Her response was somewhere between a moan and a sob as she wrapped her arms around his neck and rose up on tiptoes to kiss him with all the passion that was in her heart.
She pulled back just long enough to say, “I love you, too, Theo. I love you with all that I am.”
He groaned in relief as he held her close, one arm cinched tight around her waist as he lifted his other hand to cup the back of her neck as he slid his lips over hers as if sealing their vows.
“Thank you,” he murmured when he pulled back slightly, letting his forehead rest against hers. “Thank you for helping me open my heart to love again. For proving to me that true love is worth any risk and is well worth fighting for.”
She smiled, tears pricking the back of her eyes as emotions swelled inside her. “And thank you,” she said. “For showing me what real love truly is.”
His kiss was slow and gentle before he sighed against her lips. “I suppose we ought to be getting back to the others.”
Her answering sigh was just plain sad. “Must we?”
He laughed as he shifted away from her, taking her hands in his. “I’m afraid we must. But, before we go…” He lifted her hand to his lips, his gaze fixed on hers with fiery intent. “There is one very important question I never did get to ask.”
A rush of joy made her feel as though she were spinning, falling head over feet. “What is that?”
“Lady Sarah, will you marry me?”
She couldn’t restrain herself a moment longer, and she threw herself into his arms. He let out a groan as he crushed her to his chest in an embrace that unleashed her tears. “Yes,” she whispered against his neck, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks. “Yes, I would love to marry you.”
Epilogue
The very next day...
Sarah shifted with impatience as she stood just outside the terrace doors, excitement skittering along her skin.
She’d spent the day attending to Max and Marigold’s second wedding, attending guests, and participating in a large Christmastide celebration that had been wonderfully romantic all while being infuriatingly busy.
She’d been waiting for this moment all day and all evening. The time when she and Theo would slip away to be alone together. Finally.
The memory of his proposal was so fresh that it still filled her with breathless wonder, and yet, in some ways, the proposal seemed like a lifetime ago. Because so much had changed.
She loved Theo and she now understood that he loved her in return. All her fears about being just his friend’s sister had vanished in an instant. And now they had the rest of their lives to celebrate that fact.
And tonight, they would celebrate their first Christmastide together.
She held the small box in her hand, the one she’d hastily pulled together. A homemade gift because she had no other, and a beautiful red ribbon to tie the wooden box closed.
It wasn’t much, but it was a gift from the heart.
Muffled footsteps started down the hall and Sarah turned, anticipation making her bounce on the balls of her feet.
Yet it wasn’t Theo who approached, but her brother.
Max chuckled as he saw her. “I don’t suppose that’s a gift for me, is it?”
Sarah arched her brows. “Shouldn’t you be off with your bride?”
“Yes,” he said, stopping just in front of her as the smile slipped from his face. “I should. But first…” He reached for one of her hands, giving her gloved fingers a light squeeze. “There is something I need to say to you.”
“What?” she asked, concern drawing her brows together.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his shoulders dropping. “Theo was right yesterday. I’ve treated you like the girl you were before I left, not the woman you’ve become. Being gone for so long, I find I’ve had a difficult time adjusting to—”
“Stop.” She stepped closer and placed a small peck on her brother’s cheek. “No need to say more. Apology accepted.” Then she gave him a twinkling grin. “Your meddling, overall, has been a boon. Thanks to you…” Heat filled her cheeks as she thought of Theo. “Mother is going to have another wedding to plan.”
He chuckled at that. “Lord save us all.”
“Now go,” she said as she let his hand fall from hers. “Go be with your wife.”
He gave her a large, lopsided grin that nearly made Sarah burst out laughing. But she managed to hold it in as her brother disappeared down the hall.
She shook her head, certain she’d be just as excited on her own wedding night.
But a sound caught her ear. Was someone else laughing? Or were they crying?
Looking out onto the terrace, she caught sight of a lone figure, her head bent and her shoulders bobbing up and down. Miss Rathmore?
Without hesitation, she opened the doors and slid out into the cold night. She and Theo had planned to slip outside so her wool gown staved off the cold air as she stepped alongside the other woman. “Are you all right?”
Miss Rathmore’s head snapped up. “I beg your pardon?” But the last word broke on a hiccup of air.
“I understand,” Sarah softly replied. “Perhaps better than anyone, I understand.” Stallworth’s bride-to-be had every right to cry. The man had attempted to rekindle his relationship with Sarah right under his bride-to-be’s nose.
Miss Rathmore’s eyes widened, but then with another sob she rested her head on Sarah’s shoulder and began to have a good long cry.
When she’d finally spent all her tears, she lifted her head. “I’m so sorry. I don’t normally cry like this. It’s just that...”
“You can tell me,” Sarah prompted when the other woman’s voice trailed off.
“It’s just that, no matter how I try, I can’t seem to think of a way to get out of my marriage with Mr. Stallworth.”
Sarah winced. “You want to then?”
Miss Rathmore nodded her gaze casting to the side. “When we first met you, may I confess that I thought you might be my savior and take him off my hands?”
Sarah choked back her surprise. “But if that had happened, you’d be ruined for sure.”
“I don’t care,” Miss Rathmore straightened. “Being a spinster would be far preferable to Mrs. Stallworth.”
“Why not just end it?” Sarah asked.
Miss Rathmore let out a long sigh. “Because my father won’t allow it. I’ve tried to explain to him that it was all a misunderstanding. But he’s insisted upon the match to save my reputation and so I am bound…” The other woman shook her head. “It’s hopeless.”
“You can’t say that,” Sarah said, giving the other woman’s shoulders a squeeze. “There has to be a way. I’ll help you. We’ll come up with something.”
Miss Rathmore straightened. “I could never ask that of you. It’s too much and—”
“Miss Rathmore,” Theo called from the doorway. “You will find that Sarah’s ability for kindness is nearly limitless.”
Sarah grinned, her heart soaring at the sight of the man she loved. “Thank you, my lord.”
He winked, walking out to join them. “After the holidays, I believe we shall all journey to London. May I recommend that you and your brother join us as our personal guests? That should give us plenty of time to come up with a solution.”