Chapter Sixteen #2
“So am I, and that is your prerogative, of course, but it only means I’ll have to lay you out with a facer because nothing will prevent me from saying what I came to say to her.”
Murmurs went through the room while a thrill went down her spine. Surely, he wasn’t going to…fight for her? But she didn’t want violence tonight. Laying a hand on Philip’s back, she said, “Let him say what he needs to. After that, we will see what happens.”
Would this be the singular moment she’d been waiting for?
“Fine.” Once the viscount stepped aside, Constance could do nothing except stare at Gregory as if she’d never seen him before. “Make quick work of your time. I’m not above having you thrown out into the street like rubbish.”
Gregory snorted. “You and I are equals, Conklin, both sons of viscounts, so don’t try and pull rank with me.”
“I can, for I do hold the title whereas you do not.”
“Semantics.” Then he dismissed him, met her gaze.
As he slowly walked toward her, guests scuttled to the side to make a path.
Of course they did, for they were as curious as she.
“You are gorgeous tonight, Constance,” he whispered, and the same sentiment was in his eyes.
“I thought the silver gown was amazing on you but this one?” He raked his gaze up and down her person. “You are stunning in robin’s egg blue.”
Heat went through her cheeks. “It’s one of the gowns I had made when we were…”
“Right.” He nodded. “God, I’ve missed you,” he said in a strained, whispered voice.
Her heart skipped a beat, for the look in his eyes was more than she’d ever had from Philip.
No matter how lovely the viscount had been to her, he’d never once complimented her appearance or told her that her gowns were gorgeous.
Yet everyone was staring, and the prickly feeling creeping along her skin signaled that an episode would happen soon.
“What do you want to say to me, Gregory?” If he didn’t hurry, she would break down.
“Just this.” To her surprise, and to the rest of the room’s, apparently, Gregory dropped to his knees before her.
He grabbed one of her hands and held it tightly.
“I’ve missed you, Constance. Hell, I can’t stop thinking about you.
In fact, you haunt me every night; I see you in my dreams.” So many emotions crowded into his stormy eyes that she couldn’t separate them.
“When you were my mistress, I thought that would be enough for me.” Gasps came from some of the people gathered around them.
“But the longer we were together, for everything, the more I became attached to you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that weeks ago?” She clutched at his hand. “It would have meant so much.”
“I know, but I’m a coward.”
“No.” Shaking her head, she peered down into his face.
“Not a coward. You have a hero’s heart, but you were wracked with emotion, and I’ll wager they are the same ones that have battered me for weeks.
Or society doesn’t put much stock in sharing those things.
” Though it felt as if every muscle in her body was shaking and shivering, she stood her ground, for this would be the moment when her life changed.
Or started, depending on how one looked at it.
“Perhaps, but I also let fear guide my actions, my decisions. Not only that, but I bowed to societal expectations and the wishes of my parents.” He blew out a breath. “Because of that, I fear I’ve lost you, which is why I’m here tonight. I want to tell you that I’ve put a stop to all of it.”
She frowned. “What does that mean?”
“I realized after I saw you at the opera last week that none of it matters.”
Not following his line of reasoning, Constance shook her head. “I don’t understand.” Why would he not come to the point? It was far too warm in the room with all the people and the candles. What would happen if she fainted?
“Neither did I. Since meeting you, everything went topsy turvy and nothing makes sense. That is, nothing except you.” He shifted his stance.
“I don’t care what my parents want me to do.
This is my life, and I’ll live it how I wish.
I also don’t care what society says I should do.
Not any longer. The dragons that make the rules aren’t living my life.
For once, I am chucking out everything that doesn’t matter. ”
“Yet you still haven’t explained.”
“I know; I’m sorry. It isn’t every day a man does this.” His hand shook in hers. “When I said I loved you, it wasn’t a lie. In fact, you are my everything. To that end, would you marry me?”
Gasps came from the people around her. Even Lydia uttered her shock.
“What?” She gawked at him even as heat and hope blossomed in her chest. “What of your future? What of your practice?”
“There is no future without you in it as my wife.”
“Oh.” Her heart skipped a beat as warmth infused her cheeks. “But I’m not of the ton,” she said in a whisper.
“I don’t care.”
“There is every chance we’ll be ostracized by society.” Tears filled her eyes.
“I don’t care about that either. There are other places to live in England other than Town.”
“What of Lady Melissa, the lady I saw you with last week at the opera?”
He shrugged. “I’m quite certain there is a line of suitors willing to take my place.”
Flutters went through her lower belly. “You would sacrifice everything for me?”
“It took me far longer to realize that than I would have liked, but yes. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to win you, sweeting. I didn’t discover that until far too late.”
“Oh, Gregory.” When she sighed, a few other women did the same. “What will happen to us if society turns their backs?”
“I don’t know, but with you by in my life, I can conquer anything.” Again, he shifted position. “Please answer my question, for my knees aren’t as young as they used to be.”
A few men chuckled at the admission.
She nodded. The dear man was willing to risk all for her, and it was more than she could have hoped for. “Yes, I will marry you and be happy to do so.”
“Oh, thank God.” Gregory shot to his feet and wasted no time bundling her into his arms. “The past six weeks away from you have been the most horrid of my life, even worse than when I was at university studying law.” Then he brought his mouth crashing down on hers in a kiss that would forever sear itself into her brain.
Despite the audience, despite the fact that they were in public, despite that he’d stolen her away from the viscount, Constance looped her arms about his shoulders and kissed him back. When she pulled away merely to breathe, she grinned at him as the anxiety from before began to fade. “What now?”
“This.” Seconds later, he lifted her into his arms right there in the middle of the crowded drawing room.
“What is the meaning of this, Mr. Hamilton?” Finally, the viscount found his voice, and he used it to raise a protest. “I was in the process of asking for Mrs. Knight’s hand.”
“Firstly, Conklin, the lady has spoken her preference. And secondly, she has always been mine. Thirdly, I apologize, but the heart wants who it wants, and that’s the end.
Perhaps you should pursue Lady Melissa.” Then, with a wink while she held onto his shoulders, Gregory carried her out of the room.
Outside in the corridor, he let her stand on her own two feet. “Such a scene.”
“It was the height of romantic.” She could hardly breathe as he ushered her down the stairs. When Lydia called after her, Constance pretended she didn’t hear. “Please take me away from here.”
“That is the plan.”
A few moments later, they burst from the house and rushed along the short walkway until they stood on the pavement. With a frown, she glanced up and down the street but didn’t spy his carriage. “Where is your conveyance?”
“I didn’t bring one.”
“How did you arrive here?”
Gregory gestured as a groom brought over a white stallion. “I rode him. The horse’s name is Valor.”
Another wave of shock went through her. “Why?” Now she understood why he’d worn the boots.
“Shouldn’t a hero ride a white horse to win the hand of his lady fair?”
And she lost her heart all over to him again. “This is incredible.”
“I thought so too, and it cost a bit of coin to borrow him.”
“Will we ride him home?”
He looked at her with mischief in his eyes. “We can, if you’re willing.”
“I want the whole fairy tale.” And she rather thought she’d have that with him.
“As my lady wishes.” Gregory mounted the stallion then with the assistance of the groom, he helped her into the saddle in front of him.
As he slipped his arms around her waist and she settled her skirts over her legs that dangled over one side, he accepted the reins from the groom.
“Once we’re home, I am going to show you how much I adore you,” he whispered into her ear.
“For now, we’ll ride toward our happily ever after, hmm? ”
Home.
There was no place she’d rather be, and she couldn’t wait to see what would happen next for them.