“What would you say if I told you, I have been a complete ass? And I don’t mean just a small one. I have made an unholy mess of things with your sister. Tomorrow morning, I intend to rectify that situation.”
“Ah, so that is why you are out here staring into the dark sea. Looking for nature’s inspiration as to how you can convince Naomi to become your duchess. An interesting strategy, though not how I would have approached things,” replied Harry.
Monsale shook his head. Harry was going to make him beg for his help.
And rightly so. He loves Naomi. And is going to punish me on her behalf. I would do the same if she were my sister.
“Harry, dear old chap. Friend of all friends. Pray tell me what the devil I am going to do? I have to find a way to get Naomi to forgive me, then agree to be my wife. When it comes to women, I am prepared to admit to being uneven on my feet. And with Naomi, I have always been walking on wet sand.”
Monsale winced as Harry clapped his hands together. He could also have done without the long deep laugh.
“Monsale. Monsale. Monsale. What can I say?”
I am beginning to think you shutting up might be a better option.
They moved away from the water and headed further along the beach. If anyone happened to come out from the castle grounds, they wouldn’t be able to see them walking along the sand.
“Let me ask you this, do you love my sister? I know you need to save your title and lands, but I am still not prepared to offer my assistance if all Naomi is going to get in return for marrying you is an empty union. Not even for you would I sacrifice her happiness.”
“Yes Harry, I do love Naomi. And the more I think about it, I accept that I have probably been in love with her for many years.”
There was a hard lump in his throat at finally giving voice to that emotion. His greatest fear now was that just as he had come to accept his feelings for Naomi, he might very well be on the verge of losing her forever.
I do. I love her. And I am not going to let her go.
“Well then, you need to go to her. Confess your feelings. Offer her marriage. Finally, allow Naomi to put all this god-awful heartbreak behind her. She has endured years of pain because of you. And I must confess there were times when I have hated you for it.”
Monsale frowned at Harry. “Have I really made it that hard for her?” He knew the answer to that question. Of course, he had. A man would have to be willfully blind not to have seen the look of disappointment on Naomi’s face every time he refused to dance with her.
“You aren’t honestly going to stand there and tell me that you didn’t know she has been in love with you forever? Everyone else has been able to see it, why not you,” said Harry.
“No, I wouldn’t do either of you that sort of disservice. Naomi’s love was something I turned away from all those years because I didn’t think I would be good enough for her. I am not an honest man, I’m a liar, and a thief at best, at worst—well you know the rest. This list of potential brides has been a complete disaster, and it’s all my fault. I thought it would be an easy way to get her to put her hand up, and for me to select Naomi as my wife without having to finally admit how I felt. But all I have managed to do is to break her heart.”
Monsale rubbed his hands over the tension spots on his forehead. He was waiting for Harry to give him a well-deserved piece of his mind. To confirm that, he was indeed a bloody fool. And that Naomi shouldn’t marry him.
“Do you honestly think that this love lark has been easy on any of us? I almost lost Alice. Jane shot George. Bridget threw Stephen out. And from what I hear, Gus didn’t have a smooth ride when it came to Evangeline. But what we have all done, is not given up. And you have to do the same.”
He desperately wanted to go to Naomi tonight, but he owed it to Euphemia and Walsall to stay silent. To give them the best chance of making it to Scotland before Lord and Lady Marshall discovered the truth of their daughter’s disappearance.
“It will have to wait until morning before I speak to Naomi. If the Marshall’s get wind of what has just happened, there will be all hell to pay.”
“Well then may I suggest you get rid of Lord and Lady Marshall as soon as you can tomorrow morning. Spare their daughter from the wrath of her parents by telling them it was you who called off the wedding. That should get them angry enough to leave posthaste.”
Monsale liked that idea.
That would then clear the way for him to seek Naomi out and try to salvage their relationship.
Walsall had come for Euphemia. Shown her the strength of his love. Now it was his turn. He had to do something grand for Naomi.
“It’s no good me simply telling Naomi that she has always been the one. I have to show her. Make her finally see, that she has my heart.”
Harry held his hands to the heavens and cheered. “Hallelujah, the message has finally gotten through. Monsale, for a smart man, you can be incredibly dull witted, especially when it comes to women and love.”
Monsale snatched the cigar out of his friend’s fingers and drew back on it deeply. Tomorrow he would deal with the Marshalls, then he would make Naomi his wife.
But first he had to convince her that he was worth the risk.
“I need Naomi out here in the morning no later than eight o’clock?
