Miss Hartwell's Dilemma

by Dunn

She looked up at him, suddenly shy. The tenderness and hunger in his eyes made her heart beat faster. “I love you so much it hurts. And you, Daniel?"

  “I adore you. You are the light of my life. That may sound trite but it is true, so do not giggle, my darling. You have led me out of the darkness where I thought to lie entombed forever. I adore you."

  That highly satisfactory answer called for a kiss, so she supplied one. His response left her breathless.

  “There is one little thing you have forgotten,” she said when she could speak again. “A mere formality, but I must insist that it be observed."

  He looked alarmed and puzzled, till he saw that she was teasing.

  “What is it, love?” he asked indulgently. “Have you some guardian hidden away of whom I ought to ask permission to address you?"

  She laughed, eyes sparkling. “Yes, there is, though I had quite forgot him. You told me you are aware of my scandalous past, but what you cannot know is that Papa is now an ironmonger in Philadelphia, and a highly successful one by his own account."

  “I'm sorry, but if it means waiting for a reply from America, I must respectfully decline to approach Viscount Hartwell."

  “You do not mind that he is in trade?"

  “You need not fear that I mean to cry off only because your papa chooses to make his fortune selling nails and ... whatever else ironmongers sell."

  “You cannot cry off,” she pointed out severely, “for we are not yet betrothed. The proposal is the formality to which I referred."

  It was his turn to laugh. “How remiss of me, my darling. Now I come to think of it, all I have done is to offer you carte blanche. Under the circumstances it is most improper in you to have encouraged me to kiss you, but I assure you I do not mean to cavil.” His eager mouth swiftly approached hers.

  She dodged. “How excessively ungentlemanly!” she said with great indignation.

  He slid from the sofa to kneel at her feet, and took her hand in his. “My dear Miss Hartwell, you must know how greatly I admire you. Will you do me the inestimable honour of accepting my hand and heart in marriage?"

  “That is much better.” Amaryllis fluttered her eyelids at him coyly. “My lord, I am sensible of the honour you do me, and I confess that your sentiments are reciprocated. I will."

  With ceremony, his heart in his eyes, he raised her hand to his lips. At the last second his bad arm gave way. Calmly he caught her hand with his left and continued the gesture, touching his lips to the back in gentlemanly fashion and then turning it over and pressing a passionate kiss on the palm.

  “There,” he said, “now we are properly betrothed, and you are permitted to encourage me to kiss you."

  She was about to do so when the door burst open. Isabel ran in, out of breath, the spaniels gambolling at her heels.

  “Papa, Mama, pray come quick,” she gasped. “I told her there was not enough snow left."

  Amaryllis blushed as Lord Daniel looked at her with raised eyebrows, grinning. He turned back to his daughter.

  “What's to do?” he asked.

  “Oh do come quick! Louise was sliding off the stable roof into a drift of snow and I think she has broke her arm!"

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