“Yes.”
“Can you think of any reason why two persons who care deeply for each other … who love each other … should not make a match of it?”
His silence was deafening.
Lydia waited, her heart pounding. Robert knew her too well not to understand the gist of her question. She watched him swallow before opening his mouth.
“There are times when emotions, even if they are shared”—he smiled briefly and then returned to his sober expression—“are best ignored when the union would only be for the benefit of one party, namely the one less prosperous.”
A boisterous laugh burst out of Lydia, surprising them both. She turned it into a giggle and then smiled—broadly. “Excellent. Just as I thought. We are not talking about the lack of affection. We are talking about the ridiculous notion that a couple should allow a difference in finances to stand in their way.”
“Of course.”
“No ‘of course’ about it. Why is it acceptable for a penniless baron to marry money with no expectation of returned affection and yet the same financial disparity would cause great consternation and gnashing of teeth merely because it is a love match?”
“It wouldn’t. No gnashing.”
“The sky would fall?”
“Of course not.”
“Then what is the problem?”
“I will not be called a fortune hunter or, worse yet, a kept man.”
“What would these names be against a lifetime of happiness?”
Frowning, Robert shook his head despite agreeing. “Yes, what indeed. However…” Taking a gulp of air, he continued. “What of my career?”
“Your career?”
“Yes. I am not a gentleman of leisure. I have obligations and schedules.” He smiled at that word … though why, Lydia could not fathom. “Especially now that my apprenticeship has begun. Until just recently, you believed that you were going to marry a peer, and now … well … to be the wife of a solicitor? Your social position would plummet.… I would have to give up the law. Yes, there is no way around it.”
Lydia tipped her head, as if in doing so it might make the conversation clearer. “Being a solicitor is part of who you want to be. I would never ask you to give it up.”
To Lydia’s surprise, Robert’s frown deepened. “Truly. You would not find it demeaning?”
“Demeaning? To be married to an up-and-coming solicitor who earns his fortune with honesty and hard work?”
“Hardly a fortune, Lydia. I will never be your equal.”
“Aha, so it is our financial disparity, after all. We have just come full circle.”
Robert snorted a laugh. “I am utterly confused.”
With a quick glance into the room, noting the inquiring faces, Lydia reached out for Robert’s waistcoat and slowly pulled him into the shadows. “There is one matter that counts above all else. Do you love me?”
This time, there was no hesitation. “With all my heart, until the day I die, and beyond, if there is an afterlife.”
A flood of relief washed over Lydia, leaving her speechless … for all of a moment. “Then, I will marry you, if you will ask.”
Before he had a chance to say anything, Lydia leaned forward. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted her mouth to his. She could feel his heart pounding out a quick-time rhythm as he slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
When their lips met, she thought her insides would melt into a puddle of ecstasy. Filled with a delicious, undefined longing, Lydia leaned in closer, wishing that she could stay locked in his arms forever. But all too soon, Robert lifted his head, taking a ragged breath.
“Lydia, my dove?”
“Yes, Robert?”
“I have just thoroughly compromised you.”
“Thoroughly … what ever shall we do?”
“We will have to announce our intentions this very evening—before there is any hint of scandal.”
“Excellent idea. What are our intentions?”
Robert chuckled and leaned over to kiss her forehead, but Lydia lifted herself up on her toes, initiating another session of excellent compromising.
“Lydia, my dove?” Robert said again, eventually.
“Yes, Robert.”
“Will you grant me the great privilege of your hand in marriage?”
Lydia closed her eyes and savored his proposal—the offer of a union for life. Exquisite joy, overwhelming and eternal, filled her to the brim; the sensation was so marvelous that she forgot to breathe for a time.
The air around them stilled, as did Robert. He was waiting. How could he not know her answer? She had encouraged the proposal. And still he waited.
Lydia opened her eyes and grinned. “I would be honored.”
The relief on his face nearly brought tears to her eyes. She lifted her hand and cupped his chin. “I would be honored,” she repeated. “I love you so very much.”
As her future husband lowered his head once again, Lydia sighed dreamily. “We should go in,” she whispered, tightening her hold, preventing him from going anywhere.
“Absolutely,” he said, nibbling at her lower lip.
All thoughts of ballrooms and inquisitive glances were instantly drowned by the flow of marvelous sensations coursing through her body and a sudden desire to drag Robert deeper into the shadows.
They would go back into the ballroom soon … but not yet.
GLOSSARY
Chimneypiece: a British term for the construction around a fireplace, also called a mantelpiece
Chunter: to mutter, grumble, or grouse—a British term
Gig: a light, two-wheeled, one-horse carriage
Land agent: a British term for the steward of an estate who supervised the farm, laborers, and tenants as well as collected rents and other money
Landau: a four-wheeled carriage pulled by two or four horses with facing seats and two folded hoods that could be raised to enclose the passengers
Marionette: a puppet controlled by wires or strings
Nonplussed: to be bewildered and confused about how to react
Retrench: to drastically reduce expenditures; for the gentry it often entailed moving to an urban center, employing fewer servants, getting rid of carriages and horses, etc.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Duels & Deception was written before, during, and after the publication of Love, Lies and Spies. There is absolutely no doubt that without the encouragement and calming influence of the Swoon Reads team, Duels & Deception would not have come together in a timely or cohesive manner. Many thanks to the entire group, but particularly Emily and Lauren for their enthusiasm and brilliant suggestions, Christine and Holly for their faith and excitement, and Anna for the beautiful cover design.