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“But what about Society and the rest of the peerage? You’re a duke and I am…” She trailed off; her eyes cast to the ground in shame.
“I don’t care about what others say,” Arthur said with a shake of his head. “They think I’m crazy and eccentric already. I don’t see how I’m making it worse by choosing to marry the woman I love and give her my name.”
“Arthur…”
“No, let me finish. You didn’t choose this life for yourself, but you’ve made the best of it. You touched the lives of so many women, changed it so much so that choose not to put their lives in danger,” he said passionately. “You amaze me, Carmen. I’ve not met a person like you before with so much love and light. Like them, you have transformed me too. I’ll always be grateful to you, but you must do me a last favor.”
“What is it?” she asked curiously.
“Let me make you mine,” he said softly.
Carmen stared at him for a few moments. But instead of answering him, she turned to Nora and nudged her closer. “I’m sorry for springing the truth on you in this manner.”
“Is that why you were asking me if I can love you like my mother?” Nora asked. Her voice was steady, and she sounded more like an old maid instead of a little girl. “I don’t have to choose between you and my Mother. It’s true that I miss her very much but it’s also true that I’m glad you’re with me in this moment. I loved her and I love you too.”
“Oh Nora,” Carmen said, her eyes filling with tears. She vowed to herself that she would not try to take the place her foster mother had left. That belonged to her.
She stood up and faced Arthur who said, “I didn’t mean to put you in an odd position. You can take all the time you need to come to a decision. Whatever you feel is right.”
Carmen shook her head. “I don’t need more time.”
The answer burst out of her just as more tears streamed down her face. “Yes, yes, yes. I will marry you. I choose you.” Arthur didn’t waste a moment longer. He stepped forward and took her in his arms and pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. Behind them, the women burst into loud cheers and applause. Even Nora clapped. She had two halves of her parents together. Her family was finally complete.
“I’ve been dying to do that,” Arthur said with a soft smile as he took in Carmen’s hooded eyes. She was still recovering from the blaze of the kiss.
“I love you,” she said.
“I love you, too,” he said and they joined their foreheads, locked in each other’s embrace. She had said yes to forever and she was right where she belonged.
The End?
