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Diana stirred against him. He kissed the top of her head, relishing the feel of her body against his, the silk of her hair under his lips. Diana, free and unafraid beside him, where she belonged.
A few minutes later, she roused and gave him a sleepy smile. ‘Alastair?’
He placed a kiss on the tip of her nose. ‘Yes, my beloved.’
‘Am I your beloved?’
‘You know you are.’
‘Then...is your offer still open?’
An electric flash of anticipation instantly dispelled any residual sleepiness. ‘Which offer?’ he asked cautiously, trying to restrain a rising hope and excitement.
She blushed a little. ‘Your offer to make an honest woman of me.’
‘You mean...marriage?’
She nodded, looking suddenly shy.
He could have teased her, but he was far too eager for delay. Detaching her from his arms, he slid out of bed, pulled her to sitting position, and went down on one knee.
‘My dearest, darling Diana, will you marry me, and make me the happiest man in England?’
‘Amorous Alastair.’ She chuckled. ‘Accepting Alastair. My Alastair-for-Always. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.’
He didn’t want to ask, to give her a chance to entertain any doubts, but he’d waited too long not to know for certain. ‘Are you sure?’
‘The innocent, joyful girl I’d once been is gone for ever, but as I’ve resumed the habits of my old life, the most consistent, most important joy I remembered and have found again...is you. I’ve no need for wariness any longer. He took away and pressured and intimidated; you give and support and encourage, asking for nothing in return but for me to rebuild my life and be happy.’
‘I did ask to be part of it,’ he pointed out.
‘Now I have a new life I owe to you—and I can’t envisage living it without you.’
Elated, he gave her a passionate kiss, then jumped up and hurried about, gathering up his scattered clothing.
‘I tell you I can’t live without you, and you respond by leaving?’ Diana asked, looking disgruntled.
‘Absolutely! I must ride to London today and arrange for a special licence. Talk with Mama; shall we be married in the parlour at Barton Abbey or here?’ He stopped suddenly. ‘Unless you want a grand wedding in London? The Dowager Duchess, re-emerging triumphant in Society?’
She shook her head. ‘I never wanted to be part of Society. The only thing I wanted, almost from the moment I met you, was to be your wife.’
‘So you shall be, then. For ever and always, my beloved,’ he declared, and gathered Diana to him for another kiss.
