No.
Couldn’t have done.
Smoke must’ve clogged her ears. “You buffle-brained cabbage hea–”
He seized her shoulders, indigo eyes so fierce. “I love you, Evelyn Pearce. Do you hear me?”
There was no mistaking that.
She held a shaking hand to his cheek “Casper…” Stroked his precious brow. “My heart is yours also…but my deceptio–”
“I’d love you whoever you were. Whether artist’s daughter or temptress widow. It matters not. It’syouthat I love, my passionate, brave and defiant Evelyn.”
She stared, pulse stuttering; Casper panted, eyes fervid. Then he thrust a hand to her nape, wrenched her near and kissed her.
Quite soundly.
In front of all the Grosvenor Square residents, the cheering servants, grinning Lord Virgil, a whistling Lord Ernest and the applauding Phoenix firemen.
She was ruined. Wholly and completely, and what a wonderful sensation it was.
“Ahem. If I could just interrupt for a moment, Your Grace, but the fire officer would like a word…as would that young ragamuffin.”
Casper wrenched his mouth away. “Can’t it damn well wait, Coppers? I’m busy.”
“We are still a little afire, Your Grace. But there is something you need to see in the basement.”
The duke gazed down at her, besmirched and rumpled, blackened and torn, and she never wanted to be parted from him ever again.
This magnificent man loved her.
He’d saved her cat.
“Go,” she whispered. “I love you, my Casper, my duke, my beloved.”
With blackened thumbs, he smudged her tears. “I’ll be but a moment.”
She traced his lips with a finger. “I’m not going anywhere.”
A last firm kiss, a light caress, and he turned, as ever set to fulfil his duty.
Chapter 30
Game of Dukes.
“Haughty.”
“Commanding.”
“Arrogant.”
“Proud.”
“Sinister.”
Evelyn glanced askew at the Duchess of Rakecombe. “Sinister?”
“Oh.” The duchess grinned. “Is that just my duke then?”
