“Are you going to give him an answer?” Lady Bentham demanded, grinning.
“Yes,” Juno said softly, reaching to caress Dare’s cheek. “Yes, I will marry you, though I can’t imagine why you would choose me.”
He frowned at her, looking much more like the rigid duke, whom she also loved. “Because you’re intelligent, witty, strong, charming, and you make me smile.”
“That last part should be enough,” Lady Bentham said drolly. “You may be the only person in existence who can do that.”
A small smile broke across Dare’s lips, and Juno laughed. “Not true, Lady Bentham. But your point is well taken.” She squeezed his hand. “I will spend the rest of my life making you smile so much that your lips will want to fall off.”
He stood and lifted her hand to press a kiss to her wrist. “I shall pray that does not happen, because my lips are of particular and essential use to me. And to you,” he added in a husky whisper.
“You make a better point than Lady Bentham,” she said softly, her chest tight from an overwhelming barrage of emotion. She’d never felt this full, not even when she’d fallen for Bernard. That had been a different sensation, she realized, a young love rife with enthusiasm and passion. This was mature and whole, and loving him made her feel…right. Which was something, since she hadn’t felt at all wrong. Indeed, she’d been perfectly content with her life. So content that she’d almost talked herself out of coming back. Until she’d finally acknowledged that Dare had quite destroyed that contentment when he’d glowered his way into her life. It seemed that love came when one least expected it.
“I have to tell you,” she whispered up at Dare. “This isn’t what I expected. I thought we would form an attachment, but not marriage. I made a commitment to Lady Gilpin, and I don’t feel right abandoning her.” She glanced toward her almost employer with a pang of guilt.
“Of course you don’t,” he said. “You’re as loyal as the day is long. Do you still want to help her?”
“I do. But—and I want to be very clear on this point—my primary loyalty is to you. To us.”
“You humble me.” His voice was deep and soft, his expression full of love. He slipped his arm around her waist and pivoted them toward Lady Gilpin. “If it’s acceptable to you, Mrs. Langton will still help your daughter prepare for the Season. After we are wed.”
Lady Gilpin’s eyes rounded. She lifted her hand to her chest. “That, ah, that isn’t necessary.”
“Perhaps not, but Juno’s word is her bond, and she would very much like to honor her commitment.”
“It would give me great pleasure to help Dorothy for my final act as a companion,” Juno added, loving Dare so much for his support.
“Then yes,” Lady Gilpin said with a grateful smile. “We would be thrilled to have the Duchess of Warrington prepare our daughter for her Season.”
Put like that, Dorothy was bound to have an unforgettable debut. Juno would make sure of it.
“Well, I think this calls for a celebratory dinner,” Cecilia said, beaming. She gave Juno a look of pure delight and gently inclined her head.
Thank you, Juno mouthed.
“Can we leave now?” Dare murmured against her ear.
“Yes.” She looked about the room. “See you at dinner.”
Then she and Dare left the drawing room, and he steered her outside.
“The orangery?” she asked.
“Seems fitting.” He held the door open for her as she stepped inside the warm building.
Moving farther inside, she sensed he wasn’t behind her. Turning, she saw him standing against the closed door, his gaze fixed on her with dark intent.
She shivered, but in the best way. “I really am sorry for not being more understanding last night. I shouldn’t have been so demanding. In hindsight, I was afraid that you were abandoning me as my parents did.”
He rushed toward her and took her in his arms. “My dearest, I could never do that. It will be torture for me when you go to help Lady Gilpin’s daughter.”
She kissed him, joy threatening to swallow her whole. “It will be torture for me as well.”
“As to you being demanding, what did I tell you about that?” he growled, kindling her desire. “I want you to do that with me. Always. One of the things I love most about you is your complete impatience for my nonsense. You make me a better man.”
“That was never my intent.” She caressed his cheek. “I’d never met anyone so stoic. You provoked me to provoke you. I never meant to change you, and I shouldn’t have expected you to do that last night.”
“I like that I’m less rigid—with you, at least. I don’t give a damn what anyone else thinks.” He kissed her again. “Only what you think.”
“I think I’m glad that we both realized we’re better together than apart.” She bit her lip. “I just hope people—such as your family—are accepting of me.”
“My mother will adore you because I do. In fact, I can’t wait for you to meet her. I’m more concerned about your family.”
“Why? They don’t even signify.”
“I think they do,” he said softly. “I intend to drag them back into your life, and if you decide you don’t want them there, then it is us who will do the ignoring. Not them.”
Emotion clogged her throat. “You are the very best man. My mother will be shocked I am marrying a duke.” She shook her head. “I’m not sure I’ll believe it until it’s true.”
“I thought we’d wed by special license since you have other obligations. Is that acceptable to you?”
She met his eyes with love and gratitude. “It’s more than acceptable. It’s lovely. Where do you want to have the ceremony?”
“London—and not because I need to go there.” He rolled his eyes, making her laugh. “That will be easiest for obtaining the license. I’ll send for my mother to meet us there, if that’s all right with you.”
“That would be splendid.”
“I’ll write to your father informing him of my intent. Shall I invite them to come too? I expect we’ll be married within the week, so if they can’t make it in time, that’s too bad.”
She stood on her toes and kissed him. “I love you so, my rigid duke.”
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “I’m trying not to be. Rigid, that is.”
Rotating her hips against his to press against his hard cock, she said, “I would say you’re failing quite spectacularly. And I have no complaints about that. In fact, promise me you’ll never stop.”
He threw his head back and laughed with abandon, something a rigid duke would never do. “You have my sincerest vow, my goddess.” He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her thoroughly. Then he drew back and looked into her eyes. “My love for you is firm and unchangeable. Forever.”
Epilogue
London
* * *
“Checkmate.”