Page 95 of A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Heirs

“I want to. More than anything.”

Light filtered across his face, and, in a blink, the joy in his eyes transformed into a question. “I sense a ‘but’ in your answer. Have I waited too long? Am I too late?”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what?”

“You say you were attracted to both Adalyn and me because we represented a way to rebel against society. But what if that same reason drives us apart? One day, in the distant future, you will be Viscount Cartwright. What will society say if you have a wife born of commoners? Drake’s grandfather disowned his own son because he married my mother, the daughter of a tailor. I am the granddaughter of a tailor, Victor. My father was a steward. I have no aristocratic blood. What if thetonshuns me and possibly our children?”

“Do you really think I give a damn about what society thinks?”

“You should. You have a responsibility. Don’t think I don’t understand. I’ve seen the burden Drake carries. Thank goodness he has Honoria, the daughter of a marquess. She was reared for the aristocratic life. What do I know about running a grand house, or hosting parties for society?”

He squeezed her hands. “Have you forgotten how many people attended the ball in our honor this evening? Your brother is a powerful man. We have friends, Juliana. Good friends who accept you. Petty people who wouldn’t accept us are not worth our time. And you’re an intelligent woman. You can learn all the facets of running a home. You would have help—a housekeeper, butler, servants.”

“Those are skills, but it won’t change who I am inside. It’s more than learning the rules of etiquette. Members of society have an innate confidence, an elegance—even superiority—that can’t be taught. I’ll never be one of them. Never fit in.”

He shook his head, the smile tipping his lips—indulgent. “Juliana, haven’t you heard what I’ve said? I don’t want you to be like them. EvenIdon’t want to be like them. I know who you are. Free from artifice. Authentic. Different, yes, but I love you for who are just the way you are.”

Everything he said was true. She couldn’t deny it. Pondering his words, for the first time since Drake had assumed his role as duke, she felt comfortable in her own skin.

“You really love me?” It seemed too wonderful to be true.

He cupped her face with his hand, his thumb running gently over her cheek. “With all my heart. I know I’ve given you reason to doubt, but I would give anything to show you just how much I love you. Do you want me to climb down and back up again?”

She answered him with a laugh.

“No? Very well. But if you promise to marry me, I will spend the rest of my life proving my love.”

Risk.Wasn’t all of life a risk? What guarantee did anyone have? Love, even if it was fleeting, was worth the risk.

“I do love you, Victor, and I believe you. Believeinyou.”

“And you’ll marry me?” The expectation, the hope, written across his face tugged at her heart.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Thank God.” His eyes drifted shut, and he tugged her to him.

The space between them whispered away, leaving only the gentle scrape of his evening clothes against her silk nightrail.

Holding her in his arms, he lowered his head and kissed her. Lightly at first, a soft brush of lips against lips, he deepened the kiss as she surrendered, feeling the love he professed with each press of his mouth to hers.

One of his hands left her waist and cradled the back of her head, his fingers tangling in the locks of her hair. Over and over, he kissed her, the delicious sensation of his mouth on hers driving all rational thought from her mind until they were both panting and breathless. When he rested his forehead against hers, he exhaled a contented sigh. “I could do this all night. But I should leave and let you get some sleep. Promise you’ll marry me? You won’t change your mind?”

Her heart ached at the pleading in his eyes. She couldn’t blame him if he doubted her. “Yes. I mean no. I mean, yes, I’ll marry you.”

“Good.” He kissed her forehead and turned toward the window.

Impulsively, she grabbed his arm. “You can’t go out the window! You’ll fall.”

“I can’t fall. We’re getting married in two days.” His jest did nothing to relieve her worry. “Just don’t change your mind again.”

“Let me check the hall.” The door creaked as she cracked it open and peeked outside. Footsteps echoed up the stairs. She quickly closed the door. “You can’t go out that way either.”

With tenderness that melted her heart, he ran his fingertips over her lips. “What do you suggest?”

Juliana’s thoughts drifted back to her conversation with Drake earlier that evening. Although he didn’t admit it in so many words, Juliana understood his implication. To prove her love and commitment to Drake, Honoria had given herself to him the night of the house party ball.

---