He’d left the velvet pouch there. Now, he grabbed it and produced a folded piece of paper, handing it to her.
If to delight man’s wish, joy e’er unlooked for, unhoped for,
Falleth, a joy were such proper, a bliss to the soul.
Then ‘tis a joy to the soul, like gold of Lydia precious,
Charlotte mine, that you come to delight me again.
Come yet again long-hoped, long-looked for vainly, returnest
Freely to me. O day white with a luckier hue!
Lives there happier any than I, I only? a fairer
Destiny? Life so sweet know ye, or aught parallel?
She read through it again, noting his substitution of her name in the poem. Just as the diamonds on the filigreed pendant symbolized the night they met, this Greek poetry was the epitome of their path to love. Their discovery of shared interests and intellectual pursuits. More, it was the method he’d used to entice her into what had felt like a completely unsuitable relationship, more alluring than any restraints she’d used to seduce him.
He was shaking the velvet pouch into his other hand. “Mistress, if I may give you this small token…”
She gasped.
A gold sparrow brooch, encrusted in garnets, lay in his hand. Again, her puppy had chosen the perfect gift for its beauty and symbolism. They had long discussed Catullus’s use of the sparrow in his poems to his lover, and the significance of it. In the end, both of them had believed it represented the lovers’ feelings for each other that they considered precious and fragile, with which they wanted their lover to take special care.
Still kneeling, William reached for her hand. “Please, Mistress. Will you do me the utmost honor and allow me to serve you for the rest of our lives together? To give you happiness, engage your brain, and support your independence in every way I can think of—and more, every way you direct? Will you be my Countess as well as my Mistress?”
Charlotte was weeping again before he finished his first question. She clutched his hand, unable to find embarrassment at her uncharacteristic mawkishness, but also unable to answer him through the emotions clogging her throat.
He sat motionless, unblinking, awaiting her response.
She wasn’t sure he was breathing. She’d best answer him.
She began, “William, I went to that ball to start to find something that would at least substitute for what I had in my marriage. Instead, I found a young puppy, brash but eager to please, smart but willing to follow, helpful but supportive of my independence.”
He blinked. He breathed.
She continued, “You are more than I could have ever hoped for, more than I likely deserve, and I am in love with you in more ways than I knew even existed. I will give you all of those things, along with punishments, encouragement, and the odd financial advice”—she winked—“for the rest of my life.”
He chuckled but grew serious again in a moment, standing to tug her upright. Wrapping his arms around her, he clutched her tight, his body trembling against hers.
Charlotte clung to him, one hand still holding the paper and brooch.
“Thank you,” he whispered in her hair. He sniffed and wiped his hand over his face before releasing her.
“You did well, puppy.” She smoothed his hair with her empty hand. “I did not expect you to have things arranged in readiness, although I suppose I should have.”
“I assume—as Edward does—that you will negotiate the marriage contract.” His smile was smug.
“Gracious. You really were prepared.”
His smirk lingered.
“However, none of this negates the fact that you dragged me several blocks without permission.” She attempted to look stern.
He bounced on his toes, eager as ever for whatever she had in store for him. She bit back a smile.
“I locked the door, Mistress. And as you referenced punishments as part of our vows a moment ago…” He dropped back to his knees. “How may I serve you?”
