“On what it is you wish to do.”
He grazed his teeth across his lower lip. “That is interesting to know.”
“What do you?—”
He dipped his head and kissed her again, answering her question without a single word. And as she melted into his embrace, she thanked the heavens and the fates for the day she had stepped into the church to find Dickie absent. After all, her husbandhadbeen waiting for her, just in the wrong place.
Smiling against his lips, she sent one last barter up to fate.
If he keeps kissing me, we will be the happiest couple that ever did live and loved.
Fortunately, he showed no signs of stopping.
EPILOGUE
Two Weeks Later…
“Is this true?” Phoebe gasped, her hands on her hips.
Daniel, standing at her side, put his arm around her shoulders as if he meant to hold her back from lunging at Dickie. Although it was Ellen she was staring at in horrified disbelief.
“I refused him,” Ellen said quietly, shooting a pointed look at Caroline.
Caroline shrugged in reply, smiling sweetly. She had been momentarily furious with her good friend for revealing her secret to Dickie who had, in turn, revealed the secret to Max. But it had not lasted long, considering it was the very thing that had kept them from making a terrible mistake.
“But you have been courting in secret? Is that true?” Phoebe pressed, looking like she might faint or scream.
The rest of the Spinsters’ Club and their husbands were gathered in the beautiful drawing room of Cedar House, where they had all been invited to spend a week with Max and Caroline, who were in the process of purchasing it.
“It will bea welcome reprieve from the strain of London society and the incessant gossip of the scandal sheets,”Caroline had explained, putting on her most desperate voice as she did.“It will be good for the children, too, to get some fresh air away from the city.”
The Spinsters’ Club had jumped at the opportunity, not realizing that there was a plan afoot. Namely, to get Dickie and Ellen together again. Although, in this deceit, Max had insisted on being equally complicit, wanting to reward his brother for trying to do the right thing by finding him a wife that he loved, and who had feelings for him in return.
“We were not courting, Phoebe,” Ellen insisted. “But we… happened upon each other quite often, and when we did, it was… very pleasant.”
Phoebe paled, leaning against Daniel for support. “Unchaperoned?”
“Occasionally,” Ellen murmured, grimacing. “But when he proposed marriage, I knew you would not approve, so I refused him. I had heard you talk about his reputation and thoughIbelieve he is different from what you have heard, I did not do anything foolish. I could have eloped, but I did not.”
Anna stepped forward with Percival on her arm, casting a pensive look at Phoebe. “Dearest Phoebe, I know I cannot persuade you to ignore Dickie’s reputation when I have remarked upon it often enough, but… I have never seen him like this before. Nor have I ever heard of him actually proposing marriage to anyone.” She raised an eyebrow at Dickie. “If he were to ever hurt her or embarrass her, he would not survive my wrath—I can promise you that.”
“Indeed, he must know that he would have all of us to contend with,” Matilda added, flashing Dickie an even sharper look as he stood, head bowed, beside Ellen.
Percival raised a hand. “If I may, I have known Dickie for many, many years, and I have never seen him like this either. I had thought it odd that he had not mentioned anyone for what seemed like an age, but now it makes sense. He was already besotted with Ellen here.”
“And how many times has he been ‘besotted’ before?” Phoebe asked desperately, wafting her hand in Dickie’s direction. “Goodness, I could not bear it if he broke Ellen’s heart.”
“I never would,” Dickie said, raising his head. “I have never felt this way about anyone. I am filled with a sense of… utter calm when I am near to her, and everything becomes maddening when I am not. When she speaks, I hear no one else. When she smiles at me, it is like the sun is shining on me and me alone. And… I love her, Phoebe. I know that my stupid, youthful actions have made it impossible for you to believe that I am sincere, and I will accept a thousand refusals as punishment formy wayward antics, but it will never change the fact that I love her.”
Phoebe groaned, pushing her palm against her forehead. “Do you love him, Ellen?”
“What?” Ellen straightened up, a flush of pink blooming in her cheeks.
“Do you love him?”
Ellen cast a sideways glance at Dickie, who offered her a shy smile. “Yes,” she said quietly. “Yes, I do love him. I have tried not to, but I cannot help it.”
“And if he were to ask for your hand in marriage again,” Max interjected, flashing a discreet wink at Caroline, “do you think you would accept?”
