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Focus, Dani! You can get back tothatlater.
She had all the time in the world.
“The last time we were like this in this wing, I’d taken your grandfather’s champagne. And even though we had some lovely moments as a result, I remember how upset you were.”
Decades ago, Prince John had collaborated with a specific producer to create his own vintage champagne. When Jameson turned twenty-one, John had gifted him a crate of the rare bubbly with a promise that they’d enjoy a bottle each year on Jameson’s birthday. The next year, John had died. Jameson had saved the last two bottles, wanting to hold on to them for as long as possible. Dani had helped herself to one. She hadn’t known, but still...
“I’ve never gotten over that or how childishly I reacted. So, I tracked down the person your grandfather hired. Unfortunately, he passed away. But his son had taken over, and of course he knew Prince John. The producer said his father told everyone that makingthe special vintage for Prince John had been one of the highlights of his life. He’d kept all the notes. And the son has agreed to make another batch for you.”
He stilled. “Dani, love—”
“It won’t be the exact same because, well, grapes. But it’ll be close.”
He blinked rapidly and she hurried on, wanting to get it all out before the heightened emotions took over.
“And... since champagne is my jam, I thought you and I could also make our own brand. That we could drink every year on the anniversary of when we met to celebrate being in each other’s lives.”
She held out the bottle then, showing him the label and special logo, consisting of a scripted D and J surrounded by calligraphic flourishes, which she’d had created for their vintage.
His eyes widened. Then—
“Wait right here.”
Dani was confused. “What?”
“I need to get something. Wait right here. Don’t go anywhere.”
He disappeared from the room. Dani shook her head. She hadn’t been expectingthatresponse.
She placed the bottle on the bed and headed over to partially open one of the French doors. It had been chilly, so she didn’t step out onto the balcony that overlooked the back of the property. Instead, she stared out at the portion of the lawn she could see with help from the home’s exterior lights. She exhaled as a peace settled over her. She hadn’t known if she’d ever see this place again and it contained so many memories for her. She wondered how Jameson had been able to bear it.
After several minutes, Jameson’s blurry image, as he reentered the room, was reflected in the door’s pane.
“I remember standing here the first night I arrived. The view wasgorgeous, but I was so angry at you, I couldn’t appreciate it. Do you remember you told me I could call you ‘Your Royal Highness’?” she scoffed.
His reflection moved but he didn’t respond.
Frowning, she turned... and her gaze fell to where he’d dropped to one knee. Her heart began to race and particles of transcendent pleasure radiated out from her chest. Her hands flew up to cover her mouth.
“Oh my God! Baby...”
“In the moments when I felt the most hopeful, I practiced all sorts of proposals, trying to find the right words to express the effect you’ve had on my entire life. But nothing felt appropriate, and in the end, I decided simple would be best. So, Duchess, will you marry me?”
He flipped open the top of the box in his hand and she gasped. Nestled against the black velvet cushion sat an emerald-cut ruby, at least three carats, between two trapezoid diamonds of a carat each.
“It’s spectacular,” she breathed.
“They’re flawless, hot, and passionate. Just like you.”
That’s what he’d told her the night of the tribute ball, when she’d told him rubies were her favorite gemstone.
He finally stood and took the ring out of its groove, sliding it on her finger. It fit perfectly.
“How did you know?”
“I asked Tasha, a while ago. I knew the night of the ball that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you.”
His words had the power to make her weak in the knees.
