Chapter 22 #3
“The way I understand it, you’ve already done that,” Silas raised his eyebrows. “And been given a positive answer.”
“I know that.” Giovanni grinned playfully. “But I should like your permission all the same.”
Silas looked down at him and then patted him gently on the shoulder.
“Beatrice told me she chose you and that it was time for me to make my own choice.” Silas’s hand brushed affectionately against his hair, just as he had used to do when Giovanni was a young man. “Well, I’ve made it. I choose you too, Giovanni. I give you permission to marry my sister.”
“What about Milton?” Giovanni asked tentatively.
“You don’t need to worry about Milton.”
The two of them turned to see Anna and Beatrice in the doorway, standing together with their arms around one another, one light-haired and one dark. Anna smiled at them.
“I didn’t receive a message from the viscount,” Anna admitted sheepishly, and Silas frowned at her in surprise. “I know, I know, I should not have done it, but I knew the two of them just needed a little push towards happiness.”
“That was very naughty,” Beatrice giggled, nudging her sister. Giovanni’s heart clenched. She was so beautiful when she laughed.
“But it brought you together, did it not?” Anna countered, grinning. “And now there is nothing stopping you.”
“Nothing,” Giovanni echoed, smiling at Beatrice. “Amore mio.”
Beatrice looked at him with those smooth, beguiling eyes. Giovanni swallowed.
“Might the two of you give us a moment of privacy?” He asked, looking between Silas and Anna.
“Only if you promise to behave,” Silas said. His face was serious but there was a playful twinkle behind his eyes.
“Come on.” Anna pulled him away, shaking her head. “Allow the love birds to have their moment. But hurry up!” Anna smiled back at them as she pushed Silas out of the door. “We have a wedding to plan.”
Beatrice smiled and shook her head at her sister-in-law as the door closed behind them.
Then they were left alone. Both of them breathed a sigh of relief, and Giovanni realized what a difference Beatrice’s presence made to him.
There was comfort in the two of them being alone together, even when they were silent.
He knew it was a comfort he was going to enjoy for the rest of his life. He smiled widely.
“What are you grinning about?” Beatrice demanded, pursing her lips playfully.
“Nothing,” Giovanni said airily, casually taking hold of Beatrice’s hand. “I was just thinking about how lucky I am to spend my whole life with you.”
“Oh really?” Beatrice blushed fiercely at the compliment, but her eyes were bold with excitement.
“Yes.” Giovanni looked down at her small hand, imagining how fine it would look with his ring on the fourth finger. “I really was.”
Grinning up at the woman he loved, Giovanni dropped down to one knee. He noticed the surprise in her eyes and the depths of love there. He had no doubt of her answer.
“Do you remember when you begged me to carry that stray puppy home?” Giovanni asked, watching with delight as Beatrice flushed even deeper remembering her childhood.
She was so beautiful, still dressed in her nightgown with her house coat pulled over, her curly mass of hair still tangled around her head.
He wanted to remember her like this for the rest of his life.
“Oh, goodness, of course, I do,” Beatrice rolled her eyes. “You were so sweet to me, even then. I’ll never know why.”
“Because even then, I would have done anything for you.” Giovanni lightly kissed the space where her wedding ring would sit and heard the breath hitch in her chest. “I wanted to be the one who protected you, who you turned to, who made you laugh.”
“You are all those things,” Beatrice whispered, her fingers squeezing his.
“I want to be more.” Giovanni looked up at Beatrice, his eyes blurry with tears.
He swallowed down a lump in his throat. “I want to be the man who holds your children close and teaches them to ride. I want to be the man who kisses you good morning—I want mine to be the last name on your lips at night. I want to make love to you in a million ways,” he saw Beatrice’s mouth twitch at his words but carried on, regardless, “I want to be a father, and a son, and an uncle, and a marquess—but most of all I want to be your husband. Will you let me be these things, Beatrice? Will you marry me?”
“I think you know the answer to that,” Beatrice whispered, happy tears glittering in her eyes. “I will.”
Giovanni stood up, pulling Beatrice into his arms and kissing her fiercely.
“I love you, Gio,” she whispered. “This is all I’ve ever wanted.”
“I thought so, too,” Giovanni cradled her face, feeling like he could stare into her eyes forever. “But now I know I want more, and I want it with you.”
“And what more is it that you want?” Beatrice said, nestling against his chest.
Giovanni smiled, thinking of her words the night before.
It was something he could never have hoped for, something he had only dreamed of as a poor young boy living on the streets, but now it was different.
With Beatrice in his arms, anything was possible.
He kissed the top of her head and held her close, never wanting to let go.
“A future,” he said simply. “With you.”