Page 114 of Sinful Persuasion of a Lady in the Making
Her words stabbed painfully at Sebastian. He hated to think of his sister in so much agony and filled with such self-loathing.
“Oh, Diana, I—”
“Please don’t pity me,” she interrupted and then she grinned. “Besides, I suspect my situation is about to get a lot better.”
“In what way?” he asked.
“I cannot say just yet, but you’ll find out, in time.”
He looked at her curiously, but she simply smiled and walked away without another word. He would have thought on it longer, but as soon as she was out of the way, he had a clear path to his beloved Jenny.
How beautiful she looked, how perfect and angelic. He felt a stirring within him, of love yes, but of passion too. From across the room, they gazed into each other’s eyes, both smiling, both lost in thoughts of the future and what delights it would bring.
It was then that Sebastian had the idea. He looked around the room, his mouth moving, ready to speak.
“Er… can I have everyone’s attention, please?”
They all turned to look at him in surprise, Jenny most of all. His words were hesitant at first, but he soon found his rhythm.
“First of all, I want to thank you all for being so kind and helping with my recovery.” He looked at each of the faces smiling back at him. “Actually, that’s not really what I wanted to say. It’s true, of course, but—”
He turned to face Jenny, took a step toward her, and she raised a hand to cover her mouth.
“What I wanted to say was how much I love this wonderful, funny, intelligent woman sitting in front of me. Miss Jones has a power over me like no other. She is strong and independent, and she will keep me running circles around her until my dying day. She takes my breath away, but at the same time she allows me to breathe. She restricts me, making me a better man, and freeing me all at the same time.”
“Lord Hartwood, I—”
He could see the flush in her cheeks, but he could also see the happiness in her eyes.
“Miss Jones, you are everything to me, and without you, I am nothing.”
“Always the sweet talker,” she said, but he could see the tears of joy gathering in the corners of her eyes, and he couldn’t bring himself to stop.
“Miss Jones, I wish to ask you, in front of all our loved ones, whether you would do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Jenny stuttered, unable to reply. He saw her glance over at Mr. Jones, who nodded at her and smiled his approval. And then she turned back to him and gasped and said, “Yes, yes. I would dearly love to become your wife.”
She leaped up from her seat and wrapped her arms around him in a brief, chaste embrace, before stepping back, embarrassed. He was aware of the impropriety of it, but he didn’t care. He took her hand, and he kissed it gently.
“Thank goodness for that,” he said, and the room ruptured into happy laughter and gentle applause.
They sat down to a feast prepared by the cook, Sebastian seated opposite Jenny so he could look into her eyes over dinner. But before they could eat, Lord Denninson got to his feet again and requested everyone’s attention.
“Before we eat, I wouldn’t mind saying a few words, too, if you don’t mind.” He turned to Sebastian, his wine glass raised. “You have rather inspired me, Lord Hartwood.”
“Oh yes?” Sebastian was confused, but when he saw the grin on his sister’s face, he thought he put the pieces together.
“Lady Diana and I have discovered that we have an awful lot in common, and we really rather enjoy each other’s company,” Lord Denninson said, smiling down at her. “And, if Lord Hartwood is agreeable, of course, I would like to take her hand in marriage. She is, simply put, a remarkable woman, and I cannot stop myself from thinking about her every single day.”
“Agreeable?” Sebastian asked, shocked but pleased by the news. “I am not agreeable, I am overjoyed! Assuming, Diana, you wish to—”
“As if you need to ask such a thing! Of course I wish to.”
“Heavens, two weddings in a single summer,” Mrs. Jones said delightedly. “This really is turning out to be a wonderful evening.”
“A toast, then,” Mr. Jones said. “To love. That which has captured us all and that will go on filling our hearts for the rest of our earthly lives.”
“To love!” they called out in reply.
