Page 41 of The Duke's Impetuous Darling
“We will be fine,” said Marjorie, hugging her tightly.
“And happy with whatever you deem best for yourself,” Del assured her with a kiss to her cheek. “Look what you’ve risked. Life, limb. You must take your happiness. Seize it.”
Griff shrugged out of his coat and draped it over Marjorie’s shoulders, then drew her close to his side. “Let’s go into the house. Bee must talk with Alastair.”
Bromley put his own frock coat over Delphine, then dabbed at Delphine’s tears. “You three can talk in minutes. Come.”
"Join us up at the house as you're able," Griff said with a wink to Alastair.
Trevelyan hurried Hallerton toward the manor with a pistol to the man’s back.
Alastair had a greater priority.
He nestled Bee close to him and raised her chin. "You are magnificent."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm trembling."
He thumbed away a smudge of gunpowder from her lower lip. "You've put down a smuggling gang and its two leaders with your quick eye and dedication to the law."
"Ha! I discovered them at dawn by accident—”
"Told the authorities. Risked your life. Then you were abducted by an unscrupulous blackguard and wrestled his pistol from him!"
She pouted, feigning humility, then grinned at him. "In truth, he was weak from drinking too much last night. It was easy to take his gun. Fire it at the hay."
"Ah, well. We won't tell anyone that."
"I wanted to shoot him," she said with disdain. "He made me angry."
"I promise never to anger you."
"Oh?" She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tightly. "Afraid I'd nick your ear?"
"Afraid you'd leave me," he said solemnly and brushed her wayward hair from her eyes.
She sobered. "You've reconsidered if you wish to marry me?"
"I have. If you'll have me, infirm as I am, I do want you, Belinda Craymore. Will you marry me?"
She toyed with the lapel of his superfine frock coat. "On a few conditions."
"I see." He looked chastened. "List them."
"I must go riding at dawn."
"But always with me."
She nodded once. "And you'll never doubt your value to me."
"If you never doubt how proud I am of you."
"For catching smugglers?"
"For being you, Bee. Just being charming, ferocious, lovable you."
She swallowed loudly and tears pooled in her blue eyes. "There is more."
"I must hear it."
