Owen had been sitting in Cass’s empty ballroom for the better part of a quarter hour when he decided he’d had enough. He stood, adjusted his cravat, and took off toward the door to find his sister and inquire as to what the devil she’d been thinking, asking him to meet her here and then failing to appear.
He’d made it halfway across the wide expanse of parquet before the door to the ballroom opened and Alex came rushing through it. She was dressed in a gown of white, with her hair piled atop her head, and a daisy stuck fetchingly in the knot. She was clutching a leather-bound journal, and her cheeks had a bit of color to them. When she glanced up at Owen, she blushed gorgeously.
“Alex?” Owen breathed. “What are you doing here?”
Alex swallowed and bobbed a curtsy. “I must admit, I’ve learned that having friends is good for some things. Quite good for certain things. Like luring your intended bridegroom to his sister’s deserted ballroom.”
“Intended bridegroom? What the devil—?”
Her words came out in a rush. “I asked Cass to invite you here, because I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to apologize.” She glanced down at her white slippers.
Owen clenched his jaw. “Funny. The last time I spoke with you, I was under the distinct impression that you detested me.”
“I know. I—I was wrong. Quite wrong. You see, Lavinia told me that you’d offered for her. After we…”
He opened his mouth to speak, but Alex stopped him. “I know I should never have believed such a lie, but she can be quite convincing and I never thought she would lie about something like that and—Oh, Owen, it’s always been difficult for me to believe that someone like you would choose someone like me and—I’m sorry.” Breathless, she stopped and searched his face.
He furrowed his brow. “Someone like me? What do you mean?”
Alex shrugged. “You’re so dashing and handsome and well dressed and well everything. I’m not willowy or ethereal, I spill soup on my gowns, and my slippers are often scuffed and I … I just couldn’t believe you’d want me. But I remembered what you said about my being different—and that being why you loved me. I realized that I’ve spent my whole life trying to be like Lavinia. And … oh…”
He took a step toward her and put a hand on her shoulder. “Slow down. What are you trying to say?”
“I told you once that I wrote a list when I was fifteen. I wrote it the night I saw you under my window, actually.”
He watched her cautiously. “The list of the things you hoped to accomplish in life?”
“Yes.” She tipped down her chin and looked at the leather-bound journal she was clutching to her chest. “A list that included four things. I told you two of them. You asked me what the others were.”
Owen stepped back. “What were the others, love?”
Alex bit her lip. “I remember them … mostly … but…” She tentatively offered him the journal. “I’m a bit frightened to look, to be honest.”
“Frightening things are always better when you get them over with,” Owen replied with a lopsided smile.
“Oh, are they?” She smiled back.
“Yes. Here, do you want me to read it for you?”
Alex closed her eyes and handed him the diary. She nodded. “Yes, please. The list is on the first page.” Then she promptly covered her face with her hands.
Owen opened the book and cleared his throat. “‘Become brave and daring like Thomas,’” he read.
Alex peeked out from behind her fingertips. “That one’s not so bad.”
“‘Become beautiful, willowy, and poised like Lavinia,’” Owen read with a scowl. “Now, that one was entirely unnecessary.”
“I quite agree,” Alex replied, pulling her hands away from her face and plucking at her skirts instead. “I’m never going to be like Lavinia in either looks or temperament, and that is perfectly acceptable.”
Owen stepped toward her again and pushed up her chin with the thumb of his free hand. “It’s not only acceptable. It’s preferable, Alex.”
“Go on,” she prompted, nodding toward the journal again.
He reopened the book and scanned the page. “‘Have a come-out during which an exceedingly eligible gentleman asks me to dance, thereby making the affair a smashing success.’” Owen glanced up at her, and his face softened. “I’m sorry that didn’t happen for you.”
“But it did! Just a few months after my actual come-out,” Alex replied with a laugh.
“I wish I’d been at the first one.”
“Read the last one,” Alex prodded.
Owen turned his attention back to the journal. “‘Marry my true love. Must be handsome, dashing, witty, kind, true, and honorable.’” He cleared his throat. “Seems you’ve crossed out ‘name to be determined later.’”
“Yes,” she replied, and pressed her lips together. “I did that after I saw Adonis beneath my window that night.”
Their eyes met.
“Keep reading,” she prompted.
Owen bent his head toward the journal once more. “Lord Owen Monroe.” His voice cracked. He snapped the book shut and pulled her into his arms and kissed her, then hugged her fiercely.
When he pulled away, tears were shining in Alex’s eyes. “I told you I’ve loved you since I was fifteen.”
He grinned at her. “Are you saying you love me now?”
“Yes, and I can only hope you still love me.”
Owen kissed her again, and when he finally pulled his mouth from hers, Alex was staring deeply into his eyes. She traced the outline of his jaw with her fingertip. “I love you, Lord Owen Monroe.”
“And I love you, Lady Alexandra Hobbs,” he whispered.
Alex cleared her throat and stepped back. “I must admit, hearing that list again makes me a bit sad.”
Owen reached out and pulled her hand into his. “Why, my love?”
“Because it’s so clear to me how desperately I wanted to be someone else. I think I’ve wanted that my whole life. My brother and sister always seemed so much more than I was.”
He squeezed her hand. “On the contrary, dear Alex, you’re one who is concerned about charities and children and doing good things that make a difference in the world. You’ve always been perfect, just the way you are.”
“Owen, promise me we’ll always be happy. Promise me we’ll always be in love. I tend to worry that—”
“Ah, ah, ah.” He swung her arm with his. “Someone quite wise once told me that in life, some things are more important than worry.”
Alexandra smiled at him. “That someone was quite wise, indeed.”
“Yes.” He squeezed her fingers again. “She was.”
A mischievous look sparkled in Alex’s eyes. “I have one final lesson for you, my lord. That’s why I asked you to meet me here, in the ballroom.”
He laughed out loud, and the sound echoed across the large empty room. “I see. What is it?”
“Your final lesson.”
He arched a brow. “What’s that?”
“How to be a good husband, of course.”
His face turned serious. “I’m not certain I know how, Alex. But I promise you, I will spend the rest of my days trying.”
“You’ll learn. We’ll learn. Together. That’s the lesson, for both of us. We simply must do the best we can and help each other.”
He handed her the journal and then picked her up and twirled her in his arms. “Yes, my love. I agree.”
When he set her back down, Alex said, “Mother and Father have already told me they approve of the match and I need no longer wait for Lavinia to marry first.”
Owen slid a hand into his pocket. “That’s excellent because my father came to visit me yesterday and informed me that he respected the hell out of me for standing up to him. I have his blessing and approval. Apparently, your father spoke with him as well and told him he approved of our match.”
Alex’s eyes widened. “So you won’t lose your allowance by choosing me?”
“No, but if I did, rest assured, I’d still choose you a thousand times.”
“I’d choose you, too, Owen.”
He pulled her back into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “So, how do we begin?”
Tears welled in Alex’s eyes. “I do believe you may begin by formally asking me to marry you now.”
“By all means.” Owen fell to one knee and took her free hand in his. “Lady Alexandra Hobbs, I think you’re the most perfect lady in the entire kingdom. You’re beautiful, intelligent, witty, and kind. I don’t pretend to deserve you, but I would be thankful for you for the rest of my life if you would do me the honor of becoming my bride. Will you marry me?”
Alex leaned down and stroked his cheek, her fingers pausing at his dimple. “Yes, my lord. I’ve been waiting for three years to say yes to you.”
The door to the ballroom opened then, and Cass and Julian strolled in arm in arm. Alex glanced up guiltily from Owen, who was still on his knee.
“How is the newly engaged couple?” Cass called. “I’m not assuming too much by seeing you on bended knee, am I, Owen? I mean, I do hope that’s what you’re about … the business of a proposal.”
Owen leaped to his feet and pulled Alex close to him, his arm around her waist. “Yes, that’s exactly what I was about—and thankfully, the lady has agreed to become my wife regardless of being interrupted by my overly curious sister.”
Cass and Julian made their way over to them, and Cass elbowed her brother in the ribs. “Why, I’d hardly be doing my duty as a chaperone if I allowed you two to stay in here all afternoon alone together. Besides, I want to talk about the wedding.” Cass nearly clapped her hands. “I’m so excited. We have two weddings to plan. First Daphne’s, then yours.”
Before Alex could answer, the door to the ballroom cracked against the far wall and Lucy Hunt came rushing through it, pulling off her bonnet. “There you are. I’ve been searching the house for you. Oh, dears, you’ll never guess. I just came from Lady Hargrove’s tea, where I heard the most shocking news.”
“What is it?” Alex and Cass asked simultaneously.
Lucy came hurtling over to stand next to them, plucking off her gloves and then pressing a hand against her coiffure to tame her dark curls. “It seems Lady Sarah Highgate has run off!”
“Run off?” Alex gasped. “She and Lord Branford have gone to Gretna Green?”
“No! Apparently, she’s run off without Lord Branford. From what I gathered, she’s quite alone.”
“Alone?” Alex replied. “I don’t understand. Whyever would she run off?”
Lucy shook her head. “No one is quite certain, but they suspect she’s headed north.”
“We have some news of our own,” Owen said to Lucy. “Though perhaps not quite as shocking.”
Lucy blinked at the two of them before a wide smile spread across her face. “You’re engaged, aren’t you?” She clapped her hands together and spun around in a circle. “Thank goodness the two of you finally came to your senses. That ‘climbing the tree’ business helped, didn’t it?”
“Yes,” Alex replied, blushing.
“Good heavens, whyever did you allow me to prattle on about Society gossip when we have a wedding to plan? When will the happy occasion be?” Lucy asked, obviously warming to her subject.
“I was thinking next spring would be nice,” Alex replied.
Owen winced. “Have a care, darling. I don’t think I can wait that long.”
Alex smiled at him. “Yes, you can. You’re no longer the impatient aristocrat. Spoiled and getting whatever he wants whenever he wants it.”
Owen grinned unrepentantly. “I’m not?”
“No,” Alex replied. “Don’t you know? You’re no longer the untamed earl. I’ve tamed you quite soundly.”
“That you have, darling.” He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it.