Page 87 of How to Fall for a Scoundrel
His lips twitched. “I don’t think I’ll ever have acompletelyclean conscience, but at least in that particular instance I would be innocent.”
She braced herself to hear the worst. She’d always known that theirs would only be a temporary fling, and while she’d hoped it might last longer than it had done, she would accept defeat stoically, if not willingly.
Still, she couldn’t seem to look away.
“I have someone in mind, actually.”
She missed a step, but he covered the stumble with his usual effortless grace, swinging her round in an impromptu twirl that made her skirts wrap around his legs like seaweed.
“Oh?” she croaked, grateful for the small mercy that she sounded interested, and not soul-crushed. “Anyone I know?”
“It is, as a matter of fact.”
She was starting to feel sick, but she managed to twist her lips into a parody of a smile. “Who?”
“Do you know, Miss Law, for a woman with an incredibly brilliant mind, you are, on occasion, incredibly stupid.”
Ellie gasped, momentarily shocked out of her misery by the insult. “What?”
“You’ve already refused to be my partner in crime, because you’re far too sensible, but how do you feel about being my partner in life?”
Ellie blinked, sure she was dreaming and had somehow slipped into an alternative universe without realizing it. She almost looked around to see if the rest of the guests had turned into cats, but Harry’s gaze held her hostage.
“You want to marryme?”
“Of course I want to marry you.” His brows twitchedin the merest hint of masculine confusion. “Who on earthelsedo you think I’d want to marry? I love you. And I’m pretty sure you love me too.”
Ellie was sure she must be staring up at him like a simpleton.
“Wait. Say it again. You love me?”
His mouth creased into a smile and his dimples appeared. “Why do you sound so astonished? Yes, I love you. I have no idea precisely when it happened, but I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”
He turned them both in another elegant swirl, and in the small part of her brain that wasn’t frozen with shock, Ellie was grateful that at least one of them had retained their coordination.
“BecauseI love you,” he continued with devastating normalcy, as if they were discussing something as unimportant as the likelihood of rain, “I am not going to get down on one knee in the middle of this enormous crowd of people and propose to you, because I know you’d likely die of mortification to be the focus of such a spectacle. But what Icantell you is that as soon as we are alone, I’m going to beg you for your hand.”
He smiled down at her. “Do you think you’re going to accept?”
Ellie swallowed, hardly daring to trust the glowing ball of happiness that seemed to be lodged beneath her sternum.
“I don’t see why not. Because I love you too. Quite desperately.”
His fingers tightened on hers for a fraction of a second, and as his shoulder relaxed beneath her palm, she realized with astonishment that he’d actually been tense. The idea was so ridiculous it brought a smile to her face.
“Did you honestly think I’d refuse you?”
“The thought had crossed my mind. Someone like you can do a million times better than me. But I think you loved me before I had a name, so I had a little hope.”
She shook her head. “I don’t care what you call yourself. I don’t care if you’re a thief, or an earl, or the son of a chimney sweep.”
His eyes bored into hers. “Now Ireallywish we weren’t in such a public place, because I want to kiss you very much.”
Mischief flashed through her. “You have only yourself to blame. This was an ill-conceived plan.”
“Probably the worst I’ve ever concocted,” he agreed ruefully. The heat in his gaze made her hotter than ever, and just the promise of his lips on hers made excitement tingle through her veins.
“But what should I call you? Charles? Harry? Henry?” she teased, suddenly bold.