Chapter Thirteen #3
‘Lots of reasons but the main one is because he doesn’t care about his kids. I would hate to be that sort of father in the future.’
Sylvie double blinked. ‘But I thought you’re not interested in being a father?’
He held her upturned gaze. ‘I wasn’t but then I met you.’ He took her purse out of her hand and set it on the lawn at their feet. He straightened and took both of her hands in his. ‘I think I fell in love with you when we first danced at the masked ball.’
Sylvie’s mouth dropped open. ‘You love me?’
He looked deeply into her eyes. ‘I love you, Sylvie, and I beg you to put me out of my miserable loneliness and accept my proposal of marriage.’
Her heart leapt to her throat. ‘Marriage?’
‘I’m making such a hack job of this,’ Jack said with a grin, drawing her closer. ‘I love you with all my heart and soul. I love everything about you. I want to be with you and only you for the rest of my life. Will you marry me, my darling?’
Sylvie flung her arms around his waist and squeezed him as tightly as she could.
‘Oh, Jack, I can’t believe I’m hearing you correctly.
’ She leaned back to look up at his smiling face.
‘I didn’t realise I was falling in love with you but I think it might well have started when we danced at the ball. ’
‘You’re the first person I’ve ever said those words to, my darling,’ Jack said, his eyes suspiciously moist. ‘I never told my parents I loved them and I’ve lived with that regret ever since.
When they died, I locked down even further, burying my feelings, not even recognising them, much less allowing myself to feel them.
’ He squeezed her hands, his expression so tender and warm.
‘It took me a while to realise why I was so agitated and restless after you called off our fling. I love, love, love you and will never stop saying it, even when we go through rough times as all couples do. Let’s beat the divorce stats.
Let’s commit to being the happiest couple we can be. ’
Sylvie nestled against him, feeling safe in a way she had never felt before.
Jack was her rock, her anchor—and she was his.
They were a team, ready and committed to fight whatever was thrown at them.
‘I will always love you, Jack. I haven’t said those words to anyone other than my mother since I was ten.
It’s also been hard for me to recognise what I felt because I too had taught myself to bury my true feelings.
But I don’t want to do that anymore, not now I have you by my side. ’
Jack picked her up and swung her in a circle, then planted her back down on her feet and grinned down at her.
‘This is the happiest moment of my life. I can’t wait to get married to you.
Do you mind waiting until my brother gets home?
He’s postponed his trip home again, but it shouldn’t be much longer. ’
Sylvie gazed up into his eyes. ‘Of course I’ll wait.’
Jack cupped her face in his hands, his eyes shining with love and tenderness. ‘You are so beautiful inside and out. I know you’re a career woman so I’m not insisting we have children but if we do, I know you’ll be an excellent mother to them.’
‘Do you want children?’
‘I didn’t until I met you and saw how protective and concerned you were about Edwina’s kids and I realised you would be a wonderful mother.’
‘Oh, Jack.’ Sylvie stroked his lean, clean-shaven jaw. ‘You have made me the happiest woman in the world.’
‘Your mum might have something to say about that. I think the ceremony is about to start. Aren’t you meant to be the bridesmaid?’ Jack glanced at the assembled guests then back at Sylvie.
‘Will you walk with me?’
‘Now and always,’ he said.
He bent down and picked up her clutch purse and tucked it under his arm. He took her hand and walked with her towards the guests. ‘Do you think your mother and Patrick will forgive me for gatecrashing their wedding?’
Sylvie smiled up at him. ‘Just use your legendary charm. It seems to get you exactly what you want every single time.’
Jack gave her a cheeky wink, his dimpled smile making her heart flutter.
‘There’s something I haven’t done yet. Two things actually.
’ He stopped walking and turned her in his arms. He slipped his hand into his trouser pocket and took out a velvet ring box.
It was a little faded but the name of the jeweller on the lid made Sylvie’s eyes widen.
He popped open the box and a beautiful cluster of diamonds glittered in the sunlight.
‘As the eldest son, I inherited my mother’s engagement ring.
If you don’t like it, we can have it redesigned. ’
‘Oh, Jack, it’s so beautiful. I’d be honoured to wear it.’
He took the engagement ring out of the box and slid it onto her left hand. ‘How about that? A perfect fit. It must be some sort of omen.’
Sylvie gazed at the ring on her finger, then looked up at Jack again with a smile. ‘What was the second thing you had to do?’
‘This,’ he said, and brought his mouth down to hers in a kiss that spoke of love and longing and the end of loneliness.