He chuckled. “I admit that I am at fault here.” He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and gazed into her eyes lovingly. “But it is a bit late to be having our first argument. You need to be in bed.”
She laughed and pulled away from his embrace. “Will you always be so overbearing, Your Grace?”
“You know that I am always at your mercy,” he told her. “But I shall not hesitate to enforce a bit of authority for your own good.”
She laughed again and gazed up at him with shining eyes. “Very well, then. Good night, Your Grace. I shall see you tomorrow at breakfast.”
Oliver could only smile tenderly at her. “Sleep well, my darling Claire.”
He could not help but smile as she blushed at the endearment and ducked away to her rooms like a little child.
When she first came in, he had felt a despair he had never imagined, only to have it replaced by such immense joy!
I wish I had followed Suzanna’ good advice and confessed sooner.Then, we would not have to be in this predicament.
As he thought of his sister, a chuckle emerged from him. He could only imagine the surprise on everyone’s faces tomorrow when he and Claire announced that they would be officially courting!
Chapter 21
Claire could not sleep.
In fact, she could barely keep still in her own bed as a silly smile spread across her features as she laid upon the covers in her nightdress.
When she had agreed to accompany the Marquess for the afternoon ride, she had done so with a mind to ease her troubled heart that had not settled ever since she felt His Grace pull away from her. She was only vaguely aware of the particular attention he paid to her and when he finally expressed his intentions to marry her, she had been surprised but not nearly as overjoyed as she expected to be.
Because I had already given my heart to someone else,she thought with wonder.I had fallen for His Grace without my knowing it. Unconsciously and irrevocably, I had given him my heart.
She blushed as she thought of earlier in the study. She had gone to ask him the question the Marquess had posed on her—with her father gone, who was responsible for her?
She had dreaded the question. In all honesty, she had felt a queasiness in her stomach but felt that she at least had to have some bravery in her to ask His Grace. After all, was it not the sole purpose of every noble young lady to sally forth to London for the Season? That she may find a suitable match, a man of appropriate means, and a status to match her own?
However, she had not expected His Grace to react so passionately against the thought of her marrying the Marquess.
And well that he did, as I could not have been happier with anyone else! I would never have thought his affections towards me leaned in that manner. I thought he was angry with me or that, perhaps, he had not cared as much as I thought he did. I am quite glad I was wrong.
And tomorrow, they were to announce their courtship to their two sisters over breakfast!
Claire felt a warm blush steal into her cheeks when she recalled how he had fallen to his knees and begged her not to marry the Marquess, confessing that he had held her in his heart for so long.
When he gathered her in his arms and kissed her so softly, so tenderly for the first time, she felt her heart would burst with such a perfect happiness!
I could not have dreamed a happier dream for myself, she smiled.Not even in the most romantic and silliest of books could I find one that inspires my heart so!
Her heart filled with so much happiness and excitement, it was a wonder she finally managed to fall asleep hours after they had finally confessed their feelings for each other in the study.
However, when she finally did, there was a faint smile on her face as she slipped into her dreams. There was a strange peacefulness as she fell asleep, secure in the affections of His Grace.
If only I could find a way to gently let the Marquess down, she thought as her eyes fluttered closed.
After all, he had been most attentive towards her the past two weeks and although His Grace did not have the greatest faith in his old schoolmate, she felt that it was the right thing to do, before they made their courtship public.
I only hope he will not be too angry with me.It was not fully my intention to lead him on. How could I have known that His Grace has loved me far longer than I have ever considered it?
* * *
When light stole across the streets of London, the Duke could hardly contain his excitement as he got dressed and ready for the day with the help of his valet.
The events of last night were still fresh on his mind and he looked forward to breakfast when he and Claire would break the news to their two sisters, Suzanna and Trixie.
