Page 29 of Sin and Serendipity

She regarded him with vulnerable eyes, and Robert’s hands curled into fists at his sides, his only outward display of emotion, though his insides roiled. He wanted to go to her, leap across his desk like a lunatic, drag her into his arms and never let go.

But something held him back, a wariness warning him to proceed with caution. He watched her in silence, his gaze locked on her face.

“Before you give me your answer,” she went on, “I feel I should warn you: I’m far from perfect. I have a terrible sweet tooth, my needlepoint is dreadful, I hum in the bath, though I cannot carry a tune…and I will probably always take longer than I should to admit when I’m wrong.”

A small smile curved her generous lips, though her eyes were bright with contrition. “I’m admitting it now, Robert. I was wrong about Freddy. I don’t love him.”

His heart gave a hopeful leap, but he ignored it and shoved his hands into his pockets to keep from reaching for her. “Three days ago, you were certain you did.”

“I know,” she whispered. “But I didn’t know him well enough to love him, I see that now. It was his looks I admired, just as you said, though I was too stubborn to admit it.” Her eyes held his, brimming with emotion. “And too blind to see I was falling in love with his brother instead.”

Robert’s fists—his entire body—began to unfurl and relax, and he drew in a steadying breath, her words washing over him like a balm.

“I love you, Robert.” Ellie swallowed, her voice rough with feeling. “I love you now, I’ll love you three days from now, I’ll love you three years from now. Please believe me. I—”

“Thank God.” He reached her in two strides and caught her up in his arms, pressing his cheek to her hair. “Thank God.”

Ellie loved him. He had no idea how or why, but he didn’t care. He was too bloody happy to question it. All that mattered was that she loved him. And now he would never let her go.

Drawing back slightly, he gazed down at her beautiful face, her glowing eyes, the twin tears trickling down her cheeks. He stroked his thumbs over her wet skin, brushing the tears away, his own throat thick with emotion. “I love you,” he said gruffly. “I love you so damned much. I don’t know what I would have done if—”

She stayed the words with a finger to his lips. “I know,” she whispered. “I know, Robert.”

He leaned down and captured her mouth with his, desperate to taste her, to show her how happy she’d made him. How precious she was to him.

She eased back a moment later, a teasing smile curving her lips. “Does this mean you’ll marry me, Lord Darrington?”

Wrapping his hands around her waist, he lifted her and set her gently on top of his desk before stepping between her thighs. “Anything to please my lady,” he teased, and then his lips were on hers again, his hands skimming the dip of her waist, the luscious curve of her hips.

Ellie’s arms wound around his neck, and she urged him closer, her lips meeting his, warm and eager, drawing a low groan from Robert’s throat.

God, how he wanted this woman. This woman, who was to be his wife.

Bending lower, he nuzzled her throat, glorying in her sweet apple scent, in the feel of her in his arms, the warmth of her body against his. She was his. Truly his. He gathered her close, burying his face in the curve of her shoulder. “Christ, Ellie, I—”

A knock at the door cut into his words, and he pulled back as his mother’s voice filtered into the room, muffled but no less intrusive. “Robert? It’s your mother,” she called out. “We’re coming in, dearest.”

Ellie scrambled off the desk, brushing at her skirts, and Robert turned just as the door swung open. Two unapologetically curious faces peered back at them from the doorway, a sight that would have irritated him more if he weren’t so happy.

“Well?” Ellie’s mother demanded, her brows raised dramatically. “Are you two betrothed, then?”

Robert took Ellie’s hand in his and smiled at her. “We are, Mrs. Wrencroft.”

“Yes, Mama,” Ellie said, her eyes twinkling. “Lord Darrington has consented to be my husband.”

“Excellent, excellent,” Robert’s mother cried, clapping her hands together. “Now then, come along, you two, and we’ll discuss the particulars over tea in the drawing room.”

The two mothers turned and headed down the corridor, their animated voices echoing through the hall as they began planning the wedding breakfast.

Robert slipped his arms around Ellie’s waist and tugged her to him. “I don’t want tea,” he growled. “I want you. On my desk. Naked.”

He took her mouth in a deep, possessive kiss, sweeping his tongue over her plump lower lip, and Ellie pulled back with a gasp, her cheeks flushing a delectable shade of pink. “Robert,” she said, gratifyingly breathless, “our mothers are waiting for us.”

“Let them wait,” he murmured, leaning in to kiss her again.

She dodged him, laughing as she took him by the hand and tugged him toward the door. “Come along,” she said. “You know they’ll only come looking for us again.”

He blew out a surly breath. “I suppose you’re right.”