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“Now, what is it?” she asked instantly.
It made Stephen laugh. He leaned in closely to her, and though he was far enough to be deemed proper, Belle’s heart thudded. “Are you happy to see me?” he asked.
She blushed. “What an odd question.”
“It is odd, yes,” he said with a nod. “But the response is very important to me.”
She almost frowned. He was smiling, but something felt wrong. “Yes,” she answered honestly. “I am very happy to see you. In fact, I am always happy to see you.”
His smile widened. He looked down at their entwined fingers, hidden under the folds of her dress. Any passersby would only see a man and a woman sitting together, talking.
Belle’s frown deepened. Stephen said nothing, only looking down at her hand as he ran his thumb over the back of it. She longed to ask him again what was wrong, but she decided it was best to be patient.
“You know, when I awoke this morning, you were the first thing on my mind.”
“That is wonderful to hear.”
“I thought so too,” he said, huffing a laugh that faded a second later. “I only wished I had a chance to...”
“Stephen...” Belle squeezed his hand, “you are beginning to scare me.”
“Forgive me, I don’t mean to. I’m only feeling a little conflicted after what happened this morning. And I’ve come to a decision.”
“A decision? About what?”
“About you.” He stared into her eyes with love. “You are all I want, Hannah. I love you with all my heart and I want to wake up every morning with you by my side.”
Belle’s eyes went wide, her heart thudding against her chest.He couldn’t possibly be...“Are you asking for us to be betrothed?” she murmured in disbelief.
“I am asking you to marry me. I will go to Scotland with you and we can be wed at Gretna Green.”
“Stephen...”
“Please, just listen.” Desperation overcame his expression and it tugged at her heartstrings. Even though her response was already on the tip of her tongue, Belle nodded. “I want to run away with you. Let us elope in Scotland and then we can go to the Far East where we can start out lives together. It will only be us, but we will be able to make it work, won’t we?”
Stephen eyes shot to the door of the house as his lips tightened. His clear eagerness warmed her heart. “You needn’t worry about being too far away from your friends. We can send them letters. And perhaps, in a few years, we can come back to London to visit them. Perhaps. But it sounds like a wonderful life, doesn’t it? Us, together, married and in love?”
“It sounds like a dream, Stephen,” she breathed without hesitation, happiness exploding within her at the joy in his face.
“Then you will marry me?”
“But...what about your life here? Are you willing to toss it all aside to come with me to Scotland?”
“I am willing to do anything for you, Hannah. My life here...” He shook his head. “I can start anew. As long as I have you by my side, I know that anything is possible.”
It would have been so perfect, so beautiful, had he not called her Hannah. The fake name was like a bucket of cold water all over her happiness and her smile faded. She couldn't do this any longer.
She wanted to marry him. She wanted to live this glorious dream he was imagining. She too believed that it was possible, and that they would be happy together.
She would be away from her overbearing father, away from the pressures that came with being Lady Belle Sinclair. She would be so happy with Stephen, but she didn’t think she could do it while she continued to lie to him.
“Hannah.” Stephen wiped a tear from her eye in alarm. “Have I said something to offend or upset you? What is the matter?”
"I just...” she swallowed past the lump in her throat. Belle studied his face, wanting to remember the love she saw shining there in case her honesty chased it away. “I need to—”
Her words were cut off when he lifted a finger to his lips. “You needn’t say anything, Hannah. I know your heart as well as I know mine now and that is all that matters.”
“It is about my past.”
