Page 24 of A Rogue for Christmas
She searched his eyes, looking for something. Whatever it was, she didn’t find it, because she shook her head. “My heart would never survive. We can’t continue on this path. If I’m to get past the inconvenient feelings I’ve developed for you, we need to end things now.”
She brushed past him, and he watched her hurry down the hall. When she reached the entrance, she stopped and took a deep breath. Then, shoulders back and head held high, she entered the ballroom.
Iris loved him. But she was leaving because she needed to guard her heart.
He couldn’t have that, so of course he followed. When he entered the room, she was standing with her cousin and sister again.
“Iris Rowland.”
His voice rang out throughout the room, and every eye turned to him. Everyone except Iris. She stiffened, but she didn’t turn to look at him.
It seemed he was going to need to make a spectacle of himself. It was a good thing he didn’t really care what everyone was thinking. He only cared about the woman he loved.
“Please look at me, Iris.”
Some were starting to whisper, but they were quickly shushed. No one wanted to miss what was happening.
Iris turned, and he crossed the room to stand before her.
“I can’t honor your request because, you see, I love you. And I want only you.”
Iris’s eyes widened in shock. Then she shook her head.
Determination coursed through him, and he dropped onto one knee. When he reached for her hand, she didn’t resist.
“Iris Rowland, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
She stared at him. “But…” She swallowed. “Are you certain?”
He scanned the other guests who’d now all moved closer to surround them in a tight circle. When he met her gaze again, a look of wonder was starting to form on her face.
“It seems you bewitched me that night we met. Please put me out of my misery and say you’ll marry me.”
She was nodding now. “Yes, I will. Of course I will.”
He rose to his feet and pulled her into his arms.
“I can’t believe you made a public declaration,” she murmured against his jaw before placing a soft kiss there. “You won’t be able to take it back now.”
He stared down at her, a feeling like nothing he’d ever experienced settling over him. Joy. Certainty.
Happiness.
“I guess that means you’re stuck with me now.” And then he kissed her because there was nothing like a public scandal to bind a woman to your side. Just in case she was beginning to have any second thoughts.
EPILOGUE
Christmas Eve
Wentworth had managed to convince Seaford to invite him to his estate to celebrate Christmas with his family and the Rowlands. It was actually a practical suggestion since Wentworth still had to ask Iris’s father for permission to marry his daughter. Technically, he should have done that before proclaiming his love to a full room, but he’d been a little desperate.
He wasn’t surprised that he and Iris weren’t allowed to share his carriage. Still, he couldn’t help his sullen mood when Seaford joined him, telling him that the women would enjoy chatting together in the other carriage.
But he’d had his revenge when the first flakes of snow started to fall when they reached the estate. He suspected Seaford had planned to ask him to leave after Christmas Day, but it seemed nature was on Wentworth’s side.
Mr. Rowland’s surprise that there would be another guest for Christmas had passed quickly. With a wry comment about how his daughters seemed to be making a habit of bringing gentlemen home for Christmas, he led Wentworth to the library. Rowland wasn’t nearly as thorough in questioning him about his intentions as he should have been, but he did grant his permission for them to wed.
Everything seemed to be going his way. Except, as had been his lot in life since he first stumbled upon Iris out in that garden, it seemed he would have to wait even longer to claim her fully. Three weeks for the banns to be read in the parish church. Fortunately, his mother had written back to assure him that she would see to it that they were also read at the parish on his country seat.
