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“This has nothing to do with Prescott,” James returned firmly.
“The timing is somewhat suspicious if that’s the case.”
“I understand this is probably not the romantic declaration that young girls dream about, for that I apologize profusely for the timing, but this is most certainly not out of a desire to fight Prescott. In fact, if you’ll marry me, I’ll drop all thought of him.” He cleared his throat suddenly and stammered. “Well, not entirely, of course, because the man still needs to be prosecuted. But that will not be personal in the least.”
“Why?”
James frowned over her one-word demand.
“Why what? Why would I drop the thought of dueling with him? Or why must I still prosecute him?”
“Why would you want to become betrothed with me? And how would that change the fact that the bounder said vile things to me?”
“Well, it wouldn’t change the fact. He did say vile things. But I would be so happy that I wouldn’t care.”
Rosabel stared at him, examining his eyes as though searching for something.
“Did you hit your head this morning, Your Grace? You aren’t making sense, I’m sorry to say.”
James finally grinned at her. “Rosabel, my dear girl, can we stop marching forward? I know my timing is dreadful. I’m well aware that you have no interest in being a duchess. I do hope you haven’t given your heart to Northcott because that truly would break mine. But if you could please consider it, I would be the luckiest man in all the world if you would consider becoming my wife.”
“You actually would go through with it?”
Now, James wondered if he had perhaps hit his head, as he didn’t understand her question even though it seemed she was still speaking the King’s English. His confusion must have been evident, as she softened her tone and began to look bashful.
“You said if we became betrothed it would make matters different with Prescott. I thought you meant for it to be a sham, to salvage my reputation in case he spread his lies.”
“No! Not a sham, at all. I am most sincere in hoping you would do me the great honour of being my wife.” James glanced around the park and shook his head at his own foolishness.
Without another word, he grabbed her hand firmly and set off for the hedgerow he could see up ahead. It was sufficiently tall to provide a modicum of privacy. When they were finally at least a little screened off from others he spoke again.
“I should have approached your father first. I’m making a complete mull of things. Even that should assure you of just how lost to all sense my feelings for you have made me.”
He heard her catch her breath and stopped speaking. James stared at her, worrying that he had made matters even worse somehow as, for the first time in their acquaintance, he saw tears well up in her eyes.
∞∞∞
“What sort of feelings?” Bel could hear how strangled her voice sounded, but there was nothing that could be done about that, so she ignored it. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from his. She didn’t think she even blinked. Which was a good thing, as she was sure her tears would start to flow if she did. That was ridiculous in and of itself, considering she hadn’t cried over anything in more than two and a half years. Why would she want to cry in a moment like this?
“I have discovered that I am quite in love with you, Rosabel Sherton. I know it is not fashionable, and I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable with my declaration. I can see that I have, and I am sorry for it, but it was just in answer to your question of why marrying you would make all the difference. I love you so much that I would be deliriously happy if you were to agree to marry me. And, of course, I would still be furious with Prescott for what he said, but I couldn’t really blame him. It is entirely possible he might have sensed my love for you and misinterpreted it. But it wouldn’t matter because I would have you. And you would have the protection of my name.”
“Why did Prescott’s vile words make you suddenly think you love me? Is it some wayward sense of chivalry? That I am some helpless little female that needs your protection?”
“Of all the women I know, I’m fairly certain you are the least helpless, for one thing,” James replied instantly. “For another, it wasn’t Prescott’s words that made me think I love you. They just made me feel like I could no longer contain my feelings.” He sighed heavily, as though weighed by a great burden. “I know you don’t want to be a duchess, and I’m sorry to ask it of you, but it cannot be helped if you are to become my wife. It was because of knowing you don’t want my life that I have been trying to convince myself that I don’t have feelings for you. But it is impossible. I do have them, and I’m not some callow youth that will be able to transfer those feelings quickly to someone else.”
He sighed again, tightening his grasp on her hands. A delicious thrill shot through Rosabel. One tear trailed down her cheek, and James groaned in front of her.
“I’m sorry, my dear girl. I should have kept it to myself and just planted the rotter a facer instead of doing any of this. But I’m not sorry for loving you.” He looked away for a moment, indecision written upon his face. “But what about if I gave up sitting in the House? Would you be able to consider it then? I have a few very reliable clerks that would probably be able to represent me. I could maybe just come periodically. You wouldn’t even have to come with me. We could spend our time travelling around to my estates, and you could help me decide which one to like the best. And we could live there always. You would never have to leave if you don’t want to. Just, please, say you’ll marry me. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you don’t regret it.”
Rosabel took a deep breath, realizing that now was the time for her to take all her courage in both her hands and accept the beautiful offer before her.
“I couldn’t possibly remain there while you were elsewhere,” she said as she felt her face stretching into a grin.
“Why not? I know you wouldn’t be afraid.”
“I’ve been told that people who are in love with one another cannot bear to be apart.”
He blinked as he examined her suspiciously, as though he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing. “What are you saying?”
