The Misgivings About Miss Prudence: A Sweet Regency Romance (School of Charm Book 4)
Page 13
“I see a woman who is strong and brave, clever and genuine, and who has so much love to give.”
She flinched a bit, and he knew without her saying that she was fighting the words, that while she might want to believe him, she didn’t.
“I know that you do not see it yet,” he continued. “I know that you are struggling. But luckily for you, I can love you enough for both of us.”
She gasped, her eyes widening.
“For now, at least,” he amended. “But I hope that with enough time I can help you to see how amazing you truly are.” He reached up a hand to stroke a stray lock back from her temple. “You’ve been told for so long that you must be perfect to be loved, but that is so far from the truth,” he said, his voice gruff and low. “It is your imperfections that make you who you are. None of us are perfect. We’re human.” He forced a small smile as he wiped another tear away. “Whether you admit it or not, you are human.”
She let out a sound that was part laugh and part exasperated huff.
He loved that sound.
His voice turned teasing as hope burned within him. He hated to see her tears but he was getting through to her and he knew it. “You are human,” he repeated, leaning down until his nose brushed against hers. “And you’re in love with me.”
Her breath caught. He could feel her tense in his arms, their lips a breath apart.
“Admit it,” he said, his command a gruff whisper.
She licked her lips and he held her tighter. When she nodded his heart threatened to burst out of his chest. “Yes, I love you.”
He claimed her lips with a bruising kiss that she returned with just as much passion, just as much fervor.
Of course she did, because his Pru might act like the uptight sanctimonious snob but she was filled with more love than she even knew. His lips moved over hers as she leaned into his embrace.
She was his, and he was almost certain that she knew it.
The ‘almost’ was enough to give him pause and he grudgingly pulled back so he could look down into her sweet, dazed eyes. “Will you marry me, Prudence?”
She blinked a few times, her lips parting on a gasp.
“Before you answer, I need you to know that I meant it when I said that I may not be a marquess. That I hope I am not. I know that the promise of a title—”
She clapped a hand over his mouth with a huff that was so very Pru. “You cannot truly believe I would marry you for a title.”
He grinned behind her hand. He hadn’t. Not for a second. But it was still nice to hear. He removed her hand gently. “But you will marry me.”
Her lips curved up at the corners and his heart leapt in response. “Are you certain this is what you want?”
He grinned as he held her so tight she was pressed against him from head to toe. “You are everything I want.”
She bit her lip, her eyes dancing with a happiness that he hoped he’d see every day for the rest of their lives. “Then yes,” she said with a happy sigh. “I would love to marry you.”
As he kissed her they heard an explosion of noise from the foyer. Cheers and hoots and whistles surrounded them and Prudence pulled back with a laugh. “And I suppose it’s time that you meet my friends.”
He dropped his arms to reach for her hands. There was still so much he wanted to say, so many kisses he ached to give. But now he knew that he had the rest of his life.
“Something tells me I will love these friends of yours since they are the family you never had.”
Her smile softened as her friends drew away from the doorway in a flurry of giggles and whispers. One of them had the good sense to click the door shut and give them privacy.
Prudence tipped her head to the side to study him. “You’re right. My friends and Miss Grayson have been like a family to me. But you…” She smiled so sweetly his heart swelled in his chest. “You are my home.”
He groaned as he pulled her close once more. Home. He’d never once thought he’d feel like he fit in anywhere well enough to call it home. But she was right. That was exactly what he had with Prudence. “Maybe your friends can wait for just a little while longer,” he teased as he lowered his head.
She tilted hers back and went up on tiptoe to meet his, her lips curved up in a smile. “They can definitely wait.”
Thank you for reading! Next up, Miss Grayson finally meets her match with Damian’s uncle in The Mistletoe Mistake of Miss Grayson.
If you missed Addie and Tolston’s story, you can find it in The Misadventures of Miss Adelaide.
Louisa and Tumberland’s tale can be found in The Misunderstanding of Miss Louisa.
Delilah’s story can be found in The Miseducation of Miss Delilah.
Plus, get a FREE sweet regency romance novella now when you sign up for Maggie Dallen’s monthly historical romance newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/dgUNif
About the Author
MAGGIE DALLEN IS a big city girl living in Montana. She writes romantic comedies in a range of genres including young adult, historical, contemporary, and fantasy. An unapologetic addict of all things romance, she loves to connect with fellow avid readers. Subscribe to her historical newsletter at http://eepurl.com/dgUNif or her contemporary newsletter at http://eepurl.com/bFEVsL
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