“It’s awful,” he said, as one of the stitches came apart in his hand.
Her heart flopped over painfully in her chest. For a moment she forgot her confidence that he’d understand, her resolve to share her feelings. She wanted to hide herself behind the fern. “It is.”
“How long did it take you?”
Her eyes cast to the ground. “All afternoon, I’m afraid.”
“You did this for me?” He reached for her hand, taking her fingers into his own. “I absolutely love it.”
“You do?” Hope eased the crush of her chest and her gaze moved up to his. His warm gaze met hers and suddenly all the words she’d been holding back flooded out of her mouth. “That’s good, Merrick, because I’m ready to change. Ready to be the woman you need. I embroidered this so you would understand that...that…” She swallowed. “That I love you.”
Chapter Fourteen
Merrick stared at Lily in stunned silence.
Love.
The word echoed through him, making his head spin and his lungs hitch. For a moment he feared he’d heard her wrong. Perhaps she’d said I loathe you.
Somehow that seemed far more probable.
But, then again, less deserving of a grand declaration. So perhaps she’d declared her love after all?
“Y-you love me?” he managed, watching her face to see her reaction.
It was the blush in her cheeks and the wariness in her eyes that finally got through to him and convinced him his hearing wasn’t faulty.
She gave a short nod. “I know you don’t feel the same. I know that you only asked me to marry you out of obligation, but I needed you to know the truth before I...before you...er, before we discuss marriage again.”
It came out of her on one long breath of air and when she drew in an inhale, he couldn’t stop himself. He pulled her to him and crushed her in his arms as his lips claimed hers in a kiss that was quick but thorough.
When he lifted his head he saw her blinking up at him dazedly. “But we’re in public.”
He pulled back just enough that they would not scandalize any partygoers who might have taken notice, although they were still half hidden next to this fern. “That is how much I love you, Lily. I don’t care who sees, and I want everyone to know.”
Her eyes widened. “Really? I mean...you are not just saying that because—”
“I would never tell you that I love you unless I meant it.”
“Yes, but perhaps you meant that you love me like a sister or a friend or—”
“Lily, what on earth would have given you the impression that I see you as a friend, let alone a sister?” He clasped her hands in his and held them tight. “I love you, Miss Laura Upton. Sometimes I think perhaps I’ve always loved you. But here at this house party, it became impossibly clear that I cannot live without you. That I do not wish to live without you.”
Her eyes were wide and dazed, her lips parting with surprise. “Oh.”
“Indeed.” He grinned down at her stunned expression, too overcome with happiness to contain himself. All he wanted to do was drag her out of this ballroom and take her somewhere quiet where he could kiss her to his heart’s content.
He reached out to touch her cheek, stroking it gently before dropping his hand with an impatient glare toward the rest of the partygoers with their prying eyes and whispering lips. There was so much he wished to say and he thoroughly resented the fact that the rest of this house party was here to ruin the moment.
But then again, the presence of all these other guests was crucial to the second half of his plan.
He looked down with a grin at the ridiculous, awful bit of sewing she’d done. It was ugly and mangled and...he would treasure it for the rest of his life.
“I cannot believe that you fell in love with me.” He held up the square. “And that you love me enough to do this.”
Her lips quirked up in a smirk. “Yes, well. I hope you treasure it always because that is the beginning and end of my sewing for you.” Her eyes danced with laughter. “Though if we were to have a child, perhaps I could be convinced to try again.”
He grinned down at her as his mind’s eye filled with images of Lily expecting, of Lily holding a babe in her arms, of Lily teaching her daughters to ride wild and free just like she had always done.
He reached out to her and tugged her closer, heedless of the people who passed by. “You do know that I don’t wish for you to change who you are, don’t you? I was frustrated, but—”
She held up a finger to cut him off. “I know. I know you see who I really am and you respect me for it. You let me be myself and—”
“And I love you for it,” he finished for her.
Her cheeks pinked as she smiled. “I understand all that. But I also know that for both our sakes I need to learn to temper my anger and not allow pride to rule my life.” She placed a hand on his chest, over his heart. “I have no doubt that I can be true to myself while also acting with more maturity and thoughtfulness.”
Her words stole his breath and filled his chest with an aching pride. He leaned down and rested his forehead against hers briefly. “Good, because I love your fierce independence, and your strength. In fact, I am counting on the fact that our daughter will inherit both.”
She let out a shocked laugh. “Oh, it’s to be a daughter then, is it? We haven’t even married yet.”
He shrugged. “A daughter. A son. Either or both. I don’t care so long as we grow this family together.”
She nodded quickly, her smile so wide it made her eyes crinkle up at the corners and her eyes were filled with warmth and affection. “Together,” she agreed.
That word said right there by that overgrown fern felt like all the vows he’d ever need.
But society required more...and so did their families.
On cue, the sound of a glass dinging on the far side of the room got the attention of the room at large.
Lily glanced questioningly over toward the hostess who was standing near the musicians on a step so she could be seen. “If I might have your attention,” she called out.
The crowd hushed and Lily turned back to Merrick. “I suppose she’ll be announcing her son’s arrival. Have you heard that he’ll be joining us?”
His smile faded to a smirk. “I had heard that rumor, but I happen to know for a fact that isn’t what she is set to announce.”
Lily blinked. “Then what is she going to announce?”
“Me.” One corner of his mouth hitched up in the sort of wicked smile he hadn’t worn in ages. Not since Lily had left his life and he’d lost his accomplice.
He gave her a wink as he went to move toward their hostess, but Lily grasped his hand. “What do you think you are doing?”
He turned to face her. “I was planning on making a scene, if you must know.”
Her brows drew together in an adorable little frown of confusion. “But you don’t make scenes anymore.”
He leaned in closer so he could talk directly into her ear. “You are not the only one capable of grand gestures, you know.”
She pulled back with a little gasp. “You mean, you planned to—”