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A small laugh escaped her lips as she realized that the Dowager had been secretly playing matchmaker for the two. "I assure you that I have no intentions of moving anywhere."

He blinked, then realization crossed his own features. "Oh."

"Does that lessen the urgency with which you have asked for my hand?"

"Absolutely not. If anything," he squeezed her hand gently, "Having you standing next to me only increases it.

You must know that in my heart I never wished to reject you.

I was only punishing myself by doing so.

But now that I have made my feelings clear, you must end my misery and tell me if you still accept me. ..if you love me."

Daphne opened her mouth to speak, but words did not come out. She felt overwhelmed, but in the best possible way. Like she was filled to the brim with happiness.

"I will understand if you say no, even though it will be the single hardest moment of my life," he said, and leaned closer to her, "but if you say nothing, then I will take it as your agreement and kiss you."

Daphne felt heat pool into the lower half of her body.

"I have count backwards from three," he said, now dangerously close to her face.

They were shielded by a large tree, and out of view from any nosey passerby.

Still, it was risky to be this close in public.

But that hardly mattered to Daphne at this moment.

All she could focus was the way his breath fanned across her face as he counted down, "three, two–"

Before he could reach one, she closed the distance between them and kissed him herself. He sighed into the kiss. It was chaste, and brief. But when she pulled back, she had a dazed smile.

Ambrose had the same look on his face. He dropped to one knee in front of her, "Daphne, you have captured my heart in a manner that I never even knew was possible.

I cannot stand to live in a world where you are not by my side, and I make you the promise that if you accept me to be your husband, I will make sure your every need is met.

That you are cared for. Will you please marry me? "

Daphne already knew what her answer was going to be. But now, for the first time, she felt a sense of security when it came to their connection. He loved her back.

And so, she decided to have some fun with him.

"Your Grace–"

"Ambrose," he corrected, swiftly. "From now on, you will call me by my name. You are the closest thing to me, and I do not care for formalities with you."

"Ambrose," she said, liking the way his name sounded in her mouth, "Are you sure you wish to marry me? What if we squabble all the time? You know the both of us have scarcely ever had a conversation without arguing."

He shrugged, "What you call an argument is what I see as a challenging discussion. If anything, it is precisely why I love you."

It made her smile to hear him say that. "And what would your brother think?"

"He can think whatever he pleases," he replied. "It shall be temporary. But what I wish to have to with is forever."

Once again, the surety in his voice made her heart flutter all over again. Ambrose was not someone who was scared of consequences when he made a decision, and that was something that Daphne always wanted in a man.

"And what about..."

"Enough about all of that. You are perfect to me. Nothing in the world can change my mind about that," he stressed. "But now the onus is on you. I am not the perfect Prince Charming you imagined. Rather, I am a flawed human. But I can love you like no one else can. That I promise you."

The possessiveness in his tone made her shudder slightly. "I..."

"You have possessed me to the point where I am on one knee," he admitted, "putting everything I have in front of you, hoping that you–"

She could not hold it in any longer, and nodded furiously, "I accept. I accept you for everything. I will marry you. I..." she paused, realizing that she had never uttered the following words out loud for anyone other than her sister or friends in her entire life, "I love you."

Ambrose got up, and wrapped her in his embrace. "I promise to never let you down again."

It felt like the entire world had melted away, and there were only the two of them.

But when they pulled away, the reality sank in that they were still very much in public, with her sisters and their husbands not too far away. She took a step back, her fingers sliding into his hand naturally.

"We should..." she began, but her cheeks flushed pink as her voice trailed off.

Ambrose grinned, tightening his grip on her hand. "Yes, let's go."

Hand in hand, they started walking back toward the rest of her family.

Daphne glanced sideways at him, her heart skipping another beat just at the sight of his easy smile. He looked so different now from the man she had been afraid of losing just moments ago—lighter, freer.

As soon as they reached her sisters, they wasted no time in pulling Daphne to the side.

"What happened?" Annie asked, barely able to contain her excitement. "Did he... did he propose?"

Daphne's cheeks turned bright red as she glanced at Ambrose, who was talking quietly with the husbands.

"Yes," she admitted, her voice a little breathless. "We're engaged."

There was a moment of stunned silence before her sisters erupted into squeals of joy, enveloping her in hugs.

Felicity clapped her hands together. "Oh, Daphne, this is wonderful!" she exclaimed, her smile stretching from ear to ear.

"I knew something was going on with you two," Joyce teased. "But I didn't expect this. Congratulations!"

Daphne blushed harder, her heart swelling with happiness.

For a long time, she had worried about where her life would lead, but now, with Ambrose's promise, it all felt so clear, so right.

The husbands who were nearby came over with Ambrose as a part of the group.

"Well, well, Your Grace," Edward said, "Looks like you're part of the family now."

Ambrose gave him a genuine smile. "It seems so," he replied.

Charles, who had been so protective earlier, was now grinning. "That means you'll have to join us for a drink soon," he added. "We'll show you what it means to really be a part of the family."

Ambrose chuckled. "I would like that," he said.

When Daphne saw the way Ambrose was interacting with the men, her heart warmed even more. He looked so comfortable, so at ease with her family. It was something she had never expected to see.

After a few more moments of lighthearted conversation, Ambrose turned to Daphne, meeting her eyes. "I'll take my leave now," he said, his voice gentle but full of promise. "But I'll see you again very soon."

Daphne smiled, squeezing his hand one last time before letting him go. "I'll be waiting."

For the first time in a long time, the future seemed filled with nothing but light.