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The bodyguard placed Daisy in the carriage, slid the wheelchair inside, then closed the door abruptly. The princess followed her inside, and the carriage jolted to a start. Buildings swept past her, and Daisy’s heart ached, pondering that she might never see them again.
Then the carriage stopped.
In the next moment, the princess rose, then left the carriage.
Daisy blinked.
In the moment after that, the door opened.
“Good afternoon, Miss Holloway,” a sultry voice she said.
Daisy’s heartbeat quickened, and the duke poked his head inside. She stared.
He was truly here. Happiness moved through her before Daisy remembered that nothing had truly changed. Perhaps he’d been courting the princess, just as Daisy had encouraged him to. Why else would the princess be at her house?
“What an unexpected pleasure, Your Grace.” She forced a smile on her face. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“You’re in a carriage by yourself.”
“Er—yes,” she said awkwardly.
“I thought you would have learned not to do that.”
“I doubt anyone will try to kidnap me again.”
“Oh?”
“There’s no public house,” she said. “And no ferocious men.”
“You don’t find me ferocious?” His eyes glimmered, and he entered the carriage and sat opposite.
The air was suddenly thick and hot.
Most people would inquire where she was going. The duke simply stared at her, his eyes shimmering, as if he knew a delightful secret.
“What are you doing?” Daisy’s eyes widened. “This is the princess’s carriage.”
“The princess has kindly lent it to me.”
“Oh.” Daisy stiffened and braced herself to learn he was newly betrothed to the princess. She would be happy for him, because she wanted the best for him, but her chest tightened all the same.
The carriage started to move, and the horses plodded pleasantly over the tile stones, oblivious to the lurching of Daisy’s heart.
“I thought we could go somewhere to speak,” Reggie said lightly.
“Papa won’t like it.” Daisy glanced anxiously toward her townhouse.
“Then we’ll have to act quickly.”
“Reggie?” Daisy exclaimed.
“I like it when you call me by my given name.”
“You’ll get into trouble,” Daisy protested.
“The worst thing that can happen to me is being separated from you.”
Daisy blinked hard.
“Halt!” A door banging sounded, and footsteps sounded.
Daisy’s stomach sank, and she turned her gaze toward the townhouse.
Papa was running toward them. “Halt! Halt!”
Papa’s voice boomed, and other people stopped in the street to stare. People pushing wheelbarrows paused, and nurses moving people in Bath chairs halted. Even the horses turned toward Papa, as if flummoxed by the loud baritone voice barreling about them.
“Do you really want to leave England?” Reggie asked, evidently undaunted by Papa’s significant vocal ability and definite instructions that allowed for no misinterpretation of his desire.
“No,” she admitted.
“Ha.” Reggie grinned.
Daisy’s eyes widened. “You have to say more than ‘ha.’”
“What’s wrong with ‘ha?’” Reggie asked. “I think it describes the situation perfectly.”
Daisy wanted to giggle. But Reggie couldn’t simply take her away. Not without telling her why.
Memories of the ball inundated her. For a moment, despite the swaying of the carriage and noises outside, she was in his arms again. For a moment, everything was perfect, and he was lowering his head down and kissing her and....
Her heart thudded, then she remembered that had been in the past. For all she knew, Reggie had procured a special license for him and the princess to marry and was eager for her to witness their happiness. After all, Reggie hadn’t visited her. Not once. He hadn’t even written her.
Unless...
Papa had been quite vigorous in his sudden adoption of door answering duties. Was it possible Reggie had tried to see her? Her heartbeat quickened.
*
THE CARRIAGE STOPPED at Reggie’s townhouse, and he bundled Daisy in his arms. “I couldn’t have you leave.”
She frowned. “You’re not supposed to take me away.”
“Would you like me to return you?”
“Don’t you dare.”
“Good.” He held her against his chest. Daisy was here, in his arms, and he carried her into the house.
Alistair rushed toward the door. “Your Grace.” He gazed at Daisy, and his eyes widened.
“My future duchess,” Reggie announced. “See that you bring her chair inside.”
“Very well, Your Grace. And might I most heartily congratulate you, Your Grace.”
“I haven’t received a proposal,” Daisy said.
“Just leave the chair outside the bedroom door,” Reggie said. “I have a proposal to get to.” He gave Daisy a stern look. “This time, I want a different answer.”
Alistair’s eyebrows jolted up, but his lips stretched into a wide smile. “Very well, Your Grace.”
Reggie strolled through the foyer and carried Daisy up the stairs.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
He smirked. “I thought that would be evident.”
She rolled her eyes, but her eyes sparkled, and Reggie was certain everything would be fine.
“But what about the women?” Daisy asked. “You’re supposed to get married.”
“I have every intention of doing that.”
“To one of them.”
“Ah.” Reggie shrugged. “Well, that won’t happen.”
“You can marry the princess.”
“I don’t want a princess,” Reggie said. “I want you.”
“But the money—”
“I’ll sell my castle.”
Daisy smiled. “I can make inquiries of Beatrice Thompson’s father.”
“I have no doubt we’ll find a solution.”
Daisy’s smile disappeared. “But a duke never sells his castle or estate. It’s unthinkable.”
“Well, I just thought of it.” Reggie smiled. “It’s not linked to my title, and I’ve never been beholden to rules in the past. I’m not going to start now, not if it means I can’t spend a lifetime with you. I’ll use the funds from the sale of my estate to improve the townhouse in London. I’ll make sure there’s plenty of room for you to maneuver your chair around and absolutely no stairs.” His brow furrowed. “Unless you don’t want to live in London?”
“No,” Daisy smiled, and her heart caught from happiness. “I would love nothing more.”
“I thought so.” Reggie pulled her nearer to her. “There will be balls you can put on.”
“Oh?”
“I’ll have my savings.” His eyes twinkled.
She smiled. “You despise balls.”
“I enjoy seeing you plan them and I can’t wait to see you host them. Almack’s will quake at its loss of popularity.”
Daisy giggled.
“I would never give you up,” he said.
And then he kissed her again. Soft kisses feathered her cheeks. She was so damn lovely. Every curve was perfect. He caught her lips with his own, and everything was perfect.
He halted on the stairs, vaguely aware of Alistair coming inside and shutting the door. He wasn’t supposed to kiss her like this. He wasn’t supposed to be alone with her like this. And yet, Reggie had never cared much for propriety, and he wasn’t going to start now.
“I’m going to get you into bed,” Reggie said. There was so much of her body to explore.
“I still haven’t heard the proposal.”
“Oh?” Reggie grinned. “Will you, Daisy Holloway, do me the lifelong honor of becoming my wife?”
She narrowed her eyes.
Damn it, Daisy was supposed to say yes.
“You do know I don’t walk?” she asked. “And that I won’t ever?”
“Doesn’t matter.” Reggie smirked. “Just means I’ll be able to carry you in my arms more without shocking the servants.”
“And I’ll always need someone to look after me.”
“Well, I’m not entirely useless,” he said, “but I expect you would like to bring Mrs. Powell. And that is absolutely fine.”
She nodded, then her face sobered. “But I don’t know if I can have children. I don’t think I even want children. The delivery is filled with risks.”
“Then we won’t have children.” Reggie took her hands in his. “I don’t want a life without you, and unless you’re confident the risk is worthwhile, we won’t have children. You’re far more important.”
“But your legacy.”
“Frankly, I don’t give a damn about my legacy,” Reggie said.
Daisy blinked. “You mustn’t speak like that.”
“It’s true.” He gazed at her. Heavens, he could stare at her emerald eyes all day. “I care about you, Miss Daisy Holloway. And my life won’t be anything to take pride in if you’re not there beside me.”
“You can’t mean it,” she said.
“I bloody well do.”
“And my parents are difficult,” Daisy said miserably.
“Let them say what they want.” Reggie waved his hand dismissively in the direction of invisible insults. “I’ll win them over, I promise.”
“You mean that?”
“I’m going to marry you,” Reggie vowed. “And we’re going to be very, very happy.”
“Indeed?” Daisy’s voice caught.
“Indeed,” Reggie said solemnly. “For the rest of our long lives. Now, let’s kiss.”
“Is that a vital part?” Daisy’s eyes glimmered.
“Kissing is always vital.” Reggie carried her to his bed.
The kisses had been good. Most kisses were good, but Daisy’s... Reggie shook his head in wonder. He was certain he’d never experienced such passion.
“My parents will figure out where I am soon.”
“Then we’ll speak to them.” He grinned. “And the more rumpled we look, the better.”
She grinned. “Alistair might not appreciate that.”
“Alistair will understand.”
“You plan to compromise me?” Daisy’s eyes shimmered.
Reggie lowered her to the bed. “Absolutely.”
He bent down and kissed her, catching her lips in his. His heart hammered, unnerved by the sudden contact, the realization he hadn’t lost her, that she was right here on his bed.
He lifted his face and gazed down at her. Some strands of her hair had become unpinned, and he ran his fingers over her golden locks. Her green eyes stared up at him, nearly matching the coverlet.
“At least,” he amended, “I’d very much like to compromise you.”
She smiled, and sunlight spilled through the room.
He ran a finger from the curve of her neck to her shoulder, marveling that he’d carried her in his arms, that he’d held her so close to his heart. That sweet floral scent wafted from her skin. Flowers, he realized, were truly marvelous. He grasped her tiny hand in his palm and pulled it toward his mouth. He kissed it. “You’re so beautiful.”
His heart ached. Desire thundered through him, as if Alistair had set the walls on fire.
He had to tell her something. She had to know.
“I-I love you,” he said hoarsely.
Her eyes widened.
“Perhaps it’s too soon to expect you might feel—”
“I love you too,” she said hastily.
He blinked. “That’s—that’s marvelous.”
“Quite.”
An odd awkwardness filled the room. His heart still pounded more quickly, as if it hadn’t expected her to tell him that, as if it hadn’t been prepared for everything to be fine. There was no competitor to pummel, no match to conquer. He’d managed to find the most important thing—happiness.
He wondered what she was thinking. He hoped she was thinking good things.
“I—er—hoped I didn’t frighten you,” he said.
One of her eyebrows jolted up, and her shoulders eased. “The kidnapping.”
He shuffled his feet awkwardly. “Er—yes. And the carrying you upstairs business.”
“And placing me on your bed.”
Heat warmed the back of his neck.
“Actually,” Daisy said. “I was wondering why I was the only person in it.”
His eyes widened.
She hesitated, and for a moment, she seemed smaller. “It is customary for men to climb next to the women in their beds, is it not?”
He nodded, and his tongue suddenly felt thick. Everything felt thick. “Yes, yes it is.”
Then he slid beside her.