Page 148 of A Baby to Seal the Duke’s Fate

“I am terribly sorry, Honora.”

She shook her head gently. “You have been sorry long enough. It is time for you to be Leopold now.”

He took her hand, and she let him hold it. His thumb moved lightly across her fingers as the library behind them slowly went dark.

“Would you stay?” he asked, looking down at their joined hands.

“Stay?” she asked.

“At Belgrave,” he said, smiling slightly. “Not as a nursemaid.”

A laugh escaped her, the real one, the laugh he had been listening for since the very first time he heard it.

“You are asking me to stay in what capacity, precisely?”

“In whatever capacity you choose,” he said, holding her gaze.

“That is remarkably vague of you.”

“I am trying not to frighten you.”

“It is not working particularly well,” she said, smiling.

“Then let me be more specific,” he said, stepping closer to her. “I want you here.”

“That much I know,” Honora said, her eyes softening as the words left her.

“And I want Cecily here as well.”

“That much I also know.”

“And I want you here with her,” he said. “Permanently.”

“I will consider it,” she said, her smile growing wider.

“You are cruel,” he said, laughing.

“Consider this your punishment,” she said with another thrilling laugh.

“Then this must be my reward.” He leaned closer, and she nodded to the question his lips were asking her without words.

He kissed her then, and there was no uncertainty in it. Honora’s hand tightened around his coat, and then she kissed him back. The moment felt different because nothing between them remained hidden any longer. It felt sharper, and more honest than anything before it. Every other time he had wanted to do this, some part of him had been holding back a question he could not bring himself to ask. That question no longer existed. The only question that remained was the one he had not yet asked.

***

The next morning, Leopold found Barnaby at breakfast, halfway through a cup of coffee. Leopold sat down across from him without ceremony.

“I am going to ask Honora to marry me,” he said.

“It is about time,” Barnaby said, taking another drink.

“That was an unnecessarily quick response,” Leopold said, frowning.

“I have had to listen to you avoid the subject for weeks now,” Barnaby said. “Forgive me for being prepared.”

“I intend to ask her properly,” Leopold said, ignoring the remark entirely.

“Good,” Barnaby said, taking another sip of his coffee. “Would you mind terribly if I borrowed the village church for something similar in a few months?”