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He loved her so much and feared she might slip through his fingers again, that she might find another man more worthy of her, no matter how much she professed to love him.

But there was nothing like the present to take the future into his hands.

He extricated himself from her, which was difficult with one working arm.

Not that he couldn’t use his arm; it just hurt like bloody hell.

Once on unsteady legs, he went to the bell pull and rang for Clayton, then leaned against the wall, afraid he wouldn’t make it back to the bed without collapsing into a heap on the floor.

And what a sight he would be wearing nothing but his undergarments.

“Your Grace,” Clayton said, his eyes widening when he opened the door and saw him. “What are you doing up? Let me help you back to bed.”

“No. Can you get me to the bathing chamber? I want to wash up and put on clean clothes. Trousers and a shirt will do nicely. Also, please open the safe in my study and bring Emmeline’s engagement ring. The key is hidden underneath the second drawer.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

After Andrew was presentable again and feeling clean and rejuvenated, he sat on an overstuffed chair before the hearth and waited for Emmeline to awaken.

It wasn’t long before she did. Fortunately, Clayton had already slipped him the black velvet ring box, which currently rested on the small table beside his chair.

“Andrew, what are you doing up?” Emmeline’s voice was soft and sleepy, causing his heart to pound inside his chest.

“Why don’t you join me?”

“Let me ring for Amanda. I want to dress.”

Half an hour later, Emmeline sat on the matching chair on the other side of the small table. She was wearing a lovely blue day dress that accentuated her eye color.

He grinned at her. “You’re too far away.”

“I feel this is a safe distance,” she said with a twinkle in her lovely eyes. “Otherwise, we may find ourselves back in bed. It’s almost noon, and I imagine Doctor Higgins will be here soon.”

“You said that hours ago.”

“Yes, well, I mean it now. Also, I suspect my mother, Langford, Caldwell, and Lilly will visit soon.”

He stood a little unsteadily but was determined to do this properly.

“In that case...” He plucked the ring off the table, dropped carefully to one knee, and held out the box, grinning when she gasped and smiled.

“Emmeline, I first knew I loved you when I was a young earl of nineteen. I never stopped loving you for ten years. I’m twenty-nine and a duke now, and my love for you has only deepened.

You are a part of me. My body, my heart, and my soul.

My entire world...” His voice cracked as his emotions got the better of him as he lay himself bare to her.

“Emmeline, will you do me the greatest honor and marry me and become my duchess?” He forced his injured arm to work to open the box to show her the emerald and diamond ring he had commissioned just for her.

“Yes, Andrew. I will marry you,” she said as tears slid down her cheeks.

She slipped off the chair and knelt in front of him.

“I first knew I loved you when I was a young debutante making my come out at eighteen. Even though I married Aiden, whom I loved, I never stopped caring for you. I’m embarrassed to say I dreamed about you often during those years.

Now, at twenty-eight and no longer an innocent young lady, I love you more than I ever thought possible.

My heart, my body, and my soul belong to you.

I look forward to growing old with you and being surrounded by our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. ”

Tears trickled from his eyes as he placed the ring on the love of his life’s finger.

“I almost used a sapphire for your eyes, but I thought since you love the color of my eyes, I would get an emerald.” More tears slid down his cheeks.

“That way, when we are apart, you can look at the stone that resembles my eyes and know I’m with you.

.. always.” He wrapped his good arm around her waist, pulling her toward him.

He kissed her with everything he had. One moment, they were clinging to each other, kissing deeply.

Next, Andrew lost his balance and fell backward, with Emmeline landing on top of him.

Andrew ignored the searing pain in his arm and continued kissing her.

When they broke apart, they gasped for air and laughed uncontrollably.

They laughed so hard they didn’t hear the knock on the door.

*

“What is so funny? Where are you, Emmeline?” her mother queried.

“Mama,” she whispered as she pushed herself off Andrew, stood, and held out her hand. “Let me help you.”

“Thank you. It’s difficult to get up off the floor with one arm.”

Before she turned to greet her mother, Emmeline smoothed down her clothing and combed her fingers through her long, unbound hair.

When she glanced at Andrew, her eyes widened at his obvious erection.

“Don’t turn around yet,” she murmured as she pointed to Andrew’s trousers, feeling her face heat up.

“Oh...” He blushed and adjusted his trousers. “I wonder who the idiot was who thought designing tight breeches and trousers for men was a good idea.”

She swallowed down a laugh as she forced her feet to move across the room and kiss her mother’s cheek. “Mama, I am so glad you’re here. Andrew and I have wonderful news. We are betrothed!”

By now, Andrew had joined them. “Baroness.” He bowed. “Forgive me for not asking your permission.”

Mother curtsied, “You are forgiven, Your Grace.” She wiped tears from her eyes. “I am thrilled for you both.”

Andrew leaned down and kissed her mother’s cheek. “Please call me Andrew. We are family now.”

“Call me Vivian.”

“Done,” he replied. “Let’s go downstairs to the drawing room and toast this happy occasion.”

Andrew leaned on Emmeline for support as they descended the elegant staircase and went down the hall into the deep blue drawing room. Emmeline’s heart thrummed excitedly, and she could not stop smiling. She wanted to pinch herself in case she was dreaming. Because her dream had just become real.

The housekeeper, Mrs. Hanson, came in with a luncheon tray and champagne. The servants had heard the good news. “On behalf of the household,” Mrs. Hanson said as she curtsied, “we are overjoyed at the news of your betrothal, Your Grace, to Mrs. Fitzpatrick. Congratulations.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Hanson,” they said together.

No sooner had the housekeeper left than Doctor Higgins arrived. “Your Grace, shall we retire to your chambers so I may examine you?”

“Let us stay right here,” he replied to the doctor. “Vivian, would you give us a moment?” Andrew asked of his soon-to-be mother-in-law.

“I’ll take Mama to the library.”

Andrew held out his hand to her. “Please stay with me.”

“I’ll see her there and return.”

Moments later, Emmeline returned to find her fiancé’s shirt removed, baring his muscular chest, well-defined shoulders, and abdomen. Her eyes moved to his upper arm. She gasped and frowned at the blood soaking through his bandage.

“Your Grace,” the doctor said as he unwound the bloody bandage.

“This may hurt a bit. I’m surprised to see blood, but that’s not all I’m shocked to see.

Although I’m very pleased, I’m just surprised you are awake and looking no worse for wear after yesterday’s accident.

Besides your arm, does anything else hurt? ”

“To be honest, my head hurts like a bugger, and my body feels as though I was thrown from a horse, which I was. And my arm... well, it aches.” He chuckled, met Emmeline’s eyes, and winked. “Other than that, I’m wonderful. I proposed to this lovely lady today, and she said yes.”

Hearing the last of Andrew’s words caused her cheeks to heat up.

“Felicitations to you both.”

Emmeline moved to Andrew’s side and winced at the wound on his arm but kept silent.

Mrs. Hanson entered the room, wheeling a cart. “Here is the hot water, soap, and towels you requested, Doctor Higgins.”

The doctor washed his hands with soap and water and turned his attention back to Andrew.

“You tore the stitches. I need to redo them.” He used two fingers and poked around the wound.

Andrew sucked in his breath loudly but remained still.

“It’s soft around the wound, which is good.

We don’t want it to be hard. The tissue around the wound is red but not overly angry.

” He prepared his needle and thread, using hot water, and then re-stitched his wound closed.

Emmeline cringed every time Andrew inhaled deeply.

When the doctor finished, he patted dry, smeared salve, and rebandaged his arm with clean linens.

“I’m going to look at your head now,” the doctor said as he moved his fingers over the back of Andrew’s head.

“The swelling has gone down considerably. You should be headache-free in a few days. Meanwhile, please rest your arm. If you keep tearing the stitches, infection will likely set in, which we don’t want.

” He packed up his belongings in his black medical bag.

“If anything worsens, send for me immediately. If you see blood from your wound, send for me. Keep it dry. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll return in two days to re-bandage it.

” He lowered his head. “Good day, Your Grace, Mrs. Fitzpatrick.”

After he left, Emmeline sank on the settee beside Andrew, her cheeks still warm. “No more sex until your arm is healed.”

Laughter was his reply.

He was still chuckling when Langford, Caldwell, and Lilly entered the room, along with her mother.

“Was Winters not at the door?” Andrew asked as his friends entered.

Caldwell and Langford laughed while Lilly looked apologetic. “He and the household appear to be celebrating some happy occasion,” Langford said with a grin. “Does anyone have any news to share?”

Emmeline stood and blurted out, “We are betrothed!”

Lilly clapped her hands and practically jumped up and down in her excitement. “Emmeline, I am so happy for you,” she said as she rushed forward and hugged her. “Oh dear, I’m crying again. I’ve been so emotional lately.” Langford rushed forward and handed his wife his handkerchief.

Her mother and Emmeline exchanged knowing looks, but remained silent, each knowing what the other was suspicious of.

Lilly would know soon enough if she was expecting, and Emmeline was so happy to think it might be so.

This was what her cousin Henry had wanted for the young wife he left behind: a marriage and a family created from love.

And now she and Andrew would have that as well.

Wishes, dreams, true love, and second chances really did exist!