Page 96 of The Wise Daughter
With heat already flooding her cheeks, Nora met his eyes, and her worries melted into the stillest calm. She could see his care and concern for her in every feature of his face and every spark of light in his eyes. All those moments needlessly fretting, gone in one adoring glance from him. It became difficult to remember why she had ever doubted his feelings for her.
She put Scamp down and started straightening Aaron’s cravat and lapels, though they didn’t need it. “You sound, jealous, my duke.”
Warmth spread inside her as he laced his fingers with hers. “I suppose I’m caught and must admit it. I’m jealous of a cat.” He shook his head in feigned pity. “My ordeals have truly humbled me.”
Now she was laughing. “Who would have thought?”
A greater earnestness flowed into his words and expression. “I might as well also admit that I’ve been a fool, Nora. I’m sorry I ever believed that letter was from you. I’m so sorry I let myself doubt you.”
Though his apology had the same soothing effect as a breeze against a troubled brow, she couldn’t be upset with him. She had needed to learn the same lesson.
“I don’t blame you, Aaron. I saw the letters.” She had also seen the wax seal, which meant Carver must have taken her signet ring the time it went missing, then returned it. “Trust, apparently, takes practice, but I’ve never been more ready to put my trust in you.”
He breathed deeply and raised her hand to his cheek. “That is the best feeling in the world. I promise I’ll be worthy of your trust.”
“And I promise I won’t let doubt rob me of any more happiness.”
“Nora?” He hesitated. “My mother says I proposed several times to you last night. Forgive me. I only remember a few instances.”
Pity he didn’t remember them all, but there would be so much to tease him with in the days to come. “They did range from incredibly loving to rather incoherent. If I am being completely honest with you, I should mention that you promised to give me all your scones for the rest of your life if I agreed to marry you.”
He gave her side a tickle before wrapping his arm around her waist. “You’ve just invented that now.”
Nora’s laughs grew stronger. “I promise I didn’t.”
“You wouldn’t hold me to that, would you?”
“I certainly would.” Slipping her arms around his waist in return, she leaned her head against his chest and felt her own heart steadily falling in rhythm with his. “But I promise to share from time to time.”
“Then I will live true to my word because regardless of whether there are scones in my future, I want you in it.” He pressed a kiss to the curls on her head. “I was told you said yes to each proposal.”
“Every single one.”
He took a deep breath. “Then I don’t know why I feel so nervous now.”
Nora tilted her head back to search his face. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I owe you a lucid, sober proposal, one completely free of opium and negotiations about doweries and inheritances. I owe you a proposal that is driven by nothing but a deep, abiding love for you.”
He took her hands, slid the signet ring back on her thumb, then dropped to his knees.
“Lovely Honora.”
His voice was gentle and low, as familiar to her now as her own thoughts. In a thrumming heartbeat, she understood what he meant about feeling nervous, but it was the sort she wanted to savor and remember. Somewhere in the midst of its frantic beating, her heart spread open for him like a blank canvas, ready to paint there whatever he expressed next. Every inch of her trembled.
“Since the moment we met, you have done nothing but make my life better. I love you most dearly, Honora Lacy. I might have been attacked by thieves the night we met, but it was you who stole my heart.”
“Oh, Aaron,” she laughed giddily, tightening her grasp around his fingers.
He smiled up at her. “Was that too trite? Forgive me. I had to say it.”
She urged him to stand and wrapped her hands around the back of his neck. “Well, I want nothing to do with stealing. If I am to have your heart, you must surrender it yourself, completely, unconditionally, and most willingly.”
“Always so thorough.” His hands returned to the curve at her waist that was now forever reserved for him. “But what you ask is easily done. My heart is already yours. Lovely Honora, will you be my bride and create a life here with me?”
Tears streamed down her face, watering the smile that grew there.
“Yes. Without any delay at all.”
