Indecent (Regency Lovers 1)
Page 9
“Would you do me the honor of dancing this waltz with me?”
“Yes.” She placed her hand into the one he held out to her before they stepped onto the dance floor together and Adam took her into his arms.
“You are looking particularly beautiful this evening,” he remarked evenly.
“As you are looking very handsome.”
His mouth twisted derisively. “Pleasantries covered, I have several things I wish to discuss with you.”
This pronouncement was so typically Hawkwood that Emma could not help but smile.
He nodded. “Firstly, Lord Millbrook has decided that he and his wife shall return to their country estate for the rest of this Season, and possibly the next, if his lady is not fully recovered from her…hysteria,” he added grimly.
“Poor Lord Millbrook, he must be heartbroken to be parted from his beloved bees.”
Adam mouth quirked upward with rueful humor. “He apparently has more hives to keep him busy in Derbyshire.”
Emma chuckled. “Of course he does.”
Adam sobered. “Secondly, I wish to reiterate that the clause in my father’s will has absolutely nothing to do with my having made an offer of marriage to you.”
“I believe you.” Now that Emma was fully over her shock in having learned of the clause in the previous Duke of Hawkwood’s will, in the particular way that she had, she did not doubt Adam’s claim.
He had been out and about in Society for almost as long as she had been alive, and although his father had died ten years ago, and Adam must have known of the existence of that clause in the will for the same amount of time, he had made no effort to take a wife before now.
She still had no idea why Adam should have offered for her, of all women, but she believed him absolutely when he assured her his father’s will had not influenced that decision.
“Thirdly…” Adam came to a halt in the middle of the dance floor, continuing to hold her hand as he stepped back and then moved down onto one knee in front of her.
Emma was not the only one to gasp at his unexpected move. The other couples, who were dancing, slowly came to a halt to turn and look at them curiously. The other guests, becoming aware that something unusual was happening in their midst, all fell silent and also turned to look at the two of them. Even the musicians ceased playing as there were no longer any couples dancing.
The room had grown deathly silent.
“Miss Emma Harris,” Adam made no effort to lower his voice as he gazed up at her. “I have admired you for several weeks now, and latterly I have come to love you, and I would deem it the highest honor if you would consent to become my wife.”
This was so much more than a proposal of marriage, Emma realized breathlessly. It was a grand gesture, of an unforgettable kind, for all to see the aristocratic Duke of Hawkwood down on his knees proposing marriage to a young woman whose lack of fortune caused most in Society to have previously deemed her as being unmarriageable.
And had Adam really said that he loved her?
“Not enough?” he murmured at her silence, one dark brow raised questioningly. “You are the epitome of all that a wife should be,” he continued in the same modulated tone as before. “Beautiful. Gracious. Fiery,” he added with an approving glitter in his eyes. “Passionate and true. But most of all you are the woman I love beyond what mere words could ever convey.” He kissed the back of her gloved hand. “The only woman I love and shall continue to love to eternity and beyond.”
She had not imagined it then, Adam had truly made love to her earlier today. And he was now offering her a happiness she could never have imagined, by telling all in Society of the love he felt for her.
“Marry me, Emma,” he pressed more urgently. “Be my wife, the mother of our children, and make me the happiest and proudest man who has ever lived.”
The tears of happiness came so readily to Emma’s eyes she was having trouble focusing on his dearly loved face. “Yes,” she breathed softly. “A hundred time, yes!” She stepped into his open arms. “I love you so very much, my darling Adam,” she murmured for him alone to hear, his eyes glittering his pleasure as she lowered her head and claimed the firmness of his lips in a long and lingering kiss.
It was only when the clapping started, and then became louder still, that Emma realized what a spectacle they were making of themselves.
Not that she cared.
Now that she knew Adam loved her she cared for no one else’s opinion but his.
Adam loved her.
As she loved him.
To eternity and beyond.
But he was not finished with his grand gesture yet, rising to his feet once the kiss had ended to lift her up into his arms before carrying her from the ballroom. The buzz of conversation starting immediately the two of them were out of the room.
Emma’s arms were about Adam’s neck as she looked at him with glowing eyes. “Now that was a marriage proposal!”
Adam threw back his head and laughed long and happily.
As Emma had no doubt the two of them would continue to laugh together and love each other through all their long and happy years together.
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About The Author
Carole Mortimer is a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2015, RT Career Achievement Award 2017, RT Pioneer for Romance Award 2014. She was also recognized by Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 for her ‘outstanding service to literature’. Carole has written 240 contemporary, Regency and paranormal romance novels.
She is happily married to Peter. They have 6 sons, and live on the beautiful Isle of Man. She also loves to hear from Readers!
Other books by Carole Mortimer
Regency Sinners Series:
Wicked Torment (Regency Sinners 1)
Wicked Surrender (Regency Sinners 2)
Wicked Scandal (Regency Sinners 3)
Wicked Deception (Regency Sinners 4)
Wicked Captive (Regency Sinners 5)
Wicked Temptation (Regency Sinners 6)
Wicked Sinner (Regency Sinners 7)
Wicked Christmas (Regency Sinners 8)
NEW Regency Lovers:
INDECENT (Regency Lovers 1)
OBSESSION (Regency Lovers 2)
CRAVING (Regency Lovers 3)
More books to come in this series
Dragon Hearts – Contemporary paranormal
Nathaniel (Dragon Hearts 1)
Deryk (Dragon Hearts 2)
Bryn (Dragon Hearts 3)
Dylan (Dragon Hearts 4)
Grigor (Dragon Hearts 5)
Garrett (Dragon Hearts 6)
Aeran & Rhys (Dragon Hearts 7)
Regency Unlaced Series:
The Duke’s Mistress (Book 1)
Claimed by the Marquis (Book 2)
Taken by the Earl (Book 3)
Pursued by the Viscount (Book 4)
Desired by a Lord (Book 5)
Captured by a Gentleman (Book 6)
Pleasured by a Duke (Book 7)
Seduced by a Marquis (Book 8)
Tamed by the Earl (Book 9)
Series is now complete
Knight Security Series: Spin-off to ALPHA series
Resisting Alexandre (Knight Security 0.5)
Defying Asher (Knight Security 1)
Challenging Gabriel (Knight Security 2)
Capturing Caleb (Knight Security 3)
Tempting Zander (Knight Security 4)
Seducing Ethan (Knight Security 6)
Series now complete
ALPHA Series:
Christmas Alpha (Alpha 1)
Dark Alpha (Alpha 2)
Shadow Alpha (Alpha 3) Author’s 200th Book
Midnight Alpha (Alpha 4)
Renegade Alpha (Alpha 5)
Warrior Alpha (Alpha 6)
Rogue Alpha (Alpha 7)
Savage Alpha (Alpha 8)
Series is now complete