“And I shall be by your side, beaming with pride,” Nicholas declared. “Now, how about another kiss for your future husband.”
She was back in his arms in a twinkling. As they kissed, Dickson led Mr. Renton from the room, while Quentin snorted his disdain and stalked off.
Oblivious to everything but their love for each other, Nicholas pulled his lips from Sophie’s and rested his forehead against hers. Gazing deeply into her eyes, he murmured, “What would you like for a wedding gift, my love?”
She smiled and stole another kiss. “You have already done so much for me, it hardly seems right that I ask for more.”
“It is a husband’s duty to spoil his wife,” he teased, stealing one back. “So what shall it be? Jewelry? A house in London? Anything. You have only to ask.” She considered for a beat, then said, “Actually, there are two things I want.”
“Ah. I see that I am about to saddle myself with a greedy wife,” he countered with a mock groan.
She shook her head. “Never. Just grant me these two wishes, and I promise that I shall never ask you for another thing.”
“I shall be delighted to grant you both your wishes, and a great many more. Ask away.”
She did as directed, dropping a kiss to his lips after each request. “I want Pansy and Ezra to have their farm, not to rent, but to own. And I want Fancy for my lady’s maid.”
As Nicholas opened his mouth to reply, a gravelly voice boomed, “Unhand the gel this instant, Lyndhurst.” Sophie’s gaze flew in the direction from which the voice had come. There, standing in the door, was a thin, stooped figure in a cherry-red greatcoat and an exceedingly tall top hat. Remembering the stir a similar coat had caused at her parents’ funeral, she gasped, “Uncle Arthur?”
“Of course. Who were you expecting? Wellington?” he retorted, hobbling into the room with the aid of a cane.
“No. It’s just that — “
“I said to unhand her, boy,” he cut in, pounding his cane against the parquet floor for emphasis. “I still ain’t decided whether or not I’m going to let you marry her.” Nicholas shot Sophie a pained look and did as directed, muttering, “I should have left him in Bath.” “You brought him here?” she exclaimed.
He nodded. “Of course. He is your guardian now, and it is only right that I ask his permission to marry you.” “But how — ” She made a helpless hand gesture.
He grinned. “You mentioned him that night on the road when you explained your presence at Hawksbury. Remember?”
“Yes. I’m just surprised you remembered.”
“Not remember that you’re Bomphrey’s great-niece?” He chuckled. “Arthur, here, has been a family friend for years. Indeed, he and my grandfather were the best of friends.”
“And a worse grouse hunter I never saw. Always worried that he’d shoot my hounds by mistake,” grumbled her uncle, tottering nearer. When he reached the center of the room, he pounded the floor with his cane again and commanded, “Well, don’t just stand there gaping, gel. Come and give your old uncle a kiss.”
When she had dutifully hugged him and kissed his withered cheek, he wrapped his arm possessively around her waist and rasped, “Now, about this marriage business. Before I give my consent, I want to know why you two want to wed?”
“I already told you why: We are in love,” Nicholas replied, his eyes gleaming with adoration as they met hers.
“Yes, but do you love each other enough to spend a lifetime together?” her uncle shot back.
Nicholas took a step forward, holding his arms out to Sophie as he did so. She pulled herself from her uncle’s grasp and ran to him. As he crushed her into his embrace, he huskily replied, “Enough for all eternity.”
“Yes. Eternity,” she whispered, staring up into his beloved face.
And in their hearts they knew it was true.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
For All Eternity Page 33
