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" I think we should have some tea," James said as they climbed down from the carriage, having returned to Stormwell from the church. "I think that might be the best thing to help settle your nerves."

"My nerves are fine," Victoria protested.

"You nearly fainted back at the church," James said firmly. "I insist that you have tea with me before going off to be on your own. I'm sure you'd like some space, but I won't rest easily until I know you're all right."

It was true, but it was only half of the truth.

The other half was that he was afraid to let her out of his sight because he didn't know what would happen when he did.

She had told him at the church that nothing would compel her to leave his side again, but then she had been quiet the whole way home, and he wasn't sure whether or not she had truly meant it.

Maybe she was having second thoughts about what she had said.

He led her into the sitting room. His heart seemed to be going a mile a minute.

This was, he realized, the most important afternoon of his life, and one that might well shape every day that was to follow.

He needed to make sure that he handled everything just perfectly.

If he didn't—if he made a mistake and allowed her to slip away again—he would regret it as long as he lived.

"Have some tea brought in, please," he said to one of the maids, and she nodded without a word and turned to do as she was told.

James helped Victoria to a seat, grateful for the fact that she hadn't shrugged him off—that she was allowing herself to be assisted.

He worried that she might faint again, but he was also enjoying the opportunity to have his hands on her shoulders, to reassure himself that she hadn't slipped away from him after all.

"I can't believe he was a murderer," Victoria murmured as she sank into a seat.

"I don't think he was going to do you any harm," James said. "I'm not sure if that's helpful to know or not."

"What makes you think that?"

"He didn't want to marry you out of a desire to kill you.

He was trying to keep from being linked to the death of the late duke.

He knew that if he married you, I would stop looking at the affairs of the past and turn my attention to the present.

And that would enable him to shake off his crimes, secure in the knowledge that no one was trying to find out what had happened—and thus, no one ever would find out. "

"That explains why he never tried to marry me before," Victoria said. "It didn't matter until you came back to town."

"Exactly," James agreed. "But he could conceal that fact by telling us that he was waiting until you seemed ready for a marriage—that he simply hadn't wanted to bother you until you signified that you were prepared in your own time."

"I'm such a fool. I can't believe I fell for this."

"You're not a fool at all. I'm the one who's a fool," James sighed. "You didn't want to marry him, Victoria. If I had listened to your instincts, you would never have been in that church. This is entirely my fault."

"It did shock me when you were so adamant that I accept his proposal," Victoria admitted. "And it hurt my feelings as well. It seemed as if you were only trying to get rid of me."

"To tell you the truth, I was trying to get rid of you."

"You were?" Victoria's eyes widened. "You want me gone?"

"I don't want that at all. The problem was that I fell in love with you."

She met his eyes. "Does that have to be a problem?"

"It is a problem. Because I don't trust myself. I never have. And I'm so sorry, Victoria. I'm sorry you fell in love with someone like me—someone so damaged. I'm sorry I let you get close to me. I should never have done it. I never meant to do it."

"But it happened," Victoria said. "Don't apologize now. Look at what we have, James. Look at what we could have together. We have feelings for one another—it truly is that simple."

"It isn't simple at all." James sighed. "I care about you enough to feel that you deserve the very best, Victoria. I don't want you to be stuck with someone who isn't good for you."

"And you don't think I should be able to decide for myself what's good for me?"

"What would you decide? Could you truly bring yourself to choose me, knowing all that you know?"

"James, truly, the only thing holding me back is how hard you tried to push me away," she said. "I put my trust in you. That wasn't easy for me to do, but I did it because you meant so much to me. You as good as rejected me. You see that, don't you?"

"I won't do it again," he said. "Even though I doubt my suitability for you, I will never push you away again."

"I believe you," she said quietly. "I'm sure I'm a fool, but I do believe you. Even after everything you've done. I wish I could turn you away, but I can't."

"You wish you could?" It crushed his heart to hear her say that. "I'll go if you think that's what's best. I'll leave you alone. But you'll have to order me away."

She shook her head. "The fact of the matter is that I love you," she said. "And it frightens me—but the thought of being without you now frightens me even more, and it isn't what I want."

"Then I'll stay with you," James pledged. "I'll stay with you as long as you'll have me, Victoria. That's a promise."

Victoria smiled at him, and her smile warmed him from the inside out. In that moment, he would have given her anything at all. He would have moved heaven and Earth if it had meant making her smile like that one more time.

And he knew what he needed to do.

He rose from his chair. Victoria's eyebrows furrowed and she started to rise as well.

"No," he said quickly. "Stay in your seat, Victoria, please." She'd had such an awful shock, and he worried for her health—but also, as he sank to one knee, he was very close to her. Their faces were nearly on a level with one another. He took her hands in his.

"James," she said softly, uncertainly.

"Listen to me," he said. "Let me speak."

She nodded, eyes wide.

"I have fallen in love with you," he told her.

"You mean everything in the world to me, and I'll do whatever it takes to show you how important you are to me.

I'll do whatever I must to make you see how loved and safe you are here—I will dedicate the rest of my life to that goal if you'll allow me to. "

Her eyes filled with tears.

James could only hope they were tears of happiness—but he couldn't stop what he had begun. He had to push on. He had to ask her this question while he had the courage.

"Victoria," he said, his voice thick with emotion, "will you marry me?"

She let out a laugh through her tears. "I can't believe this is happening," she said. "I'm supposed to be getting married right now, and instead?—"

"Instead you're being proposed to," he said.

"The third proposal of my life. The only one I've actually wanted," she said.

His heart soared at her words. She had made it clear that she wanted him, and yet, even now, it was hard to shake off his doubt. "Are you saying yes?"

"Of course I am," she said. "Of course it's yes, James. You make me happier than anyone ever has before."

"I don't think I've done a very good job of making you happy," he countered.

"We've had our ups and downs," she agreed.

"But when things are good between us, James, it's more than I ever dreamed of.

And I don't think anyone could possibly make me feel as dismal and sad as you have at times if I didn't feel passionately for them.

It's true that there has been unhappiness between the two of us.

But to me, that only proves what I already know—that our feelings for one another are strong and difficult to overcome.

You have an incredibly powerful effect on me, for good or for ill. "

"It will be for good," he promised her. "I will always use my influence over your feelings for good if you become my wife.

And I hope you know that your influence over my feelings is just as strong.

It's what frightened me most about you, the more I got to know you—the discovery that you could make me feel things.

I wasn't at all ready for that. It's an intimidating realization when you've gone your whole life not allowing yourself to need anyone.

I thought I could resist the way I felt about you—but I can't. In the end, I suppose there was never any chance of it. "

"I hope you're not too unhappy about that." She was smiling at him now.

"No," he assured her. "My heart is wiser than my head. My heart knew what I needed when it came to you. And for the first time in my life, I am following my heart. I think it's the wisest choice I've ever made in my life."

"I'm so glad you've decided on this," Victoria said. "You've been an awful fool."

"I really have. I can't believe I almost ruined the best thing that's ever happened to me in my life by being too afraid to reach for it. Can you ever forgive me?"

"I'll work on it," she said. Her smile gave her away—James knew that he was already forgiven. He could also see that she intended to make him put in work for the foreseeable future making up for his mistakes.

He was only too happy to do it. He would grovel at her feet for the rest of their lives if only she would let him remain by her side.

James rose to his feet, took her hands, and pulled her up with him. "I haven't got a ring yet," he said.

"That's all right," she assured him. "I don't need a ring."

"Oh, you'll have a ring. And it will be the most beautiful thing you could imagine," he said. "I'll find the perfect ring for you. After all, you're going to be my duchess now."

He emphasized the word my , just slightly, and her face lit up at it. James knew she had understood the point he was making. She was already a duchess, of course. But the difference was that now she would be his .

"Cressida isn't going to believe this," she whispered.

James laughed. "I have a feeling everyone we know saw this coming," he told her. "I doubt anyone is going to be surprised. We're the only ones who didn't have the sense to see what was right in front of our faces."

He pulled her to her feet and into his arms, reveling in the feeling of holding her—her body, small and warm, against his. He never wanted to let her go.

And when he bent to kiss her, it felt like the first time.

He allowed himself to become lost in the scent of her and the feel of her lips on his, excitement and satisfaction coursing through him at the realization that this kiss was the first of many.

This would be the shape of the rest of his life. And though he questioned his worthiness, he wouldn't have given it up for anything.