Page 92 of To Marry A Matchmaker

‘Are we opting for a long engagement?’ Henri relaxed slightly. She was an idiot of the highest order. She should have understood what Robert was doing before jumping to conclusions. They would be engaged for a little while and then decide quietly that they did not suit after all. The interval did not have to be long, but it was the perfect solution. ‘Long engagements prevent mistakes happening.’

‘I am opting for marriage with you or nothing.’

‘Don’t force me to do this. Don’t force yourself into something you will regret. Maybe not today, but tomorrow or the next day. Marriage was not in your plans or mine.’

Robert listened to Henri’s words as tears shimmered in her eyes. He was about to lose her. Last night he’d agreed that they were merely friends, but today the very real prospect of a future without her stared him in the face. If he was going to lose her, then he would lose no matter what he did or said. He who took so many risks in business was afraid to take this risk in his private life? Henri had taught him that life should hold more. He wanted to give her that commitment because she deserved the security.

‘Would you make me into a hypocrite, Henri? First a liar and then a hypocrite. How little you know me.’ Robert traced the line of her jaw. She turned her face away. His heart clenched. Had he already lost her? ‘I already told you that we were going to be together again. I promised white linen sheets and long lazy mornings. I want to be more than your friend, Henri. I want to be your lover. For now. For always. For always is a long time, Henri.’

‘And you don’t break your promises.’

‘Not promises to beautiful ladies.’ His hands reached out and turned her towards him.

‘I am grateful you think me beautiful,’ she said carefully. An insidious tendril of hope curled about her insides. ‘No else does. Everyone in my family has always commented on my faults.’

‘Then they are blind.’

‘My nose is too large, my mouth too small, my figure is less than fashionable. I do know my faults.’

‘Which are?’

‘I’m headstrong, bad tempered in the morning particularly, and inclined to want my own way.’ She started counting off her faults on her fingers and he knew he had to take the final risk.

‘You have forgotten arrogant, stubborn, high-handed and one last thing.’ He gathered her unresisting to his and tilted her chin towards him until her sapphire-blue eyes looked directly into his.

‘What is that?’ she breathed.

‘Utterly and completely lovable.’ He bent his head and his mouth caught her bottom lip. He allowed his lips to say the words that he did not dare say, slowly and quietly, showing as well as telling her his feelings.

A long drawn-out sigh emerged from her throat and she twined her arms about his neck. ‘Lovable? No one has ever called me that before.’

He smoothed her hair back from her temple. ‘I’m selfish, Henri, I want you in my life for the rest of my life. Not because of Sebastian or anyone, but because I want you there when I wake up and when I go to bed. When I look up from my food, I want you there across from me. I want to hear your voice. I want to touch your skin. I want you.’

‘As your wife?’

‘I can’t promise an easy life as we are both far too set in our ways,’ he admitted, ‘but it would never be dull. Life without you would be an empty shell. I will even allow you to have treasure-hunting picbeetnics wherever and whenever you want and if that isn’t love, then I don’t what is. But, yes, I want to marry you. Marry me and stay by my side always.’

‘Wherever I want?’ A tiny smile touched her lips.

‘I’m a man of deeds, not words, my dear. Pretty poetry doesn’t spring easily to my lips, but then I suspect you would deride it as a pile of mush.’

‘Sometimes I like mush, but grand gestures do just as well.’ Henri laid her head against Robert’s chest, listened his steady heartbeat and tried to make sense of his words and the feelings that swamped her. He thought her lovable and beautiful. He wanted to marry her. ‘And if I wanted to be wicked?’

‘You will find being wicked inside a marriage is far easier.’ He waggled his eyebrows. ‘We still have a lot to explore for when you are married. The wagers can be much more interesting. With the right person, it is far more fun to be married, and, Henrietta Thorndike, you are the right person for me. I love you deeply and passionately.’

‘You do?’ She captured his face between her hands. Her heart was so overflowing that she found it difficult to speak. ‘I don’t want to lose you, Robert. I can’t bear the thought of losing you.’

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