Chapter 29 - Claire
They ended up in the library, the nearest room in the house that wasn’t occupied at the moment. Nearly the instant the door was closed behind them, Michael was on one knee.
“That’s quite abrupt,” Claire said, blinking, but she couldn’t help the wide smile that stole over her face. She didn’t care if she was grinning like a fool at the moment; her delight was too complete to hide.
“I’m afraid that if I don’t propose immediately, we’ll have another repeat of the garden at the ball.”
“I quite enjoyed our interlude in the garden,” Claire said, though her own words made her blush. “I’ve thought of it fondly many times since.”
“I was afraid my actions the other evening may have led you to believe that I’m the rake you always thought I was.”
Claire was still grinning. “Not in the least, though my actions may have led you to lump me in with the Dowager Countess Berkshire.”
“On the contrary,” Michael said, his blue eyes twinkling. “Her advances were completely unwelcome, and I eagerly await the renewal of yours.”
Now Claire did blush, and she shook her head just as Michael captured her fingers in his hand.
He looked up at her, his eyes wide and earnest, a gentle smile upon his face.
“Claire, I’m not sure when I fell in love with you, as it has been many years since I recognized that emotion within myself.
There’s never been another who has so much as turned my head.
For me there has only ever been you. You are the most intelligent, beautiful woman I’ve ever met.
Though I don’t feel worthy of you, I hope that you’ll condescend to make this uneven match regardless. ”
Claire pressed her lips together. It was so like Michael to make her laugh, even in the middle of his proposal.
“Claire,” he said once more, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze, “will you please overlook my rakish tendencies where you’re concerned and make an honest man out of me? Will you please be my wife?”
“Of course I will,” she said, happiness lilting her voice.
Then he was on his feet, and she was in his arms. He twirled her as she laughed her delight. He only paused to slide an enormous sapphire onto her finger before he hugged and kissed her so thoroughly her head swam.
Claire had overestimated the effect that her and Michael’s announcement would have on her family. It turned out that she was not the only one with a secret, and her happiness was amplified by the other joyous news that soon set the house into a delightful upheaval.
There was a momentary concern that Dahlia Warrington might put all of her attention toward her own wedding gown, to the detriment of her other designs.
In the end, Claire was delighted with her wedding dress.
It was stark and simple—luminous silk shantung that hugged her from shoulder to waist and then draped to dust the floor in elegant pleats.
On her wedding day, her hair was pulled back into a sleek chignon adorned with a diamond barrette given to her as a wedding gift by her mother-by-law. But the best surprise was that, when she arrived at the altar to meet her groom, he gave her the cheekiest of smiles.
“Look, my love,” he murmured as he offered her his elbow. “Just for you.”
Claire glanced down and bit her lip to keep from laughing.
His suit was the finest herringbone tweed.
The End.
But every end is a beginning, of sorts. Want to find out what secrets Lily is hiding? Read her story in A Breach in Brocade…