“Privacy? Hah! There is not a snowflake’s chance in Hell that I am going into that carriage with you, not until I have finished saying all I wish to say without the children comparing on my every word to that of some damn storybook hero.”
A tentative smile. “With my luck, they would probably be reading the passage where Valancourt, bumbling idiot that he is, manages to win his lady’s heart with some eloquent speech, making me feel even more of a stuttering fool than I already do.”
Alex paused long enough to take hold of her arm and pull her behind one of the stately elm trees lining the path. “Flowery sentiments do not flow off my tongue as easily as they do from Mrs. Radcliffe’s pen, my darling. I’m not some perfect hero, but a man with so many faults you have probably ceased counting …”
A strange sound caused him to halt in mid-sentence.
“You …” He peeked under the brim of her bonnet. “Octavia, you aren’t … crying, are you?”
“Of course not. I-It must be the spray from the fountain?—”
She had no chance to finish, for Alex’s lips touched hers. “Lord, you are more intoxicating than any of the spirits I have ever tasted,” he whispered. With a muffled groan, he pulled her closer. “Dare I hope, sweeting? After all, you have not yet felled me with a jerk of your knee.”
Rather than lash out, Octavia allowed the passionate embrace to wash away the last of her resistance. Her lips parted to deepen the kiss and her fingers, which had been poised to deliver a resounding slap, crept up to twine in the silky softness of his unruly locks.
“I imagine I can recite every one of your faults, starting from the time you accosted me with that first drunken kiss,” she said, drawing back from the embrace just enough to fix him with a smile. “They are what make you human, rather than some character with no more depth than a sheet of paper And they are far overshadowed by all your admirable qualities.” She lowered her lashes, which were still wet with tears. “Now it is my turn to be honest—I think you the most wonderful man in the world.”
He wrapped her in a bear hug.
“But Alex,” she managed to squeak, even though he was holding her so tightly she could scarcely breathe. “Things are rather more complicated than our own feelings. There is your family and position in Society to consider. And all the details of seeing that the children are settled with the right family.”
Alex smiled. “I have been busy in Town these last few weeks, but not in the manner that you implied when I met you at the docks. With my brother and my uncle lending their influence, I have managed to convince Emma’s trustees that she would be better off with a guardian that truly cares for her welfare, even if he isn’t a blood relative.”
“He?” she repeated.
“Me, actually. She seems to have grown rather fond of Nicholas, and as I also mean to look after the lad, I thought she might prefer being with us to the company of strangers.”
Octavia felt her heart give a lurch. “You wish to give up your life of a carefree gentleman about Town to take on the responsibility for two children?”
“Well, I hoped I might have a little help.” He gave a crooked grin. “You see, one of the reasons Emma’s trustee’s agreed to the arrangement was that I told them I soon hoped to be a respectable married man.”
Her insides were now doing full blown somersaults.
“And as for my previous existence, it no longer holds any appeal for me,” he continued. “William was kind enough to offer me one of the minor Leigh estates in Devon when I told him I wished to serve as guardian for Nicholas. I thought the four of us might enjoy a comfortable country life together, without being attacked by armed ruffians, frozen in raging blizzards or squaring off against Bonaparte’s army.”
“The four of us?” Octavia knew she was sounding rather slow-witted, but the idea was taking a little while to sink in.
“Well, I imagine we will be adding to that number soon enough.” A twinkle came to his eyes. “I have always wanted … a dog.”
She couldn’t repress a burble of laughter. “You are an incorrigible rogue.”
“No. Not anymore.” His face became serious again. “For too long I had been a castaway, lost at sea, adrift in a raging storm. But then I finally saw the bright beacon of a safe harbor in all the darkness, one that has helped guide me back to solid ground.” He pressed a kiss to the palm of her hand. “You are truly the light of my life, Octavia. I should like to spend the rest of my days with you. And Emma and Nicholas and children I hope we may have of our own.”
“I can’t think of anything that I would like more.“ Her cheek came to rest on his shoulder. “For one who claims no talent for words, you have certainly written a storybook ending.”
Alex gave a chuckle. “We really must see that the children take to reading less sensational literature. Something from the Bard, perhaps.” He thought for a moment. “I have it—The Tempest!”
Octavia looked up and brushed a kiss to his cheek. “I was thinking more ofAll’s Well That Ends Well.”
