Page 40 of Romancing the Rifleman
“My soldiers,” Harrington said, his voice gruff.“The men of the 95thRifles.”
Diana leaned forward.“And?”
“And the ones I helped get pensions.By passing that act.”
“To be sure.”She stroked her thumb over the back of his hand.“But there’s someone else.”
His eyes looked hesitant, as if he were terrified to even speak the words.“Are you saying I’m important to you?”
Her pale blue eyes were steady on his.“Yes, Harrington.That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
She seized a fistful of his coat just as his hand came up to trace the outline of her jaw.And her face tipped up as his lips strained toward hers, and?—
“What thehellare you doing?”
Harrington blinked, looking too dazed to pull back right away.Marcus grabbed him by the collar and yanked him to his feet.He staggered before managing to gain his balance, his eyes never leaving Diana.
Ah, well.They were off to a bad start, but it was never going to be easy convincing Marcus.She would just have to brazen it out.“You may be the first to congratulate us, brother.Lieutenant Astley and I are to marry.”
She had expected Marcus to explode.But instead, he looked… baffled.“I think I must have misheard.”
“That’s what I said!”Harrington exclaimed.
Marcus squinted at Harrington.“What are you talking about?You’re the one who proposed!”
Harrington held his hands up, palms out.“Not me.I would never presume.”
“Then…” Marcus’s gaze swung from Harrington to Diana.“Does that meanyoudid the asking?”
A fraught silence descended over the picnic blanket.Diana lifted her chin.“It would be more accurate to say that I informed him.”
Marcus’s expression turned smug because those were the precise words he had once used in admitting that he hadinformedCeci they were going to marry, rather than asking her.This degree of high-handedness was clearly an intrinsic failing particular to the Latimer siblings.She had never let him live it down, and Diana knew he would return the favor.
But Marcus had bigger fish to fry at the moment.
“And why, dear sister, did youinformLieutenant Astley that the two of you were going to wed?”
“Look, Trevissick.”Harrington dropped his voice low, eying the stream of guests making their way up the hill.“It’s not what you think.I have to ask you to keep this in the strictest confidence.”
He explained to her brother in hushed whispers about the house party and his assignment to find the letter from King Gustav.
Marcus’s scowl deepened.“Do you mean to tell me that you two don’t want to get married at all?That this is nothing more than a ruse to retrieve this letter?”
“Precisely!”Harrington cried in the same breath Diana said, “I wouldn’t say that.”
Harrington’s head jerked around.“What?”
Marcus was already speaking, so she merely shrugged.
“That is the most idiotic scheme I have ever heard!”he snapped.“I forbid you two to marry for such ridiculous?—”
“Who’s getting married?”Lucy asked brightly.
Marcus stiffened as he realized that the entirety of the party had trooped up the hill to get a better view of the unfolding scene.“No one!”
“Harrington and I,” Diana said casually, looping her arm through his.
“Oh!”Lucy clapped her hands, bouncing on her toes.“This is thebestnews!We’re going to besisters!”She ran over and enveloped Diana in a hug.
