by Shales, Mia
“Kate,” he began again, “Damn it! I don’t have much experience in these matters.”
She didn’t understand exactly what he was trying to say.
To her astonishment she saw him kneeling in front of her, one leg bent and one knee resting on the floor. He still held her hand.
“Will you marry me?” There were bright glints in his brown eyes. The green-gold flecks about his irises melted her heart.
She was surely dreaming.
“I love you, Kate. You are the only woman I shall ever love. I don’t believe I can live without you. Say yes.”
“Yes.”
He stood up and swept her in his embrace.
“I love you so much. I don’t know what I would have done if you had said no.”
Matthew loved her. He wanted to be her husband, the father of their children. Her heart was ready to burst. It was not a dream. The joy was inconceivable.
“Does your grandmother know?”
“Does she know?” he laughed, “and how she knows! I don’t know what charms you used on her but yesterday she announced that if I didn’t propse marriage to you immediately I was a big fool and not worthy of the Camedon name. She confessed that she had wrongly judged your bravery and integrity as well as the strength and depth of our love. She described her visit to the hospital and asked if I intended to ask for your hand. You won’t believe it, but when I answered in the affirmative she approached and, for the first time in my life, kissed me.”
He laughed when he saw Kate’s expression. “It’s true. Until that day a handshake was the only physical contact we had.”
“Do you think she will want to kiss me?”
“I’m certain of it. You know how it is when a dam is breached. We won’t be able to stop the rush of kisses whenever we meet. There’s only one way to avoid it.”
“What way is that?”
“To provide her with grandchildren as quickly as possible so she can take out all her pent-up emotions on them.”
“An excellent idea,” Kate smiled. “I’m ready to start right away.”
Suddenly she remembered. “The dress and the jewelry?”
“Rebecca chose the dress at my request and the necklace was my mother’s. She would be pleased to know my bride is wearing it.”
“But it is so expensive. I’m afraid to wear it.”
“I don’t know exactly how to say this but my family is one of the wealthiest in Europe. I’m not asking you to change and I love you just as you are, but you must know that from now on you are a very rich woman. A part of the family jewels will come into your possession and apart from the money I intend to give you, you can expect in the near future to receive many expensive gifts from family and friends.” He noticed her expression and quickly added, “I hope all this doesn’t frighten you.”
She thought a minute before answering. “No, it doesn’t frighten me. I’ll do everything in my power to make you proud of me, to represent your family with honor, to make you happy that I'm at your side."
Matthew looked at her lovingly.
Kate clung to him and he embraced her. Out of the enveloping haze she remembered the dinner. “Aren’t you hungry?”
“I hunger only for your touch,” he murmured, his mouth kindling a sensuous languour in her veins.
“Roget will be furious,” she whispered, barely able to speak.
“On the contrary, I’m sure he'll be delighted. When you were sleeping today he told me that if I didn’t make you the mistress of Bellewoodplain he intended to hand in his resignation.”
“I see. Finally, I understand the true reason you proposed. You simply could not bear to let Roget go."
“You must agree he’s the most fabulous chef in the world.”
THE END
