Daniel didn’t return to London that night. Or the following morning. There was still one thing left to do before he was willing to bid Cornwall adieu.
He stood in his finest dress clothes, halfway between Castle Keyvnor and Bocka Morrow, at the peak of a small knoll bearing a cottage that looked out over the vastness of the ocean.
This was the land that Rebecca loved. Where she deserved to be. Daniel was more than aware he wasn’t the only fish in her sea. He might not even be the best one. But he wanted to be the one. The only one. By her side, now and forever.
At the sound of half-boots on gravel, he turned in time to see Rebecca walk into view. He smiled when he saw her.
She frowned and arched a brow. “What are you doing here? I have an appointment any moment with the owner of the cottage.”
“I am the owner of the cottage. Or I was, briefly,” he admitted in a rush. “I’ve already had papers drawn to transfer the title to your name.”
“What?” She took a step back. “You bought this cottage?”
“And gave it to you,” he repeated. “It’s not mine anymore. It’s yours.”
She stared over her shoulder at the tiny house overlooking the sea, then swung her wide-eyed gaze back to him in shock. “You bought it? And gave it to me?”
He nodded. “Welcome home. I hope you like it.”
“You know I like it,” she stammered. “This is my favorite view in all of Bocka Morrow. But when—how—” She shook her head as if to clear it. “Daniel, why are you doing this?”
He cleared his throat. It was time. “Because I don’t want you to have to marry anyone. I want you to want to.”
She stared back as if she couldn’t quite process his meaning.
He took a deep breath and dropped to one knee. “My darling Rebecca Bond, would do me the great honor—”
She paled. “Daniel—”
“I love you,” he blurted. “I love you more than I want air to breathe. You are the reason I strive to be a better man. The reason I live. I love you because when we are together, the rest of the world no longer matters. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to make you happy.” He took a shuddering breath and laid himself bare. “My life will never be complete unless I have you and you have me. A thousand lives wouldn’t be long enough. Say you’ll have me, Rebecca. Marry me. Please.”
“But you’re a viscount,” she stammered, her anguished tone indicating nothing had changed. “And I’m just—”
“You’re everything. You’re the only thing that matters.” He couldn’t bear to lose her. His heart was in her hands. “Are you fretting over what my grandmother might say? Don’t. You’re not marrying her. You’d be marrying me. The only opinion I care about is yours. I want you by my side for the rest of my life.”
She shook her head. “Then why did you buy me a cottage in Cornwall, when you live in London?”
“Because I want to be by your side, too. I don’t want to take your independence away. I want to join you.” His heart raced in fear. She still hadn’t accepted. He swallowed. His life would be meaningless without her. He would offer his very soul. “We’d have to be in London during the months Parliament is in session, but the rest of the year we can be right here, if that is your wish. Anything you desire, I will give you. If you’ll only do me the honor of becoming my wife. Darling, I love you. I am wrecked without you. Won’t you please consider letting me love you for the rest of my life?”
“You addle-pate,” she choked out as she fell into his arms. “Of course I will. The only thing I’ve ever desired is you.”
Joy flooded him as he held her in his arms between the rolling green hills and the deep blue of the sea.
Daniel had been summoned to Castle Keyvnor to accept an inheritance. Instead, he’d been given the greatest treasure of his heart. He pressed his lips to her hair.
He’d happily spend the rest of his life proving how much he loved her.