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Isabel bit her lip.
“I was thinking about you.”
“Me?”
“I thought if I married Galliston, I would become a wealthy woman. Then I could look after both Mother and help fund the expedition so you could go. I could give you your dreams and whatever you wanted if I had the money to do it.”
Richard’s mouth fell open.
“You would have done that for me?”
“Of course. I wanted you to get to Africa and discover everything you could. Write to me about what you found, and I could experience it with you.” Isabel looked away. “Of course, I would rather be with you, but the more practical way of doing it would be to marry into money and give you a little bit of it.”
Richard let go of her and stepped back, still staring at her in bewilderment.
“You would have married someone else for me? Even if it cost you your future?”
“As long as you got what you wanted, I was past the point of caring.” Isabel looked up. She could do this. “I love you, Richard. I wanted you to have what you wanted from life. The only way you’ll be able to do it is if you have a wealthy benefactor. I wanted that to be me.”
“The expedition doesn’t matter if I can’t have what I really want,” Richard snapped. “If I can’t have you, it’s meaningless. I wouldn’t have accepted your money if you had done that.”
“You wouldn’t?”
“Of course not. I wanted you, not your money.” Richard reached for her again, pulling Isabel against his chest as he hugged her. “I love you. And having you as my wife would make me happier than going to Africa. Except you coming with me to Africa, of course, but I’ll take what I can get.”
He really meant it. Isabel could see it in his eyes. He genuinely meant what he said. Her plan wouldn’t have come to fruition at all had she gone the way she planned.
Her mother said she could look after herself. Isabel believed her. Now she just had to focus on herself. And she made up her mind.
Grabbing Richard’s head, she tugged him down for a kiss, feeling his arms tighten around her.
“Yes.”
“What are you saying yes to?”
“Everything.” Isabel smiled. “Anything you want me to say yes to, I’ll do it. I’ll marry you, come with you on expeditions, share your discoveries, anything you want.”
Richard stared at her. He looked like he couldn’t quite believe it.
“Are you sure about this?”
“I’m sure.” Isabel stroked his cheek. “You’ve made a convincing argument, and I think it’s time that I start thinking for myself than for other people.”
Richard’s eyes darkened. He kissed her hard, burying his face in her neck.
“I’m really glad you’ve said yes. I was half-expecting you to say no and tell me to leave.”
“I wouldn’t do that. Not to you.”
“But I did think about it. And it had me scared.” Richard lifted his head. “I made a mistake not telling you a long time ago how I felt, and then that nearly went wrong.”
“You’ve done it now.” Isabel kissed him. “Feel better for it?”
“Absolutely.” Richard sighed. “Now all we have to do is tell the duke that he’s not getting his wedding.”
That was the slight problem. To say Galliston wasn’t going to be impressed was an understatement. But Isabel was sure that things would settle down eventually. She could handle the scandal of marrying below her station as long as it meant having Richard.
They just had to tell everyone else.
