Page 59 of An Earl's Scandalous Return
“I couldn’t go, Arabella, not before we spoke.”
A little flicker of hope sparked inside her, but she tamped it down, putting her hands behind her back and lifting her chin. “All right then. What is it you wish to say?”
He took a tentative step forward, making her heart speed up, but she stood her ground. “Did you not come to meet me to run away together that night because you wanted to please your father? Were you refusing to marry me, or were you simply trying to wait until all was resolved, as you hoped?”
He lifted a brow, waiting for her reply. There was no longer anger in his expression, but he was waiting for an answer. Finally, he was talking about the past, and Arabella found that she needed nearly half a minute to compose her thoughts.
Her heart soared, and she felt breathless with the final and beautiful relief of the barrier shattering between them. Now, at long last, they could put everything aside, and she could bare her heart to him. He was ready now.
“I wanted to marry you desperately, Edward. I love you. But you left before I could explain all. I wanted to wait until all was resolved because I had hoped it would be. My father was beginning to consider it. He knew just how much I wanted this.”
Edward’s shoulders slunk.
“Can you forgive me, then, Arabella? For being such an ass and leaving before you had a chance to explain everything? I wanted you so badly that I was so hurt when you didn’t appear. I thought you were rejecting me, and I couldn’t wait around to hear the words from your lips. Please, Arabella, I beg you to forgive me.”
A little smile flickered at the corners of her mouth. “Surely there is more to forgive you for beyond that,” she added as he took another step towards her. “Lying and pretending to leave just after you made love to me. Was that your form of revenge against me?”
Her voice cracked a little. She was happy, and yet she was still wary about this. She needed to hear it from his own mouth that he had not done such a terrible thing.
He bit his lip then and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Ah, yes, that. Well, I ask for your forgiveness for that, too. No, it was not a form of revenge. I wanted to make love to you, and then when it happened, I just was so overwhelmed with love that it frightened me. I feared you might leave me again. It seems there are many things I’ve done that need forgiving. I’m so sorry.”
His shoulders slumped, and the sadness in his eyes showed her his contrition.
She smiled at him, and she could see his eyes lightening a little at her expression. “You’re forgiven, Edward, but I’m sorry too. I should have come to speak to you rather than simply not come down to you. But I did fear that if we were caught, my father would take back any consideration he might have made.”
“I understand now.” After a breath, he said, “I love you, Arabella. I’m in love with you and never stopped.” He got down on one knee and reached for her hand. “Will you marry me?”
Arabella felt like all the breath left her lungs, and she took his hand, standing over him with tears in her eyes. “I never stopped loving you either, Edward. I’m so glad you finally stopped being an ass and spoke to me.” He chuckled, and she nodded. “Yes, I will marry you.”
“Thank God!” he cried, jumping to his feet and picking her up in his arms.
He spun her once until he set her down and kissed her, long and deep. It was some time before she pulled away and said, “I should tell you, Lord Jameson, that your betrothed is coming into this marriage no longer a maid. She willingly and flagrantly gave herself to some scoundrel.”
“Is that so?” he asked with a smirk. “I do believe I can deal with that, and I shall have to help you avoid such scoundrels in the future.”
She laughed before he kissed her again.
Epilogue
Two weeks later
Seraphina tried to stay calm as she entered Gregory’s chamber at the prison. She hadn’t seen him since the trial, and now that he was sentenced for kidnapping, she knew that she just wanted to see him one last time.
“Gregory,” she said, walking up to him as he sat at the far table.
He turned to look at her, and he rose with a faint smile. “Seraphina. What a surprise.” He looked her up and down. “And so you dress as the lady at long last.”
“It feels strange, but they have been kind to me. My first ball will be after the weddings.”
He nodded, pointing for her to sit down on the window ledge. She did, scrunching up her nose at the waft of smell that came through the grated window.
“I heard about them. You will have to send my congratulations.”
Seraphina wanted to be angry at him. He stole her father and mother from her and changed everything about her life. But he had raised her.
“I wanted to tell you that I will not be coming back here, Gregory. But I did wish to see you once more before I move onto my new life.”
