Page 158 of From Rakes to Riches

“Lola, from the moment we met, you’ve filled my thoughts and soon after filled my heart. I love you and can’t imagine my life without you. For these reasons and a million more…” He offered her the ring he held and her eyes widened in surprise. “Will you be my wife?”

“Theodore.” Tears shimmered in her eyes now.

“Say you’ll marry me. Say you’ll spend the rest of your life with me.”

“Yes!” She gasped, overcome with emotion. “Yes! Of course, my answer is yes!”

He took her hand, noticing how it trembled, and slid the glittering gold ring on her finger.

“It’s so beautiful.” She stared down at the brilliant diamond and watched as it caught the sunlight, glistening with all the love and hope of their future together. “Who would have ever guessed that after all we’ve been through, our story would end this way?”

“Lola, my darling.” He drew her closer until only a whisper separated their lips. “I promise you this is only our beginning.”

EPILOGUE

Lola climbed from the carriage and turned to thank the driver as he folded the stairs. “Please wait for me at the corner, Jenkins.”

“Very good, Miss Morgan,” Jenkins replied before he slapped the reins and led the team away.

Excited to see Sofia, she started across the street toward her former address. The windows in the upstairs rooms were dark. If her old room had been rented already, the new tenant wasn’t home today.

“Lola! Hello!” Sofia hurried down the front steps, her smile as bright as the sun overhead. “We should take a walk around the block. The weather is fair and it’s the only way we’ll have privacy to talk.”

“That’s a good idea,” Lola said, hugging her friend in greeting. “But first I want to show you something.”

“Show me something?” Sofia asked. “What is it?”

Lola removed the glove on her left hand and watched as Sofia’s eyes followed her every action. “I’m engaged.”

“Dio mio!” Sofia shrieked and pulled Lola into another hug before she released her to anxiously examine the ring. “Chebello.The earl has excellent taste.I’ve never seen a diamond that big, and look how the smaller stones dance around it in a circle. Your hand must get tired from wearing it all day.”

“Not at all.” Lola laughed as she slipped her glove back on. “Actually, I feel as if I’m floating on a cloud. I’ve never given much thought to jewelry and certainly not an engagement ring. Theodore chose such a pretty setting. The only thing more beautiful was his proposal.”

Seeing Sofia’s smile falter, Lola hurriedly linked arms with her so they could begin their stroll.

“I’m so happy for you. You deserve the most wonderful gifts life can offer,” Sofia said after a moment. “Someday, I hope to marry too.”

“And you will,” Lola reassured her. “I told you, love will find you when you least expect it.”

“That’s good, because my expectations haven’t always worked out well.”

“I wish you didn’t feel that way, but things may be about to change.” Lola stopped and faced Sofia before she took a letter from her skirt pocket and held it out to her friend. “I visited the post earlier and this was waiting there.”

“Oh, I can’t believe it,” Sofia said, her surprise evident in her tone. “I wonder what it says.”

“I guess you’ll know as soon as you read it,” Lola answered lightly. “But I don’t think you should open it out here while we’re walking. Since you have no idea what the message says, maybe it would be better to read it when you’re alone, in private, at a time when your brothers aren’t home.”

Lola watched as a variety of emotions passed over Sofia’s face. There was no way to tell if the letter contained good or bad news. Lola knew very little about the circumstances of Sofia’s past relationship, departure from Italy, and reasons forrelocating in England. She’d always believed Sofia would share whatever had happened when she was ready.

To that end, the last thing Lola wanted to do was give her dearest friend something else to worry over, but she also didn’t wish to instill false hope. That’s why she thought reading the message should be done alone.

“You’re right,” Sofia said at last, tucking the letter inside her pelisse. “In many ways it seems like yesterday when I left Italy. I wish I’d had a chance to say goodbye.”

“I’m sure you do,” Lola said. “I hope whatever is written inside that letter helps settle your emotions once and for all.”

They walked a while in silence and Lola knew better than to force conversation. Eventually, Sofia found her way to sharing her thoughts.

“Luca had a way of making me smile even when I didn’t want to, but that didn’t really matter because I could never stay mad at him, even when things were difficult between us.”

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