Page 70 of The Untamed Heart

“Oh, my God!” Hawkney covered his face with his hand. “Lucius. Shut up!”

Eustacia bit her lip anxiously. Would the idea of becoming engaged to her horrify him? Having feelings for her was one thing, marrying her when his family ranked so much higher than hers was another. If everyone believed them engaged, would he feel obligated to go through with it?

She turned and stared at Marcus, who was staring at Lord Darenth.

“Lucius, you infuriating, ill-mannered, interfering lunatic,” Marcus said, sounding far calmer than Eustacia felt.

He turned then and met her gaze. His expression was rueful, but hope shone in his eyes.

“I had intended something more romantic, in the little memorial garden, with flowers. Perhaps in the spring when you’d had time to—”

“Yes!” Eustacia exclaimed. “Yes, I will. I do. Yes, please.”

Marcus gave a startled laugh. “You will?”

“Of course I will, you foolish man,” she said impatiently. “Whatever did you think I would say?”

“There!” Lord Darenth said, sounding as though he’d been entirely vindicated. “You see? I was right. He loves her, she loves him, they’re getting married. I do not understand why everyone is getting so cross with me. You’re all unreasonable.”

“Can I shoot him?” Hawkney asked, deadpan.

Sheringham laughed but swallowed his amusement as he found Darenth staring reproachfully at him. “Never mind, Lucius. You were quite right, of course. Just don’t get it in your head to start matchmaking. Heaven alone knows what would come of it.”

Chapter 19

A Charming Ensemble

Seagull Heights, Little Valentine, East Sussex, 1st October 1816

Eustacia reached out and smoothed her hands over Marcus’s chest. It was such an intimate, proprietary gesture his throat grew tight.

“You have your pistols?”

“I do,” Marcus said gravely.

“Both of them?” Eustacia pressed. Her skin was as pale as parchment and her hands shook visibly. “And enough ammunition?”

Marcus took her hands in his, raising first one then the other to his lips. He kissed her knuckles tenderly, still overwhelmed that he had the right to do so. But they were engaged. By some miracle, Lucius had saved him months of courtship and fretting as he got up the courage to ask her to be his wife, and they were to be married. He still could not believe it.

“My darling, I have enough ammunition to invade France single-handed. Stop worrying so. Lucius may be an imbecile when it comes to social niceties and human emotions, but this I trust him to do. The plan is a good one. It will work.”

Eustacia nodded, though her terror was writ large upon her face.

“Come here,” he said, and pulled her into his arms. She put her own around him and held on for dear life.

“No heroics,” she insisted, her voice muffled against his uniform. “Don’t do anything rash. If you don’t come home to me in one piece, you need not fear Keller, I shall kill you myself.”

She looked up at him then and gave a soft laugh as he smiled down at her.

“How fierce you are,” he said admiringly. “And I wouldn’t dare be so utterly foolish as to throw my future away. My life is about to begin. It’s a bit later than I expected, but I know it’s been worth waiting for. I shan’t mess it up, my love.”

“You’d better not,” she said, and then reached up her hand and clasped the back of his neck.

Marcus needed no urging to deliver the kiss she demanded. He kissed her tenderly, his lips gentle and yet passionate, making promises for the future, promises he would not break. Not today. Not ever.

“I love you,” she whispered against his ear, making his heart kick in his chest.

“Eustacia, I—”