Page 70 of In a Rake's Embrace

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly, his face pressed into her hair. She leaned back slightly, her gaze meeting his, her red-rimmed eyes and trembling lips revealing the depth of her heartache, yet she did not care. Taking a shaky breath, she whispered, “I won’t leave here. I … will be your lover, Thomas …,but I can’t abandon my family. I want to be with you, but I need to spend time here with them and … I don’t want to bring a child into the world like that.”

He dropped his hands from her waist, his gaze piercing.

“Thomas?”

He cupped her face, his thumb brushing a tear from her cheek. “Agatha,” he murmured, his voice raw with emotion. “Forgive me for not saying this sooner. Iloveyou. I have never loved anyone as I love youandnever will. If you’ll have me ... I want you as more than a lover. I want you as my friend, my wife, my countess.”

Shock, joy, love, and relief flooded her heart in equal measure. “You … you want to marry me?”

“Yes.”

“I could not be acountess. What nonsense are you saying? Your countess?”

“Yes.” Good humor gleamed in his eyes. “We will be highly unconventional and disreputable together. Do not forget what Ronald told you: I can do anything. No one would dare lift their fans to whisper about you.”

She laughed, delight rushing through her. She wanted this man with a breathlessness that knew no bounds … and she would not shy or run from the awareness of it. Agatha waswilling to defy anything to be with him, even wagging tongues and gossip.

He smiled, reaching into his pocket. “I have been carrying a special license, just in case. But we could have a grand wedding at Hanover if you wish—”

“No, I don’t want to wait,” Agatha laughed, wrapping her arms around his waistandpressing her face to his chest. Happiness gathered in a sweet ache in her chest. “I love you, Thomas, and I don’t want to wait.”

“Thank God,” he said gruffly, holding her close.

As Thomas lowered his lips to hers, Agatha kissed him with all the emotion and love inside her heart.