Page 44 of Only a Duke (Ladies Who Dare #6)

“You heard what Leo said, he took responsibility for you.”

“And Talbot allowed it?”

A small smile formed on Louisa’s lips. “Leo and I have discovered he is quite powerless to completely oppose both his children. Also, I might have mentioned that you saved and protected me on multiple occasions.” She lifted her right hand. “The ring fits perfectly, thank you.”

Oliver blinked at the hand that waved before him, and for a moment, words failed him.

She wore the ring.

Accepted the ring.

His ring.

He had bought it as a suggestion from the barman and recommendation from the jeweler, but the sight of his purchase on her finger made his gut clench in pleasure. Then he recalled their rude interruption.

“Louisa.” Her name came out softer than he intended, but it had the desired effect.

Her eyes, which had been fixed on the ring on her finger, lifted to meet his.

There was a flicker of surprise there, softened with something else—something that made his heart pound.

The words in his soul tore from his lips. “I love you.”

She blinked at him, and he reached out to press his hand against hers, which was still suspended in the air, and locked his fingers in hers.

“Lawks, you . . .”

He squeezed her hand. “And if you don’t believe me, I shall prove myself until you do.”

“I do . . . believe you . . .”

“You do? Are you sure?”

She suddenly laughed, her eyes crinkling into crescents as she laughed. “Why do you sound so surprised?”

“I don’t know,” Oliver muttered. “My mind is still a bit muddled.” And he was very much afraid that he was dreaming.

She locked her fingers with his and leaned in until their faces were almost touching. “You know, you are precisely the sort of man I swore I would avoid at all costs.”

He knew. “You are not avoiding me right now,” he said softly.

“No,” she murmured back. “Because I fell in love with you anyway.”

Dear God. Sweeter words he had never heard before that moment. He wanted to draw her into his arms, hold her, kiss her, love her. “How long before your brother returns?”

She smiled. “I cannot say.”

He swore.

“Do not tell me you have wicked things on your mind, Oliver Cavanagh,” she teased.

“When it comes to you, Louisa, I don’t believe I possess very many proper thoughts.”

“Well,” she murmured, her lips suddenly grazing his. “We might have a moment or two still.”

Oliver captured her lips in a tender, lingering kiss. He expressed, or tried to express, all the things he struggled to put into words—a silent promise of his sincerity. No obstacles existed here. He hadn’t fallen in love with a Talbot. He’d fallen in love with an angel.

He broke the kiss reluctantly. “Your carriage would be most welcome right about now.”

A grin split her face. “Oh! I received a note earlier from Theodosia.” She retrieved a piece of paper from the table beside the bed. “ On our way to Gretna , she says. Shall we join them?”

Oliver thought he’d heard wrong. Did she mean what he thought she meant? “Join them?”

She nodded. “We’d have lots of time in my carriage, and we’d get to experience the thrill of elopement.”

“Louisa,” Oliver said slowly, not wanting to imagine meaning in her words that she might not intend, “is this your way of proposing to me?”

“Well, you did give me a ring. It’s on the right hand now, but I would very much like to move it to the left hand. That is, if you accept.”

“I accept,” Oliver said instantly. “The part about the ring. Not the elopement.”

Surprise lit her gaze. “You do not wish to elope?”

Oliver shook her head. The idea didn’t sit well with him at all. “No, I would like to share such a day with family and friends.”

“Friends, certainly, but you do realize that with family we would be placing Cavanaghs and Talbots together in a confined space.”

Oliver chuckled. “Well, one does need entertainment at a wedding, does one not?”

“There will be scandal enough with Camilla’s activities exposed, along with Lord knows who else.”

That’s right. They wouldn’t be able to escape some form of scandal. But the fact that this book, this investigation, had brought him to Louisa, and her to him, was something he wanted to cherish and celebrate.

“Are you certain you wish to expose her, and not have your father handle her according to his wishes?”

Her brows furrowed. “Would you be happy with that?”

“It’s not my family who will suffer for this,” Oliver pointed out. “My mission is to dismember her organization. How they are dealt with is not my concern. So, I’ll follow your direction.”

A slow, sultry smile played on her lips. “And here I thought you weren’t romantic.”

He really wasn’t. But for her, he could most certainly try. A thought suddenly occurred to him. “How is the duchess? I think I snapped her wrist.”

“Oh, you did, but it’s nothing she doesn’t deserve. The doctor already treated her injury after he treated yours.”

He nodded. “A graze.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You still collapsed.”

His ears heated. “It happens.” What else could he say? It was deuced embarrassing.

She scoffed, laying her head on her chest. “The sound of your heartbeat is strong.”

That is because it’s beating for you.

And it would beat so, forever.

Until his dying breath.