Page 25 of Most Sought-After Scoundrel in London
She didn’t follow his logic.“So you sent a stranger?”
“Well, I know you are the curious type and like investigating matters… I thought…”
“You thought to test my training?”
Cameron shook his head.“Good gracious, no.”He reached out for her left hand and clasped it tightly between his.“I wanted to prove to you that despite us only having spent a relatively short period of time in each other's company, I know you and I know what I want.”He let go of her hand and turned back to retrieve a box next to him.Cameron held the gift, secured with a bright red bow, out to her.“I’m making a hash out of everything.Here, this is for you.”
Violet took the present, untied the ribbon, and lifted the lid.Inside were three sweets wrapped in paper.She looked back up at Cameron.
His eyes lit up as their gazes met.“Open them.”
She reached in and picked up the one in the middle.Voice cracking, Cameron yelled, “Stop.Wait.”
It wasn’t at all a funny situation, yet the flustered look upon his face had Violet smiling and putting the sweet back in the box.Her heart flipped as she figured out what the man was up to.Cameron had devised a message for her to read.Fond memories of their first encounter at the confectionery shop floated before her as she gazed upon the man she had fully given her heart to.
Cameron cleared his throat and calmly said, “The one on your right first.”He peered down at the box and then hurriedly added, “No.Wait.The one on my right, your left.”
“Why don’t you simply tell me what it is you want to say?”
“I thought this would be more romantic for a lady who loves to read and write.”
How extremely thoughtful.Violet unraveled the paper, popped the sweet in her mouth, and read the note, which only contained one vowel.I.
She picked up the second treat and this time offered it to Cameron.The rogue opened his mouth for her to feed him and captured her finger between his lips.Grinning, Violet read the second note.This time, the wordlovewas scrawled on it.
Elation combined with shock at the effort Cameron had made had her hand shaking as she unraveled the last sweet and confirmed the wrapper indeed had the wordyouwritten on it.
When Cameron’s hand appeared palm up with yet another wrapped sweet, Violet found herself frowning at the man seated opposite her.“What is this?”
“A promise.”
Of course, curiosity got the better of her and she revealed the last word.Forever.
Eyes moist, Violet watched as Cameron fell onto one knee and presented her with a ring.“Will you marry me?”
This time, she didn’t hesitate.Violet nodded and said, “Yes.”
He slipped the ring upon her finger, and she reached out to cup his face and sealed her promise with a kiss.
Moments later, out of breath, Violet pulled back and stared directly at Cameron and said, “I love you, too.”
The pungent smell of stale ale wafted through the inn.Of late, Violet’s sense of smell had been extremely sensitive, causing her to become nauseous throughout the day.At first, she believed herself to be with child, but she had experienced light bleeding prior to them leaving London.Cameron had wanted to delay their departure, but time was of the essence, and Violet was determined to complete their mission.
“Are you feeling ill?”Cameron asked her.
She nodded, and her dear husband wrapped his solid, reassuring arm about her waist and escorted her to sit at a nearby table.
Cameron returned to the front desk.“We need a room for a week.”
The innkeeper, a middling-aged man, scratched his chin.“Yer wantin’ ta stay fer a full week… not passin’ through like most of yer lot do?”
It was the third village that they had visited in the past six weeks, and Violet had become accustomed to the strange looks they received when asking for an extended stay.Apparently, peers either only stay a night or two or stayed with friends and relatives for longer visits.Not having close acquaintances to reside with raised villagers' suspicions.Thankfully, her husband's charismatic personality put people at ease relatively fast, and they were able to make their inquiries with little to no issues.If only they could locate the girl with the butterfly-shaped birthmark.
“My wife is in a fragile state and prefers rest when possible.”Cameron turned his back to her and was most likely motioning to his belly, for the innkeeper’s eye suddenly widened with recognition.
“Yer in luck, me lord.108.”With a broad smile, the innkeeper handed over a key and pointed to the stairs.“Up at the end.Room wif a window.”
Cameron took the key and was by her side within seconds to assist her up and take her to their room.She’d been wed to Cameron for a little over a month, and she was still adjusting to married life.The further she got from the dining room, the waves of nausea eased.As soon as they entered their room, Cameron headed for the window and cracked it open for her.The cool breeze sent a shiver through her but the fresh air did wonders to unravel the knots in her stomach.
