He loved her so much that his heart ached from the wanting. He dreamed of her every night. Yearned for her every moment they were apart. Flooded with joy at the merest glimpse of her face.
Yet she had no reason to feel the same. No reason to trust him. Even if he confessed his very soul, she still had no proof at all that when he said he was hers forever, he meant every word. Quite simply, love alone would not be enough.
Now that he realized how much he needed her, how was he going to convince her he wouldn’t let her down again?
Chapter 13
Daniel didn’t return to London that night. Or the following morning. There was still one final risky undertaking before he was willing to bid Cornwall adieu.
He stood in his finest dress clothes, halfway between Crowmere Castle and Delmouth proper, at the peak of a small knoll bearing a cottage that looked out over the vastness of the ocean.
This was the stretch of land that Rebecca loved. Where she deserved to be.
Daniel was more than aware he wasn’t the only fish in her sea. He might not even be the best one. But he wanted to betheone. The only one. By her side, now and forever.
At the sound of half-boots on gravel, he turned in time to see Rebecca walk into view. He smiled when he saw her.
She frowned and arched a brow. “What are you doing here? I have an appointment any moment with the owner of the cottage.”
“Iamthe owner of the cottage. Or I was, briefly,” he admitted in a rush. “I’ve already had papers drawn to transfer the title to your name.”
“What?” She took a step back. “You bought this cottage?”
“And gave it to you,” he repeated. “It’s not mine anymore. It’s yours.”
She stared over her shoulder at the tiny house overlooking the sea, then swung her wide-eyed gaze back to him in shock. “Youboughtit? And gave it to me?”
He nodded. “Welcome home. I hope you like it.”
“You know I like it,” she stammered, her eyes wide with wonder. “This is my favorite view in all of Delmouth. But when—how—” She shook her head as if to clear it. “Daniel, why are you doing this?”
He cleared his throat. It was time. “Because I don’t want you tohaveto marry anyone. I want you towantto.”
She stared back as if she couldn’t quite process his meaning.
He took a deep breath and dropped to one knee. “My darling Rebecca Bond, would you do me the great honor—”
She paled. “Daniel—”
“I love you,” he blurted, the words tumbling out at last. “I love you more than I want air to breathe. You are the reason I strive to be a better man. The reason I live. I love you because when we are together, the rest of the world no longer matters. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to make you happy.” He took a shuddering breath and laid himself bare. “This is all I am. My life will never be complete unless I have you and you have me. A thousand lives wouldn’t be long enough. Say you’ll have me, Rebecca. Marry me.Please.”
“But you’re a viscount,” she stammered, her anguished tone indicating nothing had changed. “And I’m just—”
“You’re everything. You’re the only thing that matters.” He couldn’t bear to lose her. His heart was in her hands. “Are you fretting over what my grandmother might say? Don’t. You’re not marrying her. You’d be marrying me. She has no power over us. The only opinion I care about is yours. I want you by my side for the rest of my life.”
She shook her head. “Then why did you buy me a cottage in Cornwall, when you live in London?”
“Because I want to be byyourside, too. I don’t want to take you away from your home. I want to join you, if you’ll have me.”
At her silence, his heart raced in fear. She still hadn’t accepted. He swallowed. His life would be meaningless without her. He would offer his very soul.
“We’d have to be in London during the months Parliament is in session,” he admitted, “but the rest of the year we can be right here, if that is your wish. Anything you desire, I will give you. If you’ll only do me the honor of becoming my wife. Darling, I love you. I am wrecked without you. Won’t you please consider letting me love you for the rest of my life?”
“You addle-pate,” she choked out as she fell into his arms. “Of course I will. The only thing I’ve ever wanted is you.”
Joy flooded him. Scarcely daring to breathe, he held her in his arms between the rolling green hills and the deep blue of the sea.
He pressed his lips to her hair.
