Page 39 of An Enchanting Kiss (Captivating Kisses #5)

Sympathy filled Millbrooke’s eyes. “Love can play havoc with one’s emotions. I almost made a mess of things with my duchess. Fortunately, we were able to straighten everything out between us.” The duke paused. “And I am deliriously happy now.” He smiled. “I am also going to be a father.”

“Why, congratulations, Your Grace. That is wonderful news,” he replied.

“Our little one will come in mid-March. Once Eden is able, we will come to town for whatever remains of the Season.”

“And bring your babe with you,” Rupert said, smiling. “Yes, I know all about the Marchioness of Aldridge’s plans for the ten cousins. That they are to bring their children to town each Season and enjoy family time with both their own children and their cousins and their children.”

“You do know our family secrets,” the duke said. “Is that something you might be willing to do if my sister accepts your offer of marriage?”

“Absolutely, Your Grace.” He hesitated and then said, “I want you both to know how much I care for Lady Lia.” He pulled the note from Creighton from his pocket.

“This is from your solicitor. I met with Mr. Creighton and Mr. Ousley, my solicitor, when I stopped in town yesterday. Together, they have drawn up marriage settlements that are quite favorable to Lady Lia.”

“I like that you came prepared, Cressley,” Her Grace said. “You have a good head on your shoulders. And the fact that you know my daughter seeks a love match is also in your favor.”

Worry filled him now. “I do love her, Your Grace, but I fear it may be too late.”

The dowager duchess smiled evenly. “You came quite a long way, Cressley. You even took the time to have marriage settlements drawn up. Cornelia will be moved by that.”

“I also purchased a special license, Your Graces,” he informed the pair. “I am hoping Lady Lia might be persuaded to wed quickly.”

“Hmm. Then I will go speak with Cook. I will let her know of the possibility of a wedding breakfast. If you will excuse me.”

“The others are due to return soon, my lord,” Millbrooke told him.

“I will make certain that Lia comes to the drawing room so that you might speak with her alone. If you do not mind, I shall tell my wife and Tia you are here—and why. That way, they will be prepared for whatever decision Lia makes regarding your offer.”

“Thank you, Your Graces.”

“And Cressley, I will want to review those marriage settlements immediately if my sister agrees to this match.”

“Of course, Your Grace. They are with my solicitor. He, my niece, and her governess are waiting at the Willowshire inn. ”

The pair left. Rupert roamed the room for a few minutes, walking from window to window, gazing out at Millbrooke.

His pulse quickened as he saw a carriage coming toward the house.

He stayed at the window, looking down, and saw the duke go outside to greet its occupants.

Millbrooke handed down his wife, who was obviously increasing, followed by Lady Tia.

And then Lia appeared. His heart sang with joy. He told it to be still, that she had yet to agree to wed him, but he could not banish the happiness filling him.

Rupert watched as the others disappeared from sight, entering the house. He waited, his heart beating rapidly, waiting for the door to open. For Lia to walk in.

When she did, her step faltered. Their gazes met. They both froze, unable to move or speak.

He was the first to come to his senses, striding quickly toward her. He reached her and took her hands in his.

“I have been a rattleplate. Utterly bacon-brained,” he blurted out.

“I love you, Lia. I truly do. When you asked me if I did, I lied to you. Or I was lying to myself. I cannot say. All I know is that I never thought of love being a part of my life. Now, I cannot think of anything but having love in my life. Having you in my life. Loving you every day of my existence and even beyond the grave.”

She seemed speechless, so he continued to speak, hoping to convince her.

“I adore you, and I will show you every day just how much I love you. I will prove it in ways large and small so that you never need doubt me and my eternal love for you.”

He choked on the final two words, tears swimming in his eyes. He had laid bare his soul to her.

Now, it was for her to decide if they had a future together.

Her fingers squeezed his. “I never thought I would hear those words come from you. I have loved you so much, Rupert. When you told me you did not love me, it was like a thousand deaths. I wanted to hate you. Hurt you. Instead, I simply withdrew inside myself. I have barely eaten. I cannot sleep.”

Tears now welled in her eyes. “I did not think I could go another day without you.”

He brought her hands to his lips, kissing her fingers tenderly. “I was a complete arse, Lia. I have put both of us through something awful. I beg for your forgiveness. If you can find it within your heart to forgive me—to love me, even a little—then I will be the happiest man alive.”

“I never stopped loving you, Rupert.”

He released her hands, pulling the sacred document from his inner coat pocket and handing it to her. She opened it and began to read it, her jaw dropping.

“What? Is this what I think it is?”

“It is a special license,” he said solemnly. “If you are willing to forgo the calling of the banns, we can wed as soon as you would like. I also had marriage settlements drawn up. They are—”

But Rupert never finished his sentence. Lia jerked him down to her.

Their mouths collided, and a fevered kiss began, a kiss unlike any other.

They drank deeply of one another, their bodies flush against each other’s.

He could feel the pounding of her heart as it raced, knowing his did the same.

They kissed. Laughed. Kissed while they laughed.

And when he finally broke the kiss, the radiance of Lia’s face was like the most brilliant rising of the sun he had ever seen.

“So, you will wed me?” he asked.

“Yes, you silly goose.” She kissed him again. “I would say tomorrow, but Mama would object. Maybe in two days. Or three.” Lia stopped. “No, Celia should be present at the ceremony. We must go back to—”

“She is here. In Willowshire,” he said excitedly. “I brought her and Miss Wilson with me. She wanted to come with me to Millvale, but I was afraid you would not even see me.”

Her hands cradled his cheeks. “You will probably get tired of seeing me.”

“Never,” he said, devouring her mouth again, taking pleasure in each kiss.

This time, Lia broke the kiss. “You must bring them to Millvale. I will go with you. They can stay here in the house. Val and Eden will not mind.”

“I met your brother. He seems to be a good man.”

“He is. And you will like Eden.”

“Shall we go tell your family our good news then?” he asked.

“Yes.”

Quigby lingered outside the drawing room, telling them the others awaited them in the library. The moment they entered, he saw the hopeful look on the faces of the occupants. Then Lia cried out joyfully, throwing herself into her twin’s arms.

“I see that a marriage will take place,” His Grace said. “This is my duchess, Lord Cressley.”

The Duchess of Millbrooke had honey-brown hair and hazel eyes. She greeted him warmly. “It is an honor to meet my soon-to-be brother-in-law. Welcome to Millvale, my lord.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

Lia returned to his side. “Mama said not tomorrow but the next day. I am getting married!” she squealed. Then she sobered. Gazing up at him, she said, “I am wedding the man I love. The man I will continue to love as the years pass.”

Though they were in front of her family, Rupert couldn’t help it. He bent and pressed a light kiss to her lips.

Then Tia said, “Welcome to the family, my lord.” She embraced him.

“We do not stand on ceremony,” the duke said. “When alone, we prefer to address one another informally. I am Val. This is Eden. ”

“I am Rupert,” he told them.

“We must go for Celia now,” Lia said. “Oh, she came such a long way. Mama, may Celia and her governess stay here? I know it would be more appropriate for Rupert to stay at the inn in the village.”

“And Mr. Ousley,” he said. When she looked blankly at him, he realized she had cut him off with her kisses. “My solicitor. He brought the marriage settlements for Their Graces to review.”

“I will come to the village with you and meet Mr. Ousley,” Millbrooke said. “He is invited for dinner this evening. You, too, Rupert.”

A warm feeling ran through him. In an instant, he had family. Family he could count on. Family whom he would become friends with. Family he would celebrate with over the decades to come.

“We should also stop at the vicarage and see if Mr. Clarke can perform the ceremony,” Lia said. “Oh, there is so much to do!”

“Then move the wedding back another day,” suggested the dowager duchess. “That will give us time to prepare for the wedding breakfast and invite our neighbors to the ceremony.” She paused, brows arched. “Can the two of you wait that long?”

Rupert looked at Lia. She nodded. “Yes, Mama. Today is Monday. We shall wed on Thursday if Mr. Clarke agrees.”

They returned to his carriage, the duke going with them. Rupert sat next to Lia, their fingers laced together. A calm settled over him. Optimism poured through him. He loved—and was loved in return.

Life did not get much better.