He lifted her hand to his lips. “I thought you would like to see a glimpse of India, even if it’s only on a stage.”
“I can’t believe you did this for me.” Fresh tears ran down her face, but instead of being embarrassed at this show of raw emotion, she felt even freer. Grae had given her so much in the past week, but the most important thing had been hope. And she loved him for it.
She felt as if she were walking on air as they made their way back to the carriage.
Once inside, she pulled their entwined hands to her cheek, then turned and pressed her lips to the palm of his hand. She heard his sharp intake of breath; saw the way his eyes burned with passion.
She was caught in his gaze and could not look away. There were so many promises in his eyes, begging her to open up and trust him. And she wanted to, more than anything. Because she did trust him—with her entire heart.
“Arista,” he murmured, tugging her closer. He brushed his lips over her cheek, and she felt the kiss down to her toes. “Come with me to India so that I can show you what it really looks like. So we can see it together. Please say you will.” His whispered plea washed across the sensitive part of her ear and she shivered. “I can’t bear the thought of being away from you for months and months.”
She could not say no now, even if she had not planned on leaving London.
“I had planned to buy passage on your ship. To go with you if you would let me.”
“You can have my cabin.” His eyes glowed with excitement.
“Your mother would faint away at the idea, Grae.” Even though Arista had no need for the constraints or propriety of the wealthy, there were rules that people like Grae had to follow. “I can buy separate passage…”
“Then marry me,” he said.
Her startled gaze flew to his face to see if this was a cruel joke. The sudden acceleration of her pulse threatened to send her heart straight out of her chest.
“What?” she whispered.
“Marry me, beautiful girl. I can’t imagine anyone else I’d rather spend my life with. We can sail the world, have all the adventures you want, together. I’m in love with you, if you didn’t know that by now.”
So many emotions crowded in her throat that it became impossible to take a full breath. Tears filled her eyes and she blinked rapidly to keep them from spilling over. This was so much more than she’d ever allowed herself to dream of that it completely overwhelmed her.
Unable to make her voice work, and almost afraid of what she’d say if she could, she nodded her acceptance.
Lord Ellington stood in a shadowy alcove near the string quartet. He had not arrived in costume, didn’t even have a mask on. He didn’t appear uncomfortable at all as he watched the disguised partygoers.
Arista stood near the patio, where the doors were opened to let in the fresh evening air. He had arrived five minutes earlier, with a few other guests who were trickling in. She had requested the meeting at ten, to allow her to return home unnoticed.
This was it, her last exchange. After tonight, she would have time to fully realize what Grae had offered her in the carriage. Thinking about it sent a fissure of pleasure and fear through her body. Marriage? An absurd and foreign idea for someone like her.
And yet she could not stop the smile each time she thought about it.
Ellington scanned the sparse room and his gaze came to rest on her. He had picked her out, even in her widow’s garb. Impressive. She stared back, then inclined her head once to let him know she was, in fact, Lady A.
Ellington made his way across the room, his strides long and purposeful. Of all the clients that she’d dealt with when working for Bones, Ellington had been the most unusual—as if he didn’t care much that he had to give up one of his secrets to get a secret. The overall exchange had been quite pleasant as well, with Ellington kissing her hand and thanking her before she left. As if he were a suitor, and not being blackmailed.
Even now, as he got closer, Arista could see that the lines of tension or anger, so normal in her line of work, were not there on his face. He looked a little bored, but not angry.
“Good evening, my lady.” He came to a stop in front of her and lifted her hand to his lips. “I must say, your invitation took me quite by surprise. I had expected to remain indebted to you for this lifetime, at least. Not that it would be a hardship.” He grinned when he said it, and his gaze dropped to her décolletage.
“Thank you for meeting me on such short notice, Lord Ellington,” she said, directing his stare back up to her face. “My note said it all. I’m willing to give back your secret, and you will be free from any further obligation.”
“For three hundred pounds.” He quirked one eyebrow and this time she smiled.
“Yes, for three hundred pounds. A bargain, you’ll have to agree.”