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‘I think I fell in love with you almost at once as well.’ Elise tilted her face to welcome the hand that had cradled her cheek at her shy declaration. She closed her eyes, letting out a soft sigh as Alex pulled her roughly towards him on the seat.
‘Perhaps Whittiker has done me a favour rather than a disservice,’ Alex said, his lips smoothing over satiny skin close to her brow. ‘But for him I might still be too proud to admit to what I’ve known for some time. I might invite him to the wedding reception.’
‘Don’t you dare!’ Elise giggled, nestling against his shoulder.
Alex pulled his coat away from Elise’s body by a lapel. She watched his long fingers disappear close to her breast, felt the nudge against tingling flesh as he withdrew the hand clasping a small box.
‘So, Miss Dewey...will you marry me?’ Alex asked with a gravity that wasn’t wholly playful as he went on to bended knee by her side.
‘I will be greatly honoured to do so, sir.’
He snapped open the small leather casket, turning it so she might see the jewel inside.
Elise stared at the ring for a long moment before raising astonished eyes to his face. ‘You brought this with you for me?’
He nodded. ‘It was my grandmother’s engagement ring. My mother had it in her safe keeping, so I called on her before heading towards Hertfordshire.’
Elise touched the huge sparkling diamond with a hesitant finger. ‘It’s so very beautiful...I’ve never seen anything so grand...’ she murmured, awestruck.
‘And it’s yours if you’ll do me the greatest honour, make me happier than I’ve ever been...and say you’ll marry me.’
Instead of reaching for the ring Elise joined him on her knees on the ground, hugging him tightly about the neck. Joyous tears dribbled on to her cheeks, wetting his hair. ‘I’ve never felt so happy either, Alex,’ she sniffed.
‘You like your gift,’ he noted with gentle humour, drawing her up to sit beside him. ‘I’m very glad...so would my grandmother be to know it goes to someone as fine and beautiful as you; my mother will adore you.’ He chucked up Elise’s chin as she dried her eyes with her knuckles. ‘She has given me firm instructions to introduce you to her the moment we return to town.’
Alex wriggled the gold shank free of its velvet nest and, taking her left hand, slid it in place.
The unaccustomed weight made Elise carefully lift her fingers so the dying sun might fire the magnificent diamond to rainbow brilliance. ‘It fits me very well.’ She gave a beatific smile, spinning the ring and turning her face up to his.
It was the opportunity Alex had been waiting for. His lips seized hers with hungry heat, sliding silkily back and forth parting her lips. With an inaudible gasp Elise’s hands coiled about his neck and she kissed him back, luxuriating in the way her response made him widen her mouth to the touch of his tongue. It was the same as the first kiss he’d given her, but so much better, imbued with a wooing sweetness that had been lacking when he’d thought her a mercenary harlot.
‘God...do you know how long I’ve waited to do that again?’ Alex groaned against her hair when their lips finally unsealed.
Elise nodded, crumpling her loose silken hair on his jaw’s stubble. ‘Far too long...’ She sighed.
Alex pulled her on to his lap, ignoring her squeal of protest at the immodesty of it and again captured her mouth in a drugging kiss.
‘I want you!’ It was a rasping, half-laughing apology for his lack of control. ‘I want you, Elise...right now...I feel as though I could devour you...’
He sounded agonised and she held him in comfort, his mouth steaming against her heavy sensitised breasts covered by the wool of his coat. She arched her back, dropping back her head as exquisite sensations streaked from her nipples to the core of her femininity. Instinctively her hips squirmed against the hard heat pressed against her buttocks and the small groan grazing his throat turned feral.
Alex sprang to his feet, carrying Elise in his arms as though she were featherlight as he strode urgently towards the screening shelter beyond the brick wall. But just a few paces away from his destination a frustrated curse burst through his teeth and reluctantly he put Elise down.
Norman Francis goggled at the couple from beneath his low forehead. In his opinion, if one of the girls took after her mama it was Miss Beatrice, not the quieter one...or so he’d thought.
He’d heard from his wife just half an hour ago that a right to do had gone on while he’d been away in town collecting a few provisions. She’d given enough details for him to know a scandal was again brewing for the Dewey household.
