Ruined (26 page)

‘Never,’ she answered.

He laughed, a laugh that held a hint of self-mockery. Then he released her, stepped back, and went down on one knee. He looked up into her face, his own expression utterly serious. ‘Jez, you are my lady, my treasure, my guiding star, and somehow, you have become my reason for living.’ He paused. ‘I suppose it’s a little late to propose properly, but will you marry me?’

For answer, she tugged at his shoulder, and he stood and took her in his arms once more. After a long, very satisfactory interval, she said, ‘In some ways, you have always been my gallant knight.’

‘With rusty armour and a soiled tabard,’ he said derisively.

‘Perhaps,’ she conceded. ‘But remember that I have positive proof of your gallantry.’ He raised his brows. ‘My figurine,’ she reminded him. ‘I have it still.’

‘And where is it?’ he whispered, just before he kissed her.

‘In my room, upstairs,’ she replied, as soon as she was able.

‘What made you come after me?’ Jessie asked some time later, as they lay entwined on her bed. She had dreamed of him here so many times. Never had she thought that they would lie here together as lovers, as man and wife.

‘It was a conversation that I had with my son,’ he told her. ‘He reminded me that if I really wanted you, really loved you, then I should be prepared to fight for you. He made me wonder whether we were each agreeing to an annulment in order to make the other happy.’

‘I
love
Ilam,’ mused Jessie.

‘Do you really, madam wife?’ asked the earl, tipping her on to her back and soundly kissing her. 

‘Yes of course,’ she answered, as soon as she was able. ‘But not nearly as much as I love you. He’s not pretty enough for me.’

He gave a shout of laughter. ‘What
I
know,’ he said, when he had stopped laughing and they were gazing into each other’s eyes, ‘is that I love you more than I would have believed possible.’

She reached up with her left hand to touch his cheek. He took hold of her hand, and turned the wedding ring on her finger. He had removed it from the chain around her neck after he had unfastened her gown, and put it on her finger before they had made love. ‘I think that I am going to like being married,’ she murmured.

‘It has many benefits,’ he agreed, his lips very close to hers.

His Lordship’s Gardener

The Grand Tour

The Squire’s Daughter

Derbyshire Deception

Fallen Woman

The Wild Marauder

The Squire and the Schoolmistress

The Adventuress

The Other Miss Frobisher

A Gift for a Rake

Lady of Lincoln

Clerkenwell Conspiracy

Jilted