that, more than anything, which made me realize I would do anything I could to convince you to have me. Even if you refuse, I’m determined to protect you, Lady Frederica. A lady with a heart such as yours deserves no less.”
“But I…” She shook her head. “I thought you were afraid of marriage.”
A chuckle came out before he could stop it. “My fear has far more to do with certain ladies who brandish fire irons as weapons than with marriage itself.”
Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a perfect O. No doubt she realized what she’d swung at him in the library not too very long ago, just as clearly as he did. She started to speak, but he put a finger against her lips to stop her.
“But that is a story for another time. Not now.” It was late, and he needed an answer. “Lady Frederica Bexley-Smythe, will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”
“I…” She eyed him quizzically. “Are you entirely certain?”
He couldn’t stop his smile at her efforts to allow him to change his mind. “Do you promise never to raise another fire poker against me?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m sure, Lady Frederica.”
A mischievous gleam lit her brown eyes while golden flecks danced around in them from the candlelight. “If you’re to be my husband, then I suppose you should call me Freddie as all my siblings do.”
Preston was in the process of dipping his head down for a kiss when Goddard cleared his throat from the hallway.
Damnation. He’d forgotten they weren’t alone.
“Yes?” Preston said, trying to keep his frustration from being overly evident.
“Lord Preston, I wondered if you might have use for me at Preston Hill.” Goddard looked to Upton Grey sheepishly. “If you can spare me, of course, my lord.”
Preston didn’t want to answer without some reaction from Upton Hill.
“I’d hate to lose you, Goddard,” Upton Hill said, “but if I must lose you to anyone, at least it will be my brother-in-law.”
“I’m sure we could find some use for you at Preston Hill,” Preston said slowly, “but if you’re truly inclined to work for me—”
“I am, my lord. Lady Frederica, Lady Edwina, and Lady Stalbridge—they’re family now, though we don’t really know one another. I’d like to be closer to them, to be sure no more harm comes to them.”
It only made sense. And Preston had the perfect idea of how to put Goddard’ s skills to excellent use.
“If that’s the case, then I’ve got the perfect position in mind for you at Darlingshire House instead of at Preston Hill.”
“Is that where you’ll be taking the ladies, my lord?”
Preston met Freddie’s eyes. “Would you mind?” he asked. “I think we would all be of great use there right now.”
“As long as Mama and Edie have a home to go to, and I get to see you at the altar soon—” she lifted her brows in a teasing manner, reminding him of their first encounter by the reliquary— “then I am happy to go anywhere with you.”
Then, finally, he got his kiss.
“But I…” She shook her head. “I thought you were afraid of marriage.”
A chuckle came out before he could stop it. “My fear has far more to do with certain ladies who brandish fire irons as weapons than with marriage itself.”
Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a perfect O. No doubt she realized what she’d swung at him in the library not too very long ago, just as clearly as he did. She started to speak, but he put a finger against her lips to stop her.
“But that is a story for another time. Not now.” It was late, and he needed an answer. “Lady Frederica Bexley-Smythe, will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”
“I…” She eyed him quizzically. “Are you entirely certain?”
He couldn’t stop his smile at her efforts to allow him to change his mind. “Do you promise never to raise another fire poker against me?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m sure, Lady Frederica.”
A mischievous gleam lit her brown eyes while golden flecks danced around in them from the candlelight. “If you’re to be my husband, then I suppose you should call me Freddie as all my siblings do.”
Preston was in the process of dipping his head down for a kiss when Goddard cleared his throat from the hallway.
Damnation. He’d forgotten they weren’t alone.
“Yes?” Preston said, trying to keep his frustration from being overly evident.
“Lord Preston, I wondered if you might have use for me at Preston Hill.” Goddard looked to Upton Grey sheepishly. “If you can spare me, of course, my lord.”
Preston didn’t want to answer without some reaction from Upton Hill.
“I’d hate to lose you, Goddard,” Upton Hill said, “but if I must lose you to anyone, at least it will be my brother-in-law.”
“I’m sure we could find some use for you at Preston Hill,” Preston said slowly, “but if you’re truly inclined to work for me—”
“I am, my lord. Lady Frederica, Lady Edwina, and Lady Stalbridge—they’re family now, though we don’t really know one another. I’d like to be closer to them, to be sure no more harm comes to them.”
It only made sense. And Preston had the perfect idea of how to put Goddard’ s skills to excellent use.
“If that’s the case, then I’ve got the perfect position in mind for you at Darlingshire House instead of at Preston Hill.”
“Is that where you’ll be taking the ladies, my lord?”
Preston met Freddie’s eyes. “Would you mind?” he asked. “I think we would all be of great use there right now.”
“As long as Mama and Edie have a home to go to, and I get to see you at the altar soon—” she lifted her brows in a teasing manner, reminding him of their first encounter by the reliquary— “then I am happy to go anywhere with you.”
Then, finally, he got his kiss.
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