Page 82 of Three Scandals for the Wild Duke

"First of all, I want to apologize again, Emma," he began, his voice trembling with emotion.

"Oh George, but you don’t have to," Emma said, her heart aching at the sight of him so humbled before her.

"Do hear me out," he implored, and she listened, her breath catching in her throat. "When you expressed interest in my castle in Dorset, I realized it was in no condition to receive, much less house my Duchess, so I quickly traveled to put things in order and have some renovations commenced in time," he explained, his voice steadying as he spoke. "I did not ever thinkthat the Baron and Marquess would seize the opportunity of my absence and try to force a marriage before my return."

"You wouldn’t have known," Emma reassured softly.

He pressed a kiss into her palm. “The castle is named Grayward, but I believe it should be changed to Emton Castle, from your name.”

Her lips parted and she blinked. “You cannot be in earnest!”

He laughed. “Oh, I am.” He pulled her down into his arms, kissing both of her cheeks. “I am a man besotted, Emma. I want to name our castle after you and give you everything you can ever desire.”

“Oh, George.” Every painful memory disappeared in that moment, for Emma was finding where she belonged.

His expression grew serious. "After all that has transpired, we cannot trust the Baron with your mother. I took the liberty of arranging a house on the castle grounds for her to move into," he said, his eyes searching hers for approval. "That is if she will agree.”

"Oh, I am sure she would love to," Emma answered on her mother’s behalf, fresh emotion welling up within her at his thoughtfulness. She felt a wave of relief knowing her mother would be safe from her father’s tyranny.

"Have I earned your forgiveness now?” He cocked one eyebrow as she asked.

“After all the trouble you went through, I shall contemplate forgiving you, George. But not yet,” Emma teased as she made a show of pondering this.

George laughed. “Oh, but I need your forgiveness, Emma, as I need you to be my wife.”

She playfully asked, “Why?”

“Because I love you,” he replied, drawing her ever closer. “I love you, Emma,” he repeated with such vehemence that she momentarily forgot how to breathe.

Am I dreaming again?she wondered in bliss, her heart pounding with a joy she had scarcely dared to hope for.

“I have loved you since the very beginning, Emma, and was only too cowardly to admit it, much less share,” he added, his voice thick.

“You did not get in my way solely to protect Alex, did you?” she asked with a sly smile.

“You wish to see me entirely humbled before you, stripped of all my pride?”

“Yes,” she laughed.

“I wanted you for myself. Yes, I had to protect Alex, but every moment you spent in his company drove me toward bedlam!”

Emma laughed again. “Oh, poor, George. Who knew love could make you charming?”

“I was charming before. It is why you fell for me,” George said, a teasing glint in his eyes.

“I never said I love?—”

George silenced her with his lips capturing hers in a tender, sweet embrace. His kiss was soft and lingering, filled with a depth of emotion that spoke more eloquently than words ever could. Emma felt herself melting into him, her heart soaring with a joy she had never known.

She was free, at last!

EPILOGUE

Two days later

“It is my great honor to announce you man and wife,” the parson declared, his voice resonating in the elegantly featured drawing room of George’s house.

Unable to resist the overwhelming joy and love he felt, George turned to Emma and drew her close, captured her lips in a kiss, sealing their union with all the passion in his heart. The room erupted in cheerful applause.

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