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“I did, but she did not love me.” He shook his head in emphasis. “She told me she did, but then she left me a letter one day, telling me that she had run off with one my friends. She made it quite plain in that letter she had charmed me merely to get into my friend’s company.” The words gutted Sophia. Her fingers curled around Jeremy’s own, wishing to give comfort she knew she could not give. “From that day, I vowed not to go through that pain again. So, I distracted myself.”
“I understand,” Sophia said slowly. “You distracted yourself with every beautiful woman that came your way.”
“That I did. Until you came along.” He inched toward her, moving down so that his forehead rested on hers. It was such an intimate touch that Sophia loosened one of her hands from his. She reached up and held onto the opening of his waistcoat, clinging to him. “You made me break all of my rules. I fell in love with you, even when I told myself that was not what I was feeling.”
She held her breath as he uttered the words.
He loves me? Is this possible?
“Am I dreaming?” she whispered. He chuckled softly and lifted his forehead off hers a little.
“This is no dream,” he promised. “I love you. I knew as much last night when I followed you out into that garden. I wished to explain myself then, though I struggled with how to say it. But if you want the proof this is not a dream, I can give you that.” He moved toward her.
When his lips found hers, Sophia moved abruptly. She was so sudden in her movement toward him that she felt him smile into their kiss. It was a sweet kiss, with their press of lips together, as she wrapped her arm around his shoulders, clinging to him. When they parted, she was breathless, still feeling the tingling promise of what more could happen.
“Not a dream then,” she said between panting breaths, making him smile another time.
“Not a dream. I may have been scared earlier today to tell you how I felt, fearful that I’d go through all that pain from the past, but I’m not going to hesitate now.” He breathed in and held her gaze. “I love you, Sophia, and I do not want our lives to be a series of clandestine meetings at night away from others’ eyes, as fun as they are.”
She smiled too, giddy with the excitement of what was happening.
“Marry me, Sophia?” he whispered to her.
Sophia felt a smile grow on her cheeks. There was not a doubt in her mind of what her answer should be.
“Yes – mmhhm!” She barely got the word out before his lips were on hers again.
