Page 49 of The Wager
“You have been here this whole time and did not once think to offer aid?” she scolded in a teasing manner as he unfolded his lanky form from the stiff wingback chair. “I was at the mercy of a licentious rake while you napped.”
“My dear Lady Jane, you were never at risk.” With each word, he advanced a step closer until he stopped directly in front of her. “Even if your faithful guard or I had not been in attendance, you would have eviscerated the pup and then calmly called for someone to clean up the mess.”
“You think so little of me?”
“I admire you more than words can express. You always comport yourself with grace and good manners. Bingley has no idea how lucky he is that you spared what little feelings he possesses.”
“I admit I was tempted to channel Elizabeth and flay him with words before sending him back to his sisters.”
Ashton chuckled softly then his face took on a somber hue.
“Darcy and I must cut our connection with Bingley.”
“Must you? He did not compromise me.”
The viscount took her hand in his and raised it to his lips. As the two of them slowly exited the drawing room, he explained what Bingley bragged about the night prior while playing billiards.
“It is the main reason I quit the ballroom during your set with Bingley. I hoped to receive a positive answer to my proposal but was riddled with doubt that you might care more for him than me. I could not bear to watch you dance with him.”
By this time, they had reached the entrance to the ballroom and instinctively paused.
“Dare I hope you will gift me the pleasure of your company for the supper set?” he asked.
“Dare I hope you will gift me the pleasure of your company for the rest of my life?” she answered and held her breath for his reply.
He spun her around to face him properly, not caring if anyone saw them in the doorway.
“Are you saying what I think?”
“Yes,” she whispered and nodded at the same time, her eyes welling with tears of joy.
He snagged her small hand in his and pulled her back into the drawingroom they had so recently vacated.
“I know I asked this question before, but will happily repeat it for the fact I wish for us to have no misunderstanding.” Still in possession of her hand, he brought it up to his chest and placed it over his heart. “Jane Amelia Hamilton Bennet, will you be the caretaker of my heart? Will you be my wife, my lover, and the mother of my children?”
“Yes,” was all she said, and gave a small squeal when he picked her up and twirled around. The second her feet touched the ground he gathered her in his arms and kissed her properly.
“I love you, Jane. You have made me the happiest of men.”
Within the warm circle of his arms, she rested her head against his chest and listened to the beat of her love’s heart.
“I love you as well, Edmund. I should not have put off giving my answer.”
He gently lifted her chin with his finger, guiding her gaze upwards to meet his own.
“You did nothing wrong. Marriage is a serious business, not something to rush into. If you had chosen Bingley…” He drew her in close when she tried to lean back in protest. “I would have let you go and tried to be happy for your sake alone.”
Now she did pull away and frowned.
“You would have let me go andtriedto be happy?”
He held her gaze for only a few seconds.
“I lied,” he finally whispered. “I would have stalked you to the ends of the earth and back. You are mine, Jane Hamilton. Bingley can go to the devil.”
Chapter Fourteen
“Hastheviscountleftfor London?” Elizabeth asked as soon as she and Darcy found a private moment to speak upon his arrival at Longbourn the next morning. The day was bright and sunny and they decided to walk in the prettyish little garden by the side of the house before joining the others for breakfast.
