Page 87 of The Mad Marchams

“I don’t know—it’s still pretty crazy.” He was smiling when he spoke and took her hand again. “One of the things I love about you, Mabel Howard, is your bumbling attempts to be straight with me even when I’m being incredibly stubborn.”

She stared at him. “Hold up.”

“What now?”

“Did you just say you love me?”

“Yes.” He held her gaze. “But only because I am an evil villain who wishes to deprive you of all your fortune.”

It took a second for her to get the joke and then she smiled even as her heart overflowed with love in return. She’d found her unexpected prince in a faraway land in his very own ruined castle, and she was never leaving his side again. “No doubt you’ll murder me in the woods and leave my body for the peacocks to peck.”

“I was thinking more about the drama of throwing you down the stairs, but I like the way you think.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. “You’re right. I do need to learn to accept help better.”

“And I need to stop expecting everyone to want me to support them.”

“It’s not just that, though, is it?”

“What do you mean?” Mabel tensed.

“It’s that you want to be loved for yourself, and some people have made you think that all you are is a financial means to an end.”

“Yes,” Mabel whispered as tears threatened. “That’s it exactly.”

Colin took a deep breath. “I love you, Mabel. I loved you before I knew you were rolling in money, just as you loved me before you knew I was heir to all this.”

She blinked back the tears. “I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“Really?” He looked ridiculously pleased with himself. “Can I have that in writing?” He squeezed her fingers hard. “I want you to stay here with me—forever.”

“I think I’d like that.”

“Good.” He held her gaze. “I think I’d like that, too.”

They both jumped as someone cleared their throat in the doorway.

“Glad to see you got it all sorted out, then.” Freddy came fully into the room. “About bloody time, bro.”

“Go away,” Colin said. “I’m about to propose to Mabel.”

“Hell no,” Freddy pulled out a chair. “I want to see this.”

Colin sighed. “Mabel, will you ignore my infuriating brother and listen carefully?”

“Yes, Colin.”

He paused. “Is that an answer to my question, or⁠—”

Mabel leaned across the table and kissed him. “Yes, it is. I’d love to marry you and be Lady Mabel.”

“Technically,” Freddy said. “You wouldn’t be Lady Mabel. You’d be Lady or Viscountess Levenham.”

“Shut up, Freddy,” Colin said. “You’re ruining the moment.”

“I can live with that,” Mabel said.

“Then it’s all settled.” Colin got to his feet, came around the table, and swept Mabel into his arms. “All we have to do is get this place open to the public, start to make some money, and then we can get married.”

“You could sell off the wedding rights to one of those flashy celebrity magazines,” Freddy said. “I bet you’d make a fortune.”