AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her tone clearly saidit’s now or never.
As if he needed the warning.
“There is, indeed,” he said. “I was in the process of—”
“Dr. Kendrick just proposed marriage,” Samantha blurted out. “I said yes, so he was just . . . just kissing me out of gratitude.”
If the situation weren’t so fraught, Braden might have laughed at her phrasing. As it was, he was stunned that she’d so readily grasped the bull by the horns.
Beath, too, was looking fairly stunned. “Er, what are you saying?”
Bathsheba hurried over to embrace Samantha, pulling her away from Braden. “That’s wonderful news, dearest. Simply the best! And you’re sure?” she quietly added to her in an undertone.
And didn’t that make him feel like a nice bit of muck on a boot heel? Because he’d let his feelings get the best of him, Samantha had been forced into making this choice to protect her sister.
When Samantha glanced over her shoulder at him, Braden gave her a slight grimace. She simply shrugged.
“I am absolutely sure,” she said. “I’m very happy to accept Dr. Kendrick’s offer.”
Then she reached back and took Braden’s hand, all but yanking him forward to stand beside her. “I hope we have your approval and congratulations, Lord Beath,” she said.
Braden frowned. “We don’t really need his—”
Samantha squeezed his fingers—hard.
“Indeed, my lord,” he hastily said. “Lady Samantha and I would be honored to have your approval and well wishes.”
Beath looked as if he’d been struck into stone by Medusa’s glare.
“This, this is most irregular,” he finally blustered.
Donella appeared in the doorway, wariness in her gaze. “Is something wrong?”
“Quite the opposite,” Bathsheba enthusiastically announced. “Samantha has accepted a proposal of marriage from Braden!”
Donella clapped her hands. “Oh, my goodness, that is simply splendid news. Congratulations, my dears. We’ve been so hoping for you both.”
“Thank you,” Samantha replied. “As you can imagine, I’m very happy.”
Actually, Braden thought she sounded a bit annoyed. But clearly this was now the ladies’ show.
When he didn’t say anything, Samantha again squeezed his fingers.
“And I am delirious with joy, as you can imagine,” he said. “Absolutely delirious.”
“Oh, God,” she muttered.
“I actually am,” he muttered back.
Or at least he thought he was. It was hard to tell, given the awkwardness of the situation.
“Well, this is justtooterribly exciting,” Donella enthused. “We must go tell the others. And I’ll have Macklin bring out our best champagne to celebrate.”
“I suppose,” said Beath, obviously unsure.
Donella pressed the old man’s arm. “My uncle, Lord Riddick, will be over the moon. Braden is a great favorite of his, and the king will be so delighted. His Majesty and Braden had the loveliest chat during the royal visit to Edinburgh a few years back. Isn’t that right, Braden?”
“Oh, yes. Lovely chat. Splendid.” Of course, he’d never actually met the king.
