The evening air was cool, and the wild garden was bathed in twilight. Lanterns had been lit along the paths. Darragh suspected that was Helena’s doing. The woman could be sharp tongued at times, but she thought of everything.
“This is my favorite spot in the whole castle,” Darragh said as they walked deeper into the garden.
“I can see why. Your mother had good taste.”
“She did.” Darragh led them to a small clearing where a stone bench sat beneath an old oak tree. His mother had loved the spot, and for a brief moment, Darragh wondered if this was the same spot his father had proposed to her. “She told me once that real love wasn’t about finding someone perfect. It was about finding someone whose imperfections fit with yours.”
Finn sat on the bench, looking up at him. “She sounds like she was an incredible woman.”
Darragh’s hand went to the ring box in his pocket. His heart was pounding, which was absolutely ridiculous. He’d faced down hostile nobles, negotiated with pirates, and once punched a visiting duke who’d insulted his sister. Of course, he’d been a lot younger then, but why was a simple matter of asking Finn a question so terrifying?
Because it matters, he realized,because Finn matters.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier,” Darragh started. “About being afraid of letting me down.”
“Darragh…”
“Let me finish, please.” He pulled out the ring box, watching Finn’s eyes widen. “I know the proper way to do this is through contracts, and all that other stuff. And we’ll do all that. But first, I wanted to do something that was just for us.”
Darragh got down on one knee, and Finn’s hand flew to his mouth.
“This is a proposal,” Darragh said, opening the box to reveal the ring. “The old-fashioned kind, from before the World Council standardized everything. Back when marriage was about two people choosing each other instead of families arranging contracts.” His hands were shaking slightly. “I’m asking you, Finn. Not Lord Finn, son of the Earl of Winrone. Just Finn, whofixes roofs, tells me the truth and makes me laugh. Will you marry me?”
Finn was crying, actual tears streaming down his face.
Panic shot through Darragh. “Is that a no? Because I can…”
“You got on your knee.” Finn’s voice was choked. “You’re a king, and you got on your knee for me.”
“Well, historically that’s what…”
“Yes.”
Darragh froze. “Yes?” That’s what he’d been waiting for, right?
“Yes, I’ll marry you.” Finn was laughing and crying at the same time. “You ridiculous, wonderful, completely insane man. Yes.”
What a freaking relief.Nothing Helena had told him had prepared Darragh for the terror around the asking and the sheer relief and pure joy that flooded through Darragh’s body at being told yes. He fumbled with the ring, nearly dropping it twice before managing to slide it onto Finn’s finger. Then he stood, pulling Finn up with him and into his arms.
Finn was still crying into his shoulder.
“I can’t believe you proposed,” Finn said, his voice muffled by Darragh’s jacket. “I thought we’d just sign contracts and that would be it.”
“We’ll still do that. Helena was very clear about the legal requirements.” Darragh pulled back enough to see Finn’s face. “But I wanted you to have this. Something special. Something just for us.”
Finn looked at the ring on his finger, turning his hand to catch the lantern light. “It’s beautiful.”
“Not too flashy?”
“Perfect.” Finn met his eyes. “You’re sure about this? About me?”
“Completely.” Darragh cupped Finn’s face in his hands. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
“I’m going to mess up at court events.”
“Probably.”
“I’ll say the wrong thing to important dignitaries.”
