On Bended Knee

D espite the cool, cloudy weather, Daisy and her mother had adopted the habit of strolling arm in arm in the grounds of Ramsay House. Lady Maureen had been a tower of strength, always supporting the campaign to win Rowan back. She'd never censured her daughter's decision to leave Fernsby at the altar. Daisy's mother would prefer to return to her new home in Scotland, but she'd insisted on staying in London, and Daisy appreciated the sacrifice.

"I pray for the patience to wait two more weeks," she confessed.

"Just be thankful Rowan has progressed beyond denial," her mother advised.

The sound of carriage wheels grinding to a halt on the gravel driveway caught their attention. Daisy's heart beat a tattoo in her ears when she saw the Withenshawe crest on the side of the brougham. Had a messenger been sent with bad tidings? The urge to flee in the opposite direction was powerful but her mother held her fast. "Wait," she admonished. "We cannot be seen from here."

Clinging to her mother's arm, Daisy held her breath when a footman opened the carriage door and offered a hand to the occupant. She feared she might swoon when he was waved away, bowed and took a step backwards.

As tall and handsome as she remembered, Rowan emerged and deftly stepped down from the carriage with the aid of his crutch. He hadn't waited until he had his new leg. She'd never loved him more.

When Harrison opened the door to his footman's knock, Rowan wasn't sure if the gaping butler was glad to see him or not. The servant's gaze seemed to be fixed on something going on in the mansion's grounds. Rowan turned carefully so as not to tumble down the steps. Daisy was hurrying toward him, her face wet with tears.

His heart rejoiced at the sight of her, but his gut clenched. The front step wasn't the place he'd envisaged their reunion happening. He was still wearing his heavy coat, gloves and top hat. Going down on one knee on concrete under the watchful eye of the butler would be tricky.

All worries about the difficulties fled when Daisy threw herself into his arms. His crutch fell to the ground as he wrapped his arms around the woman he loved and gathered her to his body. He needed no other support than the taste of her loving tears as they kissed.

Daisy's senses reeled as Rowan's kiss deepened. She suckled his tongue, inhaled his masculine scent, relished the softness of the beard she'd never seen before. He leaned on her for balance and she depended on him for breath.

Harrison's polite cough pulled her out of the maelstrom, albeit reluctantly. Rowan took hold of the crutch the butler had retrieved from the steps. She looked into her beloved's eyes and saw the love and longing she'd missed so desperately. But there was a twinkle of mischief as well.

She watched in puzzled amazement as he handed his hat and gloves to Harrison. When he started to unfasten the buttons of his coat, the butler rushed to help him remove the heavy garment.

What happened next would be engraved on her heart for all eternity. Rowan passed the crutch to Harrison, took her hand and used her as his anchor as he slowly knelt on his good knee.

"Lady Daisy Hawkins," he said. "Will you do me the very great honor of assenting to be my wife? I know…"

"Yes, yes, a thousand times yes," she replied, falling to her knees beside him.

They clung to each other for long minutes, until Rowan whispered, "Let's go inside. It's a tad chilly out here."

She nodded her agreement, knowing his pride wouldn't allow him to admit the difficulty of kneeling on one knee on cold stone.

Grinning broadly, Harrison assisted him to rise and handed back the crutch.

Upright once more, Rowan offered her his hand and helped her stand.

Arm in arm, they entered the house, reconciled at last.

Though it felt wonderful to sit beside Daisy in the drawing room of her home and hold her hand, Kenneth and Cat's presence made the situation awkward. Rowan understood the need for their presence as chaperones, but resented it just the same. It was difficult enough to expose his limited mobility to Daisy for the first time.

"I love you," his beloved whispered, clearly sensing his discomfort.

"I don't deserve your love," he replied, meshing his fingers with hers.

"That's not true," she countered, laying her hand on his mutilated thigh.

She withdrew her hand when he tensed. "Did I hurt you?" she asked.

He couldn't lie. "No, in fact, it felt wonderful."

Kenneth coughed when they leaned into each other to share a kiss. "So, can we set a date for the wedding?"

Rowan longed to bury himself inside Daisy, to make her his wife in every way, yet he dreaded the intimacy of their first night together. He wouldn't be able to conceal his deformity with the artificial leg. However, he was determined to escort her back down the aisle after the ceremony without reliance on a crutch. "Three weeks from today will be fine," he declared. "Time for the banns to be read and so on."

He could easily have procured a special license and married her tomorrow. The disappointment in her eyes told him that's what she'd hoped for, but she nodded her agreement, patient as ever with his insecurities.