285369-1
Cover illustration by Jon Paul Ferrara.
Avon, Avon & logo, and Avon Books & logo are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.
HarperCollins is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.
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