Without hesitation, his arm encircled her waist and pulled her flush against him, his kiss just as fervent. A balm to soothe the wound that he had inflicted upon himself for ever letting her go. He kissed her with everything he possessed, relieved and besotted and awestruck by feeling her in his arms again.
He needed her, wanted her, desired her to the point of madness. Even in his exhaustion, he would have mustered all of his remaining strength to lay her down upon that settee and finally give in to that last temptation; the line they had not yet crossed.
But, as it was, he needed to show some restraint, or he might end up out in the grounds of Gramfield with a pistol in his hand, while the baron demanded a duel.
“I am still furious that you took such a long time,” she said, pulling back. “I really thought I would have to marry this other man.”
He nodded. “I know. I am still furious with myself.” He brushed a lock of golden hair behind her ear. “But I am here now, and I am sorry, and I love you.”
A radiant smile, the kind he had dreamed of, broke across her beautiful face. Her hands cradled his cheeks, her eyes searching his as if she could not quite believe that this was real.
“I love you, too,” she said, a bright, delighted laugh pealing from her lips. “Oh, how I love you. I have wanted nothing more than to be with you. So many times at Blackwall, I wished you would ask me to stay… and I suppose it is better late than never.”
She loves me.In all his life, he doubted sweeter words had ever been spoken to him, the cracks that marred his heart slowly closing up. He had done it; he had saved her from a miserable future that she did not want, and he had saved himself in the process.
A smile tentatively curved his lips, adoring her more with every moment. “Well, since you arenotyet married, do you think you might do me the honor of becoming my wife?” He paused. “That way, you can stay at Blackwall Castle with me forever, through every season. And, of course, your siblings have a place there with us. I could not, in good conscience, leave them here.”
“Just when I thought I could not love you more,” she murmured, her eyes twinkling with what he hoped were happy tears. “Yes, my darling. Yes, my love. A million times, yes. I will marry you. I will?—”
“What do you mean she is in there with another gentleman?” A loud bark of displeasure popped the bubble of love that swelled within the drawing room.
Valerie clung to Adrian, her eyes suddenly wild with fright. Her fingernails dug into the muscle of his upper arms, her face draining of all color. “Oh no…” she whispered. “Oh no.”
It seemed they had both forgotten that, before they could seize any happiness for themselves, they would have to deal with the betrothed who had tried to claim Adrian’s bride for himself.
But as he took Valerie by the hand and headed for the door, ready to face the scoundrel, the strangest thought jabbed him in the back of his mind:Wait… why does that voice sound so familiar?
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
“Iknow no more than you do,” Gregory simpered, his hands clasped, his head bowed like the weaselly little coward that he was. “Truly, he just appeared and demanded to speak with her, and I could not refuse.”
A tall figure in a cloak stood with his back to Adrian and Valerie, his posture tense and his tone less than patient. “Listen, I did not come all this way to be left out in the hallway while some other gentleman speaks to my betrothed. This is discourtesy of the utmost degree, and I will not stand for it. Whoever this fellow is, you go in there and you instruct him to leave.”
It cannot be…Adrian squinted as if that might help him to better understand what he was seeing and hearing. That voice was as familiar to him as his own. It was a voice he had heard every day when he was away at school and was usually more interested in regaling him with lewd stories instead of educating a baron on courtesy. Then again, Adrian did not often see the ‘society version’ of his friend.
“Richard?”
The cloaked man turned as if he had just heard a pistol shot, whipping around with a startled look upon his face. Although, whether that was because he was seeing Adrian out in the wild, instead of behind the same four walls, or if it was the fact that his best and oldest friend was holding hands with, presumably, his betrothed was something Adrian could not decipher.
Valerie tugged on Adrian’s hand, her face scrunched in a mask of complete confusion. “Youknowhim?”
“Adrian?” Richard rasped, shaking his head as if he were looking at a mirage. “Adrian, what on earth are you doing here?” He shot a glare at the baron. “Why did you not tell me that it was the Duke of Norwood speaking with your daughter?”
A little unanchored, Adrian did not know who to respond to first. He had been ready to do whatever he had to in order to wrench Valerie away from her betrothed, but he could not very well challenge his dearest—and, in truth, only—friend to a duel. Could he?
“He is my dear friend,” Adrian replied to Valerie, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “We have known one another since we were boys. Indeed, he was briefly at Blackwall Castle when you were, though I… did not want the two of you to meet. I did not know thathewas your betrothed.”
Valerie squinted, her throat bobbing. “It does not change anything, though, does it?”
“Certainly not,” Adrian reassured, leaning in to whisper, “You are mine, my love. No one else will have you but me.”
But, thisdidrather complicate matters.
“I thought you were at Roseby’s?” Adrian said, turning his attention to his friend. “You were supposed to be visiting me on New Year’s Eve. That is tomorrow. So, how can you be here?”
Richard approached, a confused smile upon his lips. “I meant to ride to Blackwall this afternoon, to arrive by tomorrow. I have been back in London these past couple of days—Roseby’s was terribly dull now that he has so many children, so I made my excuses.” His gaze flitted between his friend and Valerie. “Ihadintended to try and invite you to my wedding on Twelfth Night, but it seems you have already met my bride.”
“Mybride, Richard,” Adrian replied in an even tone, mustering a smile of his own. “The night you were certain I was hiding a woman in the castle—Valerie is that woman.”
