He nodded as his friend departed. When Harriet reached him, she smiled, but he saw nervousness lurking in her eyes. Anthony never wanted her to doubt his feelings for her. Yes, they’d only spent a brief amount of time together, and he’d been a dolt when he was younger, but he knew his heart and mind. Harriet was his other half. “Can I speak with you privately for a moment?”
She glanced around and then said, “Meet me in the library.”
Anthony nodded and watched Harriet leave the room. He waited a few moments and then departed as well.
He reached the library and found her staring out at the snow. Anthony wanted to take her in his arms, but he held back. She turned and smiled. “Merry Christmas, Lord Webster.”
“Merry Christmas, hellion.”
She grinned. “Why does that nickname seem like an endearment now?”
“Maybe it always was.”
She laughed, and he shut the door before joining her by the window. Desire and deeper emotions flared between them. He cleared his throat. “I wanted to give you something.”
Her eyes widened, and Anthony continued. “A few years ago, my company found a pocket of garnets that were exquisite. I kept several of them and commissioned a jeweler to make a necklace. I’d planned to sell it for a hefty price in England, but once it was complete, I couldn’t. I knew someday I wanted to give it to my wife.”
Anthony pulled a velvet pouch from his pocket, his heart pounding. Her eyes watered. “Are you sure?”
He nodded. “I’m sure today, tomorrow, and for the rest of our lives.”
His words weren’t a formal proposal. That would come after he spoke with her mother and family. Still, in some ways, this was even more special—this quiet moment between the two of them. Harriet gently took the pouch from his and slid out the rope of garnets. A gasp escaped her lips as she stared at the necklace in wonder. He explained, “I’ve named it the hearts of passion.”
“Anthony, it is exquisite.”
“A necklace for an exquisite, fiery lady.”
Her eyes watered slightly. “I choose you too. In some ways, I still think it is madness that we’ve decided to wed after only rediscovering each other recently, but it feels right.”
Harriet slid one of her arms around his neck as his hands molded along her back. Their lips pressed together filled with so much yearning. Anthony would hold this woman in his arms every night for the rest of his life. He broke away from the kiss and said, “I love you.”
Her eyes widened at his words, but she smiled. “And I you. If this is madness, I embrace it openly.”
He took the rope of garnets from her and placed them around her neck. “They are exquisite.”
Harriet walked to a mirror on the side of the room and stared at their reflection. He kissed her neck.
“I think I will wear these all day.”
Happiness flared in his eyes. “People will immediately know we are courting.”
“Good.”
Anthony wrapped his arms around her, and they stood staring at each other in the mirror. She grabbed one of his hands and kissed his knuckles. “Come to my room tonight.”
“I don’t expect anything from you.”
She smiled at him like a vixen. “I know, but I want you.”
His body hummed at all the emotions swirling between them and he nodded. Anthony held his arm out. “I suppose we need to return.”
A pout formed on her lush lips, but she nodded in agreement. As they made their way back in, various gazes became drawn to the necklace lying along Harriet’s collarbone. Lillian and Philip beamed at one another while their mothers became teary-eyed.
Anthony suspected these other lords and ladies present were a diversion. Their matchmaking mothers had wanted them together all along. He couldn’t find it in himself to be angry. He was a man in love.
***
Harriet stood in her room, nervously waiting for Anthony. She still wore the Hearts of Passion necklace but was now in her nightgown and wrap. After she’d returned to the drawing room earlier, Anthony had pulled her mother and his aside to announce his attentions. They’d been ecstatic.
