“Greydon,” she said.
Greydon turned towards her and surprise registered on his face. He quickly rose and walked over to her. “What are you doing here?” he asked.
“I heard you were shot,” Enid replied.
“I was, but the doctor removed the bullet and stitched me up,” Greydon said.
Now that Enid was standing in front of Greydon, knowing that he was all right, her emotions rushed to the surface. Tears filled her eyes as she admitted, “I was so scared.”
Greydon moved to stand in front of her. “It is going to take more than a bullet to stop me,” he teased.
“You shouldn’t joke at a time like this,” she chided.
“I’m sorry, but other than a sore shoulder, I will be fine.”
Tears spilled over and started running down her cheeks. “I am so relieved to hear that,” she said.
Malcolm stepped closer and interjected, “We are going to give you a minute to speak privately, but I will be in the entry hall if you need me.”
Enid barely acknowledged her brother’s words since she was so focused on Greydon. She had so much she needed to tell him, and she knew it was time. He completed her in a way that she’d never thought possible.
Once her brother and Greydon’s friends left the room, Greydon opened his arms up and she stepped into them. She laid her head against his chest and his heartbeat soothed her soul. He was her future; she was sure of it.
After a long moment, Greydon released her but remained close. For that, she was most grateful. “I am happy that you are here with me.”
“I am, too,” Enid said. “I have never known such a fear as the thought of losing you.”
Greydon’s eyes held compassion. “You will never lose me, Enid. You must know that.”
“What if you are shot again?”
“That is highly unlikely because I no longer work as a Bow Street Runner,” Greydon replied. “I am hanging up my uniform.”
“Is that what you want to do?”
“It is,” he replied. “I need to start helping my father run our estate and ensuring it remains profitable.”
Enid bobbed her head. “I think that is wise.”
“But I do have a problem,” he said.
“What is that?”
Greydon reached for her gloved hand and replied, “I find that I am still wifeless.”
“That is a problem,” she agreed.
“It is, and I am hoping you will reconsider my offer of becoming my wife,” Greydon said, his eyes searching hers. “I love you, and I always will.”
Enid wanted to throw her arms around him and say yes, but there were a few things that needed to be said between them.
“I love you, too, but I want you to be sure,” she said. “I don’t want you to wake up one day and regret marrying me.”
“That is impossible. I started falling in love with you from the moment I saw you, and I care little about my social standing.”
“You say that now, but—”
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. As he leaned back, he said, “That is my new favorite way to silence you.”
