Her words came quietly but clearly.
He studied every line and curve of her face, searching for a clue that she was implying what he dearly hoped she was, that she was telling him what he’d instructed her to do the night they’d lain in bed and bared their souls to each other, admitted their love for each other. Her eyes contained hope and doubt. If he was misreading what she was striving to communicate, he would appear a fool before all the lords and ladies crammed into the ballroom. His mistake would be expounded upon, described in detail, and used to fill columns in the gossip sheets.
Then he realized it would only be a mistake if he let the moment pass without taking a chance that he had the right of it.
It had never been a mistake to kiss her, to bare her breasts in a rumbling carriage. It hadn’t been a mistake to take her to his bed, to make love to her.
Very slowly, he lowered himself to one knee. “I told you that when I was in Scotland, a lot of words were used thatI didn’t know. But there was a phrase I heard, and when I learned what it meant, I thought of you.Mo chridhe.My heart. You’re my heart, Thea. You always will be. Please, for the love of God, honor me by becoming my wife.”
She could barely see him through the blur of her tears.
He was correct. He didn’t know the small, subtle aspects of life among the aristocracy. He did not know that one didn’t use a booming voice when threatening a lord, that the words should be spoken quietly, just for the two of them. That they shouldn’t travel up the stairs to circle around a woman and melt her heart.
And he certainly didn’t threaten to do something barbaric like snap a spine in two. Not that she didn’t think for one moment that he couldn’t do it or that Chadbourne’s spine wasn’t weak. But a gentleman called for pistols at dawn.
And he didn’t threaten to drag a man out of a room. A gentleman signaled to the footmen to do the dragging.
And he should have had his siblings in here with him, supporting him, not asked them to wait in the foyer for a woman who might not have found the courage to come.
So he did indeed need a wife to guide him through the quagmire of etiquette and to ensure he never again sacrificed his happiness for another’s.
“Benedict Trewlove Campbell, Earl of Tewksbury, you have so much to learn about the aristocracy, but it seems you know all one needs to know about love. You’re my heart as well. It will be my deepest honor to become your wife.”
He stood, clasped her in his embrace, and claimed her mouth with a fervent passion that was normally reserved for bedchambers. An aristocratic gentleman would have simply brushed his lips lightly over hers—but on this matter, as she wound her arms around his neck, she was ever so glad he didn’t know how it was done among the aristocracy.
Chapter 31
“I want to introduce you to my parents,” he said some minutes later, threading his gloved fingers through hers. “I think you’re going to like them.”
She already knew she liked his mother.
As he walked over to where his father stood and his mother sat in her chair, she saw no backs turned, had yet to receive a cut direct within this room, but she wouldn’t have cared if either happened. She would bear what she must to be with him. He would protect their children, as would his parents and his siblings.
“Mother, Father, I’d like to introduce Althea Stanwick, my heart and future wife.”
She curtsied deeply. “Your Graces.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet such a courageous lass,” the duke said. “We look forward to welcoming you into the family.”
“Thank you.” Before the duchess, she lowered herself, her gown blossoming out around her. “When you asked me to come tonight, it wasn’t so he would see the way of things and understand. You asked me to come soIwould see the way of things and understand.”
The Duchess of Glasford smiled, and it was the most beautiful smile Althea had ever seen. “I wasnae there to comfort him when he was a wee lad and had hurts. When we were in Scotland, I could see that he was hurting withoutyou, but now I could do something to try and stop the hurt. So, yes, I goaded you into coming, hoping it would go as I expected it would. So forgive me for that, Miss Stanwick, but know this. I have had the love of a Campbell man since I was fifteen years old. I know the lengths to which such a man will go for the woman he loves. I would not wish it upon any woman to be denied the sort of love that runs so deep.”
“I will work to be the best daughter-by-marriage you could ever hope for.”
“As long as you love my son and make him happy, you will be.”
“That’s an easy enough task you’re asking of me.”
When they walked away from his parents, they soon found themselves surrounded by his family, all except for Ettie Trewlove, who didn’t attend affairs such as this. So many hugs, so many smiles. Funny how life could take a detour that could seem so wrong at the time but eventually would turn out to be right.
“Althea?”
Pivoting around, she smiled. “Hello, Kat.”
“I wanted to offer my congratulations on your betrothal.”
“Thank you. You were, of course, introduced to the earl.”
