Page 72 of An Outlaw’s Desire

“All right.”

After choosing an embroidered green dress with draping sleeves, Blythe and Rosetta headed back to the hall. Holding goblets of wine, Pitt and Ash stood near the hearth with Lord and Lady Montgomery. Clarine, Justin, and Fenton were chatting nearby.

Pitt smiled as Blythe drew near. “A pleasant morning?” he asked.

“Very pleasant.” Why did she suddenly feel she was the only one not informed of what was really going on?

As though attuned to her thoughts, Pitt took her hand. His gaze softened as he studied her. “I was going to wait until Christmas Day, but….”

“Wait?” she echoed. “For what?”

He glanced over at Clarine and Fenton. “They have something to show you.”

Beaming, Clarine motioned to her. “Come here.”

Blythe went to the hearth.

The girl pointed. “Look.”

Clarine must have recently added the cloth bird to the garland around the hearth, for Blythe didn’t recognize the ornament as one they’d made together.

“’Tis lovely—”

“Look,” the child insisted.

Blythe removed the bird from its pine branch. As she did so, a weight bumped against the backs of her fingers. She turned the ornament over to see clumsy words stitched on the reverse: Marry Me.

Sewn to the cloth was a gold ring.

She gasped. “Oh. Oh, my—”

Her gaze flew to Pitt. After setting down his goblet, he dropped to one knee and took her hand in his.

“Pitt.” Tears welled in Blythe’s eyes. “This was your surprise?”

He nodded, his gaze also damp with tears. “As you now know, I had a fair bit of help.”

Blythe laughed, as chuckles spread through the folk gathered around.

Pitt’s gaze sobered. “I love you, Blythe. I always have.”

Happiness soared within her. “Pitt—”

“Will you marry me, Blythe? Will you—?”

“Of course, I will!”

“We will not need my list of suitors for you after all, Blythe,” Rosetta murmured.

Blythe crouched and flung herself into his arms. Sobs broke from her, and she clung to him as he whispered soothing words and held her tightly.

At last, they rose. With his thumbs, Pitt gently dried the tears from her face.

“While I will become your husband, I still plan to be a bit of an outlaw.” The glint in his eyes drew her thoughts back to when he’d bound her to the bedpost in her chamber.

She kissed him. “Outlaw or hero, you are my Christmas wish come true. I love you, Pitt, and I always will.”

Epilogue