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Smiling and shaking her head, Clara turned to James, who looked taken aback by the turn of events. “What do you think? Do you accept? Now that you’ve heard how highly considered the offer is, of course.”
James didn’t so much as smile. He rose and came to stand in front of David. He put out his hand.
David stood and shook it.
James was grinning now, and David was tolerating the situation. Clara clasped her hands together in joy.
Afterward, she looked from James to David. “Thank you to you both. You know what this means to me; I know you do, for you both did what was necessary to achieve it. I’m most grateful.”
James sat down next to her again, putting an arm around her and kissing her temple.
“I’m off in search of that top hat now,” said David, though he winked at Clara as he left. “And to instruct Mrs. Watts that champagne shall be served,” he added without turning.
“I can scarcely believe it,” she breathed to James.
James rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I’d have bet against it, but I’d be wrong. In hindsight, I should have seen it.”
“Seen what?”
He pulled her closer, his look as intent as when he’d pursued her in her parlor that first night when he made his proposition. “He knows what it is to be loved by you, Clara. I can say from experience; no man gives that up.”
She looked around, aware they had little privacy.
Sure enough, Molly peered from an upstairs window, her hands pressed to her cheeks. Sighing, Clara contented herself with leaning her head on James’s broad shoulder.
“Be bold and rash tonight, will you? Sneak into my chamber?”
“Och, Clara, only if you promise me that you have a bird collection to show me.”
“I’ll have something to show you,” she promised with a smile.
