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As they entered the ballroom, Richard strode confidently toward the musicians and silenced them with a gentle waving of his free hand. “What are you doing?” Leticia whispered through gritted teeth. She wished her fish mask was larger so that she could hide more fully behind it, but as the music stopped and the dancers turned to see why, all eyes turned toward them, and there was no escape.
Richard did not address the crowd then, but he kept his voice nice and even as he looked into her eyes. “Lady Leticia Hudson, I would like to ask you if you would do me the great honor of becoming my wife. I know that we each have our differences, but that just means that when we are united, we will also bring our strengths to this marriage. You are stubborn and independent while I am calculating and methodical. Together, I do believe we will be able to conquer any challenge.”
“As do I,” Leticia replied, forgetting the hundreds of eyes and ears that were watching and listening to them. “I will agree to be your wife, but only if you recognize that you are also just as obstinate and unyielding as I am.”
He rolled his eyes. “Do you always have to be right?”
She smiled playfully. “But of course.” She leaned forward and whispered, “And it’s a good thing too because had I let you marry someone else, just imagine where we’d all be today.”
Richard wrapped his arms around her then and lifted her so that her feet no longer touched the parquet floor.
“What did she say?” Uncle Sebastian’s voice floated to Leticia’s ears from across the crowd. “Does she want to marry the boy or not?”
“Oh, do be quiet, you old buzzard,” Admiral Shelling scolded. “Let the couple have their moment.”
“Yes,” Leticia said loudly as Richard relaxed his grip on her, and her feet touched the floor once more. “Nothing would make me happier than to be your wife.”
“Well done!” Uncle Sebastian cheered, and as if in doing so, he gave the others permission to echo the sentiment, a loud shout then resounded through the ballroom.
“Huzzah!” The crowd of revelers chorused as the band began playing once more.
Leticia looked deep into Richard’s eyes and said, “And now what?” He opened his mouth to answer, but before any words could come out, they were surrounded. His mother, the Dowager, began making a fuss.
“Oh, my darlings, I knew you would finally come to your senses.”
Aunt Amelia appeared as well, and she was just as spirited. “Why did you make us wait so long? We’ve been half crazy wondering when the two of you would admit that you were in love with each other.”
“You knew?” Richard asked, giving them both a dazed smile.
“How could you have possibly known if we didn’t know until recently?” Leticia added.
The two ladies shared a superior smile. “We have our ways,” they chanted as one.
“Oh,” the Dowager squealed, “this is just the best news.” She reached forward and grasped both Leticia and Richard by the chin. “I always wanted you to marry someone you loved…and it is such a comfort to know that the person you loved was the one who was by your side from the beginning.” She dropped her hands to her side and plunged one hand into her reticule so she could extract her fan and begin fanning herself.
Leticia reached up and touched the bluebells that were still in her hair. She thought of her mother and how she wore the bluebells because they signified her constant, never-ending love for her husband.
“I’m here, Leticia,” Richard whispered as he lifted his own hand and ran it through her hair. “I will be by your side always.”
“I should have never doubted.” They shared a look then that held so very much. In his eyes, she could see all that had come before as well as a love so potent that it was irrefutable. “And I promise that I never will again.”
The End?
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
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But before you go, turn the page for an extra sweet treat from me…
PREVIEW: THE NIGHT SHE MET THE MARQUESS
PROLOGUE
Grace Patterson ran through the dimly lit halls, glancing behind her once, then again, to be certain he was not following her. Seeing no one, her steps slowed until she stood in the middle of the hall, her brows drawn over her eyes, and a curse on her lips.
