Page 36 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge (Safely in Scotland #3)

“You are a fool if you do not plan to do something to win the girl back.”

“She doesn’t wish to marry me,” Reese defended.

“And you know this because you asked her?”

“I did. Or rather I attempted to. Once.” He didn’t need to go into the details. The point was that Harlow had rejected him.

“Had you asked immediately after you compromised her? Women don’t like feeling like a responsibility.”

Reese’s eyes shot wide, which did not help his head.

“Whatever do you mean?” he attempted to defend her accusations, but his mother only waved him off.

“Please. I heard the woman sneaking out of your chambers nearly every night. It was as if you were on your honeymoon for as often as she visited. And that’s not even considering the night you knocked over the vase.”

“Had you planned to catch us?”

“Of course not. You were both just terribly bad at sneaking about.”

“You didn’t say anything. I would have thought—”

“That I would have called you out and forced you to wed the girl? We both know that method did not go well for either of us. You refused and I lost your trust. Besides, I didn’t think I would have to resort to such machinations, for you love her and she loves you.”

“But she hates me.”

“Pish. She doesn’t hate you. It was a blow for her to think you had used her, but you must tell her the truth. Make sure she hears all of your truth. She will forgive you. I’m sure of it.”

“You seem to know a lot more about the situation than I have confessed to.”

“It was easy enough to see.” Again her mother waved, but this time it was toward the door to the terrace where Belle stood looking out and whining. “Go take your dog for her walk by the shore and when you come back we will plan what is to be done next.”

He’d barely had time to finish his toast before she was waving the footmen to take the meal away.

As soon as he opened the terrace doors, Belle ran for the path that went down the cliff to the shore. Sometimes he wondered if the dog could actually understand complete conversations.

His mother was right though, the walk was good for clearing his head. The sea air gave it a right scrubbing as he made his way down the stairs to the sand strewn with rocks and boulders.

Belle rushed over carrying a stick, and Reese threw it as far as he could so the dog could get a good run. But as she raced up the shore, she abandoned her plan for the stick and instead turned barking toward a rock.

“Belle! Don’t try to eat anything you find on the beach!” He reminded the dog as he picked up his pace to stop her from doing something they would both regret.

But when he made it to the dog, he stopped still when a dark-haired woman stepped out from behind the rock where Belle was excitedly wagging her tail.

“Harlow,” he whispered. Unlike the last time his dog found her, she was awake and dressed properly. Her hair had been done as well, but the wind had tugged a number of strands free that were dancing around her smiling face.

“You’re here.” He wanted to rush forward and take her in his arms, but he needed to be sure she would want such a reunion first. For now he was just glad she was here. That he might have a chance to make things right again.

“In the flesh,” she said, gesturing down at herself. “As opposed to the last time you saw me when I was a ghost.” She laughed and he smiled, still in shock that she was there before him. But since she was, he rushed to explain what he had not had the chance to that evening.

“Harlow, I’m so sorry about what happened. I shouldn’t have accused you of manipulating me into marriage. I know that wasn’t what you wanted. And I didn’t use you to lure Merrick here. I swear it. I never would have risked your safety like that.”

“I know. I’m to understand Lord Collins conceived that horrid plan. And that is the reason you planted him a facer?” She tilted her head.

“You saw?”

“No. But Luke did and told me I might have been hasty to judge the situation.” She rolled her eyes.

“He was pleased to accompany me to the Home Office where I learned the truth. You’ll be happy to know Lord Collins has been reprimanded and dismissed from his duties.

And then Luke was all too happy to see me here so he could be proven right. ”

“I’m sure it happens so seldom…”

To this she laughed and he just watched as her green eyes glittered in happiness. He never thought he’d see her again let alone happy. Unable to wait another moment, he hurried to take up the distance between them. Holding her close.

“Luke is probably telling your mother all about it at the moment. I’m guessing she will be pleased to have tricked you into coming down here.”

“Another plan to put me in a compromising position, I see.”

“Yes, well I hope it is not in vain, for I have informed you of my wish to marry, and while I would have found the patience needed to wait until next Season to select a suitor, it turns out I am desperately in love with you and wish to marry only you.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” he said and when her eyes narrowed she shook her head.

“I assure you I am in love with you, Reese.”

“Not about that. About you having enough patience to wait until spring to launch your attack on London’s eligible bachelors.”

She pressed her lips together as to keep from smiling but barely managed.

“Very well, I’ll allow that. Still, it doesn’t change anything. You are here instead of London. And since you have already proposed once—”

“Half proposed.”

“Fine,” she said, her smile growing wider. “I would like to ask you this time. It seems only fair.”

When she waited, he backed up and tilted his head.

“Was this the part where you were going to ask? You only said you wanted to.”

She let out an impatient sigh and scrunched up her nose. “You are quickly coming to the edge of my patience, sir.”

He laughed. “I didn’t know you had any patience to speak of, my lady.” He took her hands in his, placing kisses on each of the knuckles. He enjoyed seeing the way her eyes flared with interest as his lips hesitated against her skin longer with each touch.

“Will you marry me, Reese? Not because we have found each other in a compromising situation and must wed, but because I love you and wish to spend the rest of my life with you?”

“It would seem despite our attempts, my mother has caught us out. She knows you visited my chamber for nefarious reasons. I really have no choice but to marry you to save our reputations.”

Her brow creased and she shook her head.

“And that is the reason you will accept my suit?”

“Oh, hell no. I don’t give a damn what my mother has seen or heard. I’m accepting because I love you more than anything and was prepared to track you down and make you listen to the truth until you agreed to marry me.”

“The truth being that you love me?” she said, with a smug grin on her lips.

He could not be judged for having to kiss her then. And kiss her he did. Thoroughly until they were both gasping for air.

“Yes, I will marry you.” He couldn’t believe she had asked him, but it went a long way to healing his wounded ego from the previous rejections. This was the proposal that was most important, no matter who offered it.

“Soon?” she pressed.

“Now you’re just getting pushy,” he teased.

She ignored him and went on with her plan. “We are in Scotland where it is customary to marry immediately, and as you so rudely pointed out, I have very little patience.”

“I said you have no patience whatsoever.”

“Even more reason to marry me today. This instant.”

“Then please stop standing around. Let’s go back to the castle and ready my mother and future brother-in-law so they can accompany us to the nearest blacksmith. I cannot believe I am being forced to wait so long to marry you.”

“Hmm… perhaps I know a way you might get revenge for my delay.”

He ravished her lips and when he’d left her swaying, he smiled his most devilish grin. “I shall have my revenge, my lady. For the rest of our days.”