Chapter Eight

V ictor inhaled a deep breath.

This was not the way he'd intended to propose to his dear, sweet Miss Sparrow— Evalina . He'd never allowed himself to dream.

Before.

But now…

He'd allowed his mother to direct the course of his life for too long.

"Don't be ridiculous," his mother snapped.

"I've never been more serious."

The duchess forced a smile. "You have always done the honorable thing, and I'm sure you imagine you have some duty to…In some misguided sense of honor." She barely flicked a glance to Evalina, but for less than a second. "She is a lowly companion, darling. You have much greater duties to fulfill, duties that will require a woman of status, of breeding. A woman who is your equal—"

"Miss Sparrow is more than my equal." More importantly, "I love her."

Again, not the way he'd envisioned admitting this.

"Love is for simpletons. Come now. Why don't you find our guests and I'll deal with… her."

Victor knew precisely what she meant to do. Pay her off and send her away.

For this budding relationship to stand a chance, it was up to Victor to put his mother in her place.

"I've made my decision." He felt Evalina tense beside him, and turned so he could see her expression. "If she'll have me."

"Your father is no doubt rolling in his grave. You have responsibilities, Ferris. You have a legacy to uphold."

His mother got to the heart of the matter—the very reason he'd followed her guidance for so long.

But he was no longer the vulnerable young man he'd been when his father died, anxious to console his mother but also preserve the dukedom handed down for eight generations.

"I am Ferris," he said. "But I am not my father, and I will go forward making my own decisions. If you persist in opposing my decisions, I'll have you removed from Glenbrook Castle." He had tried, on numerous occasions, to convey his wishes but his mother refused to hear them.

"You are making a mistake." His mother appeared smaller somehow and his former self would have reached out to comfort her—to assure her of his loyalty and love.

But everything had changed. "I suggest you find your guests and return to the castle. I can have the dowager house readied if you are willing to accept my decision—and apologize to Miss Sparrow. Otherwise, we've other estates where you will be more than comfortable."

"But darling…" she made one last attempt but Victor only raised one brow.

"Think long and hard, Mother. You have twenty-four hours to make your decision." He squeezed Evalina's hand. "Please leave us now. I believe I have some groveling to do."

If not now, when?

Hoping he hadn't been ridiculously presumptuous, he ignored his mother as she exited the chapel to give Evalina the attention she deserved.

"I'm sorry," he breathed.

Her cheeks were a little pale, but she was not fuming. Tears swam in her eyes, turning the forest green an almost emerald color.

"You were… magnificent." It wasn't what he'd expected. But of course, Evalina wasn't like other women.

"Will you?" He leaned closer. "I know this isn't the proper way, but I've waited too long already and I can't go another day without asking. Will you marry me, Evalina? Will you make every day as magical as today?"

She blinked and then nodded. "Yes." But she shot a wary glance toward the door which had just closed behind his mother and leaned forward to whisper, "I'm not really duchess material, though."

Victor couldn't contain a chuckle. "You possess the only thing truly necessary to be my duchess."

"I do?" She tilted her head.

"My heart." She wasn't only the rainbow in a storm, she quenched his thirst. "I love you. It's as though I've waited my whole life for you."

By jove, his heart had come to life that fateful day his mother presented her new companion. Perhaps someday he would thank her.

Hearing the carriage drive off, Evalina grimaced. "She's going to hate me," she said.

"I won't allow it." But Victor was finished discussing his mother. He had been watching Evalina's mouth and, having tasted perfection, leaned in to claim more.

And more.

And more.

He only paused when a ray of sunlight slanted through one of the windows, casting a rainbow of refracted light upon her face. Evalina reached up to cradle his cheek.

"You are my duke, aren't you?"

"I have been all along." He turned serious, searching her gaze. "And you are mine."

"And I am yours. I do love you, Victor. I have since the first day I saw you, looking all serious and somber."

"I'm not sure I can bear a long engagement." His heart filled his chest and he could only recognize this sensation as joy.

"I thought today was just a dream. But it is real, isn't it?"

In answer, Victor lifted her off the ground, spinning them around in a circle.

He'd needed this day off to see everything he'd been missing. And thanks to this woman, he could embrace life and love in the only way that mattered.

"This might feel like a dream, but this is our life now. Don't ever let me forget it."

Evalina kissed his neck. "Memento mori, Victor."

"And so, for now, we will live!"

The End