Page 39 of The Uncompromising Marquess
The gentleman dropped his gaze. “I do not think I deserve your consideration, Lady Florence. You speak so well of me but I know my failings.” A tiny smile touched one side of his mouth as he brought his eyes back to hers. “And yet, despite my awareness of that and my acknowledgement of it, I cannot help my heart.” With a slow movement, he took a step closer to her, his hand still holding hers as he gazed into her eyes. “Florence, it leaps with joy to hear you say such a thing to me.”
“That I am drawn to you?”
He nodded. “I did not ever expect that my heart would feel such things, truly. And yet, as this festive Season has continued on, as we have shared soirees and balls, as we have danced together, as – ”
“As you have endured my clumsiness?”
Chuckling, Lord Applegate’s eyes danced as his free hand reached out to brush lightly down her cheek. “As I have begun to understand you, as I have seen your fears and your worries and your strength building throughout, I have found my heart overwhelmed.”
His free hand now touched her shoulder, his fingers tracing her neck as she shivered with excited anticipation, his head lowering.
“I did not realize the extent of my feelings until my sister spoke to me.” His lips quirked. “She does not know of my presence here nor what my intentions are but I have every hope that she will be very pleased indeed once she hears of it.”
“Your sister is very kind,” Florence murmured, a little distracted by his touch, her breathing coming in short, sharp breaths. “I have always thought so.”
“Kinder than I,” he replied, softly. “But I think that having you near to me brings that kindness to the fore. I hope it will continue to grow… just as I hope that you will stay close to me, Florence.”
She could not speak, a knot in her throat. When his head began to lower, Florence could only close her eyes and wait. Her heart was thrumming in her chest, her whole body burning with a new anticipation, one that she had never felt before. She started lightly when his hand cupped her cheek, his thumb grazing the curve of her jaw as she felt the warmth of his breath on her lips.
Then, he kissed her.
The gentleness of it spoke of tenderness and consideration and Florence leaned into him, her hands lifting to hold onto his shoulders, then sweeping around his neck. Slanting his head a fraction left her breathless, feeling his hands drop to her waist, pulling her close to him. This was not a moment to hold back, not a moment where shecouldhold back. As inexperienced asshe was, Florence kissed him with all the intensity and love she dared, her fingers now tangling through his hair.
When they finally broke apart, her whole body was tingling, her breathing ragged though Lord Applegate matched hers with his own quick breaths.
“Florence.” As he whispered her name, his forehead rested against hers and Florence smiled softly, her eyes still closed. “My darling Florence, I am quite in love with you.”
Keeping her eyes closed, Florence pulled herself close to him, putting her head on his shoulder as his arms crept around her, holding her there. She lingered for some moments, saying nothing but lingering in the joy that surrounded them both. “I love you too, my dear Applegate. I think I have loved you for longer than I truly realized.”
“Then you will marry me, will you not?”
She pulled back in surprise, hearing the urgency in his voice. “Marriage?”
“Yes.” Searching her eyes, Lord Applegate blinked quickly. “Is there something wrong?”
Florence shook her head, her happiness bubbling up all over again. “I did not expect it, that is all. I thought you would want courtship first, would want to make certain that this was what you wanted.”
“Itiswhat I want.Youare what I want,” he swore, leaning down a little so he could look deeply into her eyes. “Florence, I have never felt this way about any creature before in my life. You have stolen my heart completely and I want nothing more than to make you my wife.” Another kiss was pressed to her lips, making her heart leap. “This is all that I want, Florence. I want to make this the most wonderful Christmas for us both, and I want to make it the happiest you have ever known.”
Florence, bold now, reached up both hands and pressed them to either side of his face. “How could I refuse?” shewhispered, tears of overwhelming joy in her eyes as he smiled at her.
“Then you will marry me?”
“Of course I will,” she answered, as a broad smile spread right across his face. “You have saved me from darkness and despondency and brought me instead more love and happiness than I had ever expected. I want nothing more than to spend every day with you.”
Lord Applegate turned his head and kissed her palm before Florence dropped it to his shoulder, slipping it around his neck once more. “Then we are engaged, Florence.” His smile faded suddenly, his eyebrows lifting. “Though I have not yet asked your father.”
Laughing, Florence put her other arm around his neck, her toes curling in her slippers as he held her close once more. “I can assure you, my dear Applegate, that my father will give you his agreement before you have even finished asking.”
Lord Applegate let out a breath of relief, a gleam coming into his eye. “Are you quite sure?”
“I am,” she promised. “I am absolutely certain.”
“Good.” His head began to lower again, making her sigh with expected contentment, her eyes fluttering closed. “Then I think, my love, that I shall kiss you soundly, all over again.”
EPILOGUE
“Finally.” Florence could not have been happier, she was quite sure. To be wed on Christmas Eve to the gentleman who had captured her heard was more than she had ever thought would be possible for her, and yet here it was!
