Kate narrowed her eyes at him. “I say that I cannot quite credit your change of heart. You might merely be claiming to love me so I will wed you and save you the bother of hunting further for a wife.”
“I promise, that isn’t the case. I would never deceive you on so serious a matter. And I want much more than a marriage of convenience or a wife to bear my children to carry on the title. I want you, Kate. I want a future with you, complete with all the joy and possible pain that entails.”
Kate felt her heart turn over. “So do I, Deverill. Will you please marry me and make an honest woman of me?”
“Is this a proposal?”
“Yes, indeed.”
His beautiful mouth curved. “I felt sure it was the gentleman’s responsibility to offer matrimony.”
“Normally it is. But everything about this day has been upside-down.”
His hesitation was calculated to keep her on edge, she knew. Although the warm light in his eyes was endearing, Kate decided to give back some of his provoking teasing. “Forgive me for wounding your manly sensibilities. I would not expect you, of all men, to be intimidated if the lady offers.”
He gave an exaggerated sigh. “You have not wounded me. I am resigned to going through life with you occasionally wearing the breeches in the family.”
Kate laughed and
wrinkled her nose at him. “Occasionally, I will.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Very well, I accept your kind offer.” An instant later, he chuckled. “I suppose I will have to marry you. You’ve completely spoiled me for anyone else.”
Suddenly he drew the horse to a halt, then took her chin in his warm fingers. “Be warned, Kate. I could never be satisfied with the cold marriage of convenience my parents had. I won’t settle for less than your entire heart.”
His declaration made her melt. “You have my heart, Deverill. I love you, and I always will.”
He studied her intently for a long moment. Then his gaze grew even more serious, if that was possible. “Until you, I never realized what I was missing in my life. I love you, Kate. Quite dearly.”
Briefly she closed her eyes. “I think I should pinch myself to see if I am dreaming. I hoped you could learn to love me someday, but I had begun to doubt you ever would.”
“With you advising me, I never stood a chance at resistance.”
Realizing she was developing a crick in her spine, Kate swung one leg over the horse so that she could sit sideways. Smiling up at Deverill, she looped her arms around his neck. “No doubt your arrogance will be intolerable, now that you have gained my surrender.”
His expression softened. “My surrender is just as profound, Kate. From the first moment we met, I felt an affinity for you that no other woman ever came close to inspiring. But these past few hours have shown me how badly I need you. I can’t imagine living my life without you. I wouldn’t want to try. I want you in my life, in my bed, in my heart.”
And with that he bent to capture her mouth.
It was a kiss of pure possession…deep, consuming. Not hard and desperate as in the cave, but savagely tender and passionate and full of promise.
Yet all too soon Deverill pulled away. Kate felt the loss keenly, until he explained, “As much as I desire to continue, we should wait until we are on board my ship. Not only is embracing on horseback exceedingly uncomfortable, we cannot count on privacy with our friends following close behind.”
Kate cast a glance at the road behind him as he urged the horse into a walk. “I confess I am glad to have their escort back to Royan. I was also impressed that they heeded your call and traveled all the way to France without hesitation.”
“Fighting tyrants and extricating innocent citizens from perilous situations is their forte.”
“You said they were an elite branch of the Foreign Office, but they seem very accustomed to charging into danger.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” he said enigmatically.
“Oh? More secrets?” she responded, disapproval in her tone.
“I swore a sacred oath to protect their confidences. But I can tell you considerably more once we are wed. Meanwhile, let us hasten back to Royan. I intend to sail with the ebb tide.”
Although her curiosity had been piqued, she let Deverill change the subject. “Will we manage it?”
“I will make certain of it. I want to return to England so we can begin our life together. We need to make up for lost time.”