“You are”—she grinned—“not. How were you to know, after all, your sisters were erotic masterminds bent on infiltrating the highest reaches of society with their brazen books?”
“Can we say that in a bit more of a whisper?” Tipping his hat over his brow to hide a wince, Samuel decided to forgive himself for being entirely oblivious. And to keep a more astute eye on the remaining unwed six. “Or not at all.” Emma’s chuckle made him tip his hat back up so he could better see her. “Aren’t you beingbrazen, Your Grace, with such talk? What if someone heard, found out?”
“What if they did?” She tipped her chin in the air, every inch a duchess. “We would still have each other.” She spread her arms wide, as if all of Hyde Park belonged to her. “And them. I am not scared, Duke.”
“And I,” he said, stopping her, holding her elbows so she faced him, and bending low so they were almost nose to nose, “love you.” Such small words, almost incapable of holding the wave of emotion in his chest. “From the moment we met, I knew I was meant to know you in some way. I was grateful for a single moment, but now I am greedy for all of them. From now until forever, I love you Emma Merriweather.”
“You did not know. In the garden that night. You could not have. The light was so dim, you could barely see a thing, certainly not our future.”
“That is where you’re wrong. I always see the bullseye clearly, and I always hit the center.”
She glanced down at her chest. “I see no knife.”
“It’s in your heart.”
“Should I be dying?”
“God, don’t do that. You’ve lost the thread of the conversation.”
“I always know where the thread is.” She held up her wrist, putting the embroidered edge of her glove—blue on white—just beneath his nose.
He laughed, and words tumbled out with it. “I love you. Will you scandalize thetonand let me embrace you? Here, now, in front of—oof.”
She threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him. Chaste but full of promise, as was her gaze when she pulled away, setting them back down the path, arm in arm. “Some things are worth the risk.”
He loved Emma proper and prudent, but he loved her just as much when she set all her worries into the wind and did as she pleased.
But her bold actions had birthed a bit of shyness that tumbled her gaze toward her feet and fumbled her fingers in the folds of her pelisse. “Youare worth the risk. What I mean to say is… I love you, too, Samuel.”
He’d never tire of hearing it. He’d tell her every day and thank God when she said it back. Their steps lengthened together, sharing a pace and rhythm, and Samuel inhaled, exhaled, the spring air bracing, invigorating.
“Were you pleased with the wedding?” he asked.
“It was lovely. Lottie and Aunt Georgie did a wonderful job planning it.”
“And you were not… upset we’re doing this instead of a breakfast?”
“I lovethis.” She raised her face to the sky, letting the sun caress her.
“And you were not upset that… your father was not there?”
“No!” She stopped and squeezed his hands. “Samuel, not at all. It was perfect. Everything has been perfect.” She hooked her arm through his and set them back down the path. “Especially that little clause in your contract with him. The one about how he loses his monthly payments if he shows up uninvited.”
“It only seemed prudent.” He kissed the back of her wrist between glove and sleeve.
“I will not miss him. Not on this day or any other.”
After several steps, Samuel pointed his chin to the side of the path and mumbled, “I will missthem.”
Just there, Lottie, Andromeda, Prudence, and their husbands chatted, their eldest children wrestling with one another nearby as Lady Templeton attempted to corral them.
“I understand,” Emma said, placing the lightest kiss on his shoulder.
At the far end of the path, Isabella and Imogen and their husbands stood beneath a tree. No doubt Trent had sneezed, and they’d moved to shade to keep the conversation free from further disruption. Nearby Admiral Garrison and his wife strolled arm in arm.
“I know you do.” Samuel kissed Emma’s temple, and they continued down the path. At its end, Felicity, Glenna, Briar, Diana, and Juney laughed. Sisters. What a damn delight. Those who sought to court them had better understand and appreciate their worth.
“Samuel, you have that look about you like you want to stick a knife in someone’s gut.”
