Page 21 of Look at Her Duke
“Kipling,” she choked out, her palm cupping his cheek. “You mean it?”
“Aye.” He winced. “I’ll miss bacon desperately, but if it means so much to ye—”
“No!” She was laughing through her tears now. “I would not separate a man from his bacon. The rest? About loving me forever and wanting to marry me?”
His lips found hers once more. “I meant all of it, love.All of it.” In between kisses, he murmured, “Marry me, Mellie. Make me the happiest man in Britain, and I swear I’ll spend the rest of my life makingyehappy.”
“Oh, Kipling!” She tightened her hold on him. “You already do. You always have.”
His lips were trailing down her throat now. “So?”
“Yes! I would be honored to be your wife!”
“The Duchess of Bestingbum?”
“No.” She stopped him by brushing a kiss againsthislips this time, remembering what he’d taught her of kissing just moments before. “Not a duchess. I mean, not especially. Just…your wife. Mrs. Kipling Mancheste. It is all I have ever wanted.”
That beloved grin grew. “Ye mean it, Mellie?”
“Forever,” Amelia whispered, just before his lips claimed hers.
“I’m happy for ye, Kip,”Fawkes murmured, standing in his formal kilt at the altar beside Kipling. “Took ye long enough to realize the truth.”
Kip glanced sideways. “The truth?”
His friend grinned, his gaze still on the doors at the back of the church. “The rest of us could see yer feelings for Lady Amelia, even if ye couldnae.”
“Icould.” Kip cleared his throat, rolled his shoulders, and settled back on the balls of his feet. Why in the hell did this have to take solong?Where was Alistair? “I just didnae think I…”
“Had a chance with her? She’s loved ye just as long.”
Kip refused to look at his friend when he admitted, “I didnae think I was worthy of her,” in a low voice.
“Ah.”
A moment passed, then Fawkes blew out a breath. “Well, I cannae pretend to understand that. Ye are the same man ye’ve always been. A title doesnae make yemoreworthy, and she loves ye forye. Always did. Ye did hear me say that bit?”
Kipling’s heart stuttered for a moment, and he turned an incredulous expression toward the man at his side.
A title doesnae make ye more worthy. She loves ye for ye.
Well…hell.
Fawkes was right, wasn’t he? Mellie had hinted as much, on the balcony, before Emma’s interruption.
The last two years on the Continent…wasted? He should have stayed in London and wooed Amelia as soon as he knew he loved her. And Alistair was approving, wouldn’t have stood in the way of the match?
Fook.
His friend caught his eye and grinned. “Dinnae fash, Kip. Ye needed some time to grow, same as she did. The fact neither of ye found love while apart just proves this match was the truth.”
Truth.
It really was, wasn’t it?
“I owe Mellie an apology, I suppose,” Kip murmured.
“I dinnae think so.” Fawkes shrugged. “She’s an intelligent lady, and seems thrilled with how things turned out.” He jammed an elbow in Kip’s side. “Even if that means she has to marryye.”
