Page 72 of The Duke's Last Dance
Her cheeks became an even deeper shade of red.
“What is going on? Why have we all gathered in the sitting room?” Catherine managed to get her thoughts off the fact that she was improperly dressed. However, if they had meant to surprise her, it would make sense that she had got dressed accordingly.
“Lord Lockhart came to me late last night,” her father said. “He has asked for your hand in marriage, Catherine. I know ‘tis a little… unorthodox for him to have done it so quickly after your disastrous engagement to the Duke of Hestina, but… that is what has happened.”
Nicolas gave an awkward chuckle.
“I suppose I could not wait until a proper time frame had passed,” he said. “I love you with all my heart, Catherine. Though you have had a scandalous end to an engagement, the scandal shall fall solely on the shoulders of the Duke of Hestina. None of it will ruin your reputation, I swear.”
Catherine walked closer to Nicolas, not sure what else she could say. What else she coulddo. She had not expected him to go for her hand in marriage so soon, but she was overjoyed that he had already asked.
“What did you tell him, Father?” She turned to her father.
“If you agree, then I have no reason to object to this marriage,” her father said. “Your mother agrees, and I believe so does the Countess of Ashwood, yes?”
Nicolas’s mother nodded.
“Though my husband may not have originally agreed, I believe he is smiling in his grave now,” the countess said. “I apologize for the strife my husband has put you through, Lady Catherine, and I hope you and Nicolas have the best of marriages and all the happiness.”
Catherine could not stop the smile on her face.
“I accept your proposal, Nicolas,” she said.
The room erupted into cheers, and Nicolas took her hand.
“Wonderful,” he said. “I was worried when you did not say anything immediately. I am glad you have not lost all faith in me, regardless what our situation has become.”
“I am glad you asked, though ‘tis odd for you to do it the day I have ended an engagement,” she said. “You always did do things in a way that was technically proper, though it may have been frowned on.”
Nicolas laughed heartily.
Then, they all went downstairs for breakfast together. Nicolas pulled her chair out for her, and she felt her cheeks heating up again.
This was the man she wanted to marry, and she knew it. Nothing in her heart could stop her from enjoying it, and she knew that she would be happier married to Nicolas Lockhart than she would have been if she had married the Duke of Hestina.
“To Nicolas and Catherine. May they have all the happiness a marriage of love can bestow on them,” her father toasted.
“To Nicolas and Catherine!” The rest of the table echoed his toast.
Nicolas looked her right in the eye as he toasted to them. She smiled widely, the toast now over and everyone happily chatting. They would have to start planning the wedding immediately, and of course, provided that the scandal fell squarely on the duke’s shoulders, they would be married as soon as could be.
After breakfast, Catherine stepped into the gardens for some fresh air. Her head was spinning. Though it had not been even a day, she had gone from engaged, to no long courting the duke, and now she was engaged again, but this time to Nicolas.
And the sound of that made her heart pound in her chest, but in a very good way. The butterflies from the night before had returned. These were much stronger than anything she had felt with the duke.
She smiled as she heard the door open behind her. Nicolas had come to join her, and she gladly let him.
Epilogue
The last two years had been wonderful. They had spent a year planning the wedding, and Catherine knew that it had been well worth the time they spent on it. It had been a lavish affair, and even Lord
Radcliff and Juliet had been impressed with the way it had turned out. Catherine had married her childhood friend with a passionate “I do!” and he had returned the sentiment.
For the last year, they had been living in the Town countryside at Gracemere. It was, honestly, their honeymoon, and Catherine could not have asked for anything better. They took many walks through the gardens, and Nicolas shared stories of the fun he had had in this house as a child.
His father’s bedchamber remained untouched from when he had passed away when they arrived, but with Catherine’s help, Nicolas had found the courage to clean it out and honor his father’s wishes that all was made well with Catherine. They had taken his father’s bedchambers to be their own, and soon, the sad memories had been replaced with happy ones.
Now, they were in Town to celebrate their year anniversary. They were staying at Ashwood with Nicolas’s mother, and Catherine was grateful that they were so close to Camberton. She had seen her parents, and they were happy for her as she had been married favorably.
