Oh dear. Her breath shortened. She’d never expected him to say all that. How stupid she had been. “I thought you didn’t want to kiss me.”
Kit chuckled. “I was convincedyouwould slap my face.”
“To think of all the time we wasted, but whydidyou wait so long?”
“I vowed not to kiss you until we were betrothed. Then this evening when I saw Munro and how pale you were, my last coherent thought was getting him away from you.”
Mary touched her forehead to his. “I think my friends were right, I should have kissed you first.” Still, now they were engaged. He had always been proper, but . . . “We are to be married soon.” Warmth rose in her cheeks. “Many couples anticipate their vows.”
“They do, and by the birth dates of their children, some of our friends have as well.” He settled her more securely in his arms. “Yet I once promised I’d never be part of ruining a lady, and if by some strange occurrence, something were to happen to me before we wed, that is what you would be. Mary, I love you too much to take the chance.”
Her heart was in her throat. No one, she was certain, loved her as much as this man. She laid her head against his shoulder. Someone or some occurrence must have affected him deeply. “What happened?”
Kit groaned and kissed her hair. “I once had an older brother, half-brother actually. My father and his mother married when they were very young. Crispin was the only child they had before she died. A few years later my father married my mother. Crispin never forgave my father. He was ten years older than I and extremely wild. I shall never forget the pain he caused both my parents. Even though my mother had not given birth to him, she loved him as if he were her own.” Kit paused for several moments. “Crispin died after seducing a young lady who was engaged to another.”
“Did he love her?” Mary asked, afraid of what the answer was likely to be.
“No.” Kit shook his head. “He did it for sport, because he didn’t like the other man, and he could. The girl did not mean a thing to him. Her betrothed called him out, and Crispin died in the duel. I was fifteen and vowed that I would never give my parents any cause to be ashamed or worry about me.”
Oh God!And here Mary was tempting him to do just that. There was nothing for it, they’d have to wait. “Very well, I cannot argue with you. If only we could reason with my uncle.”
Surprisingly, the corners of his lips lifted in a smile. “We may not have to. The letter I was reading when you entered was from my father. Your trust has been ended. He sent along the court order and the settlement agreement he and Barham worked out.”
She tried to straighten in his arms, but he held her tightly. “You were sure of yourself.”
“No.” Kit kissed her lightly on the lips. “I was only hopeful. My father ended up going to Barham. You should read the documents. If there are any changes you’d like to make, we can have Lord Titus’s solicitor wait on us in the morning. Or you can send them to your solicitor.”
Mary wondered how much of what she’d included in her stipulations to Barham the settlement agreement entailed. Though more than that, this was her chance to have what she wanted, and she refused to wait. For the first time, her happiness was in her hands, and she would seize it. “In that case, I’ll read the proposal now.” She kissed him as she slid off his lap, setting her feet on the lush carpet covering the floor. “I wish to wed as soon as possible.”
He led her to the table, pulled out the chair, and lit a branch of candles. Mary perused the letter from his father, one from her brother, and the agreement. She couldn’t believe what she was reading: Other than funds set aside for any daughters, all her money was exactly as she’d told her brother she wanted, and Kit had given her Rose Hill. Tears started in her eyes again, and this time she couldn’t hold them back.
“Mary.” Kit’s voice was full of love and concern. “Are you all right? As I said, if there is anything you wish to change . . .”
She chuckled wetly. “It is perfect. Just as you are.” She rose, nestling her head in his shoulder as his arms came around her.
“Happy tears?”
“Yes. Immensely joyous tears.”
“My love, the only thing in the world I want is to be your husband.”
She sniffed, wishing she’d brought a handkerchief, then one was pressed into her hand and she wiped her nose. “In the morning you shall be.”
Kit pulled her up, kissing her as he did. “As much as I hate for you to leave . . .”
“I know.” She sighed. “I must return to my bedchamber.”
She nuzzled his neck, then kissed him, not wanting to let him go. Kit groaned as he returned her caresses.
Later she crept back the way she’d come. After sliding between the now cool sheets, she lay awake, making plans for the morning. Finally she would have everything she had always wanted: a husband who so truly loved her, he cared not at all about her dowry or anything but her, and he thought she was beautiful. One more night, and she would be with him for the rest of her life.
Rosebury, Northumberland
“Brian, wake up.” He fought the gentle tugging on his shoulder until he could no longer ignore it. He rolled so he could look at Eunice. “What is it?”
“Mama is getting ready to leave.”
Damn!“Can the woman not listen to reason? Kit and Mary are better off figuring this out on their own.”
