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She gave a shiver merely thinking of how she had been living at the complete mercy of a murderer for those same ten months. He’d been like a malicious cat playing with a defenseless mouse.
Christopher had been living with him too.
Which terrified her even more. What if—
“It will not do to dwell on it,” Sterling advised huskily when he must have seen her shiver. “The past is over. Now you must concentrate on your own and Christopher’s future happiness.”
A future Elizabeth, despite Whitlow’s taunts earlier, had absolutely no illusions would ever include Sterling.
She might now be a wealthy woman, but in London society, wealth did not represent social status or breeding.
Whitlow was right, the most she could ever be to Sterling was a mistress. If he still wanted her at all. But even if he did, Elizabeth could not allow it. Christopher must be her priority now.
Difficult enough for him that his grandfather had now been charged with murdering his son, Christopher’s own father, and another gentleman. There must never be the single whiff of a scandal attached to his mother’s name—
“A future I am hoping will include me?”
Elizabeth looked across the room at Sterling, easily noting the earnestness of his expression. “I can never repay you, and will be forever grateful to you for helping Christopher and me to escape the clutches of that monster.” A cold shiver traveled the length of her spine at their lucky escape. An instinctive reaction she hoped would lessen over time.
Sterling winced. “That did not answer my question.”
Elizabeth lowered her lashes. “I shall, of course, be grateful for any and all assistance you might wish to render us. If it is only by tacit acknowledgment of me if we should happen to be at the same social gathering.”
“Elizabeth—”
“But never think I would reproach you if you do not.” She gave the ghost of a smile. “Considering my own background”—she glanced pointedly at their cramped quarters—“along with the revelation of my father-in-law’s heinous behavior, I am sure your future duchess will want nothing to do with one such as me, nor be agreeable to her husband doing so either.”
“She will if you are that duchess.”
Elizabeth reared back, her eyes wide. “Sterling…?”
He crossed the room in three long strides before going down on his knees beside the chair in which Elizabeth sat. Her face was pale, those violet eyes dark.
He drew both her hands between his. “Elizabeth, I would deem it the greatest honor of my life if you would agree to become my wife, my duchess, mother of our future children, and allow me the privilege of becoming your husband and Christopher’s father.”
“I— But—” She shook her head. “Your family and friends, the other Ruthless Dukes, would never accept me.”
Sterling kept a tight hold of her hand. “My only family is my cousin, Gwen, and I already know the two of you will become the best of friends. The rest of the Ruthless Dukes are already aware of my feelings for you and look forward, if you will have me, to welcoming you into our small circle. Indeed, I already have an invitation for us to dine with the Duke and Duchess of Melborne. An evening when I am assured they intend for the Prince Regent to also be present.”
To be entertained socially by such illustrious members of Society as the Duke and Duchess of Melborne, with the Prince Regent also in attendance, would, Elizabeth knew, ensure she was accepted by all in Society.
“You do not have to marry me to be given that invitation,” Sterling assured quickly when she made no reply. “The duchess assures me the two of you are already acquainted and that she likes you very much.”
Elizabeth had met the duchess several times at the charitable orphanage where they both offered their services to assist with the children. Elizabeth liked the other woman too. But that acquaintance had been before Grace married the Duke of Melborne.
Before the Duke of Bristol, Sterling, learned how brutally Elizabeth had been treated by her disgraced father-in-law.
She raised her chin as she met Sterling’s gaze. “Why?”
He looked puzzled. “Why what?”
“Why do you wish to marry me?”
Sterling stared at her for several long seconds before wincing. “Damn it, I omitted to mention the most important part of my proposal.” His hands tightened about hers. “Forgive me, Elizabeth, I am unaccustomed to talking of my feelings. I love you,” he stated emotionally. “I love everything and all about you, from the top of your golden head to the soles of your pretty feet. I love Christopher too, and would deem it the greatest honor if I you would allow me to become your husband and his father,” he added so she should be left in absolutely no doubt on that matter either.
She seemed stunned speechless for several seconds, her throat moving as she swallowed, those violet eyes awash with tears. “I love you too, Sterling, but I never believed… Never thought… Are you sure you wish to marry me?” she asked, voicing her uncertainty.
“Very, very sure,” he confirmed fiercely. “I love you so very much, and I intend to tell you that every day for the rest of our lives, if you will have me,” he assured as he moved so that he was now down on only one knee. “Darling Elizabeth, will you please marry me and make me the happiest man on earth?”
