“My ability to disguise myself as a boy?”
“Let us place that within the category of ‘creativity and resourcefulness.’ And yes.”
She stared at him in wonder. “You are categorizing the things you love about me. You mean it, don’t you?”
“Of course I mean it. I’m not saying this to be kind.”
She snorted.
“I was guided by love before I realized what it was,” he said. “All those trips to Frost’s Bookshop, when I wanted to make sure you were all right—it was because I cared about you, Georgette. I wanted you to be all right. I didn’t know what that meant for you, or what it might look like to me, but that was what I wanted.”
She looked at the ring, fashioned of old gold. A band of history. “Am I proper enough to be your wife? I don’t mean for you, but for your family. I don’t want to be the cause of a breach.”
He pressed a kiss to her hand. “Nonsense. I’ve told you before, if my mother doesn’t like you, it won’t be because of your gown. And my father is only beginning to like me, so I think we shall do well together. Tess cannot say enough good about you, you angel, which means Loftus also cannot. Beware, Miss Frost, or you shall find yourself tonnish.”
She hesitated—then laughed, a bubble of sheer joy at his words, his feelings, his body beside hers.
“Will you marry me, then?” he asked. “Do you think you could love me?”
“I know I could, Hugo. I know I do. I tend to be wholehearted and enthusiastic. Perhaps you noticed?”
“I noticed, yes. But to make sure I have all the empirical evidence I require, I’d welcome a demonstration.”
She obliged. It was a spirited demonstration involving lips and hands. It would have involved more, but the parlor door was open, and there was no sense in causing a scandal. For now.
“Do you love me only because I begged you to?”
“Are you marrying me because I begged you to?”
At once, they both laughed. “I asked you to marry me,” Hugo said, “because I want nothing more. I probably ought to have told you this sooner, but I have a cottage. It’s in Edinburgh, not far from where your brother’s lady lives.”
“I know,” she said. “Benedict wrote to me after he and Charlotte were wed, and he mentioned it.”
“If my father is sincere—and I think he is, because he does not make suggestions only to be kind—then I will need to visit his estates as time permits. I’ll want to travel about, teaching at medical colleges if needed too. And if you would like to work with nurses and befriend the apothecaries, that would be . . .”
“Acceptable?” she asked.
“Much more than that. So. Travel—but home must be somewhere. Do you want to go to Edinburgh? Where do you want to go?”
She smiled. “That’s the same question you asked me at the beginning of our adventure. At that time, I wanted to go away on my own.”
“And now?”
“Now I am determined that we shall travel together. But not quite yet. I cannot leave the marchioness until she finds another governess.”
“You truly are an angel.” He sighed. “Very well, I’ll be patient. But only for a short while. And then, to the cottage?”
“To the cottage,” she agreed.
To a home, together.
If you’ve enjoyed Passion Favors the Bold, you won’t
want to miss the first of Theresa Romain’s
Royal Rewards novels, available now!
In the game of seduction, everyone wins. . . .
FORTUNE FAVORS THE WICKED
Indecently Lucky
As a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, Benedict Frost had
the respect of every man on board—and the
adoration of the women in every port. When injury
ends his naval career, the silver-tongued libertine can
hardly stomach the boredom. Not after everything—
and everyone—he’s experienced. Good thing a new
adventure has just fallen into his lap. . . .
When courtesan Charlotte Perry learns the Royal
Mint is offering a reward for finding a cache of stolen
gold coins, she seizes the chance to build a new life
for herself. As the treasure hunt begins, she realizes
her tenacity is matched only by Benedict’s—and that
sometimes adversaries can make the best allies.
But when the search for treasure becomes a discovery
of pleasure, they’ll be forced to decide if they can
sacrifice the lives they’ve always dreamed of
for a love they’ve never known....
Praise for the novels of Theresa Romain
“One of the best books I have ever read, bar none . . .
Romain’s exquisite prose and extraordinary
storytelling skills take us on a splendid
and unforgettable journey.”
—Fresh Fiction on Season for Desire
“Theresa Romain writes with a
delightfully romantic flair.”
—USA Today bestselling author
Julianne MacLean on Season for Surrender
Passion Favors the Bold Page 25
