Page 71 of The Viscount's Code
“Hope, I love you,” he said, voicing the words aloud, causing fear to slice through his heart – fear at what it meant to say such a thing, for it could very likely change his entire world. And yet, the love had grown greater than the fear, and he could no longer contain it within.
Her gaze lifted to his, disbelief filling her eyes. “You do?”
“Of course I do. I think I have loved you nearly since the moment I met you.”
“But then why—”
He sighed. “I was afraid of getting hurt again. And I was trying to protect you, to keep you from experiencing the ridicule that has followed Mother and me. I also didn’t want to separate you from your family.”
“What has changed?” she asked, which was a good question, for the truth was, even though he could now prove his father’s innocence, that wasn’t truly what had made the difference.
“I realized, as I sat at home in a lonely, empty house, reading your note, that nothing else in my life meant any more than you. That if I couldn’t have you and your love, what else mattered? This code breaking and treasure hunting has been fun, but it was just an opportunity to spend time with you. Even if we never set foot in anothertonevent, what does it truly matter?”
“I feel the same,” she said, tears spilling down her cheeks now. “All that I care is that we are together.”
“And we will be,” he said. “Once I can get myself out of this damn bed.”
She laughed at that through her tears, although she was obviously trying to dampen her emotions, which he wished she wouldn’t – not for his benefit.
“Come here,” he said gruffly.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” she said. “The physician said that as long as you woke, your head would heal, although your ankle could pain you for the rest of your days. Fortunately, Lord Ashford knew a fairly gifted surgeon nearby.”
“I’ll be fine,” he said. “I am rather stubborn. And even if I never fully heal, will you take a broken man?”
He was broken in more ways than just his ankle, but he knew that with Hope by his side, he could be whole in the ways that truly mattered.
“Always,” she said, reaching up and running a hand over the stubble of his cheek.
At her promise, he leaned down and took her lips with his, pushing aside the pain in his head to focus instead on the pleasure of her mouth. She gave him all that she had – with gentleness – which he accepted with a great amount of appreciation.
When they finally broke apart and stared at one another with small smiles, he began to ask her a question but thought better of it.
“What is it?” she said, in tune with his emotions.
“I was going to ask you something,” he murmured.
“But?”
“I should probably ask your father first.”
“I see,” she said, a smile dancing on her face. “What if he says no?”
He sighed. “Then I suppose I shall ask you anyway.”
“Then do it now,” she urged, and he studied her for a moment.
“Do you promise not to tell him that I asked you first?”
“Of course.”
“Very well. Lady Hope Newfield,” he said, taking a breath and tugging her in closer toward him. “Will you marry me?”
“I thought you would never ask,” she said, before her smile grew to a full grin and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
He winced slightly but didn’t care. She had agreed to be his, and that was all that truly mattered.
CHAPTER28
