Page 86 of The Lady and the Footballer
Her brows drew together in a frown. "I had to see you, to make sure you were well. And I have news."
Colin tensed, preparing himself for the worst. "What is it?"
She took a deep breath. "I spoke with my father. He believes us that you are innocent, Colin. I’m not sure what he’ll do with that information, but he’s on our side. I also told him that I’m in love with you.”
Colin’s breath caught — not at his concern for what her father might think, but that she cared enough about him to risk the life she knew.
“Wh-what did he say?”
“He said he needed to consider everything I told him, but as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing to consider. I want to be with you. If you will have me.”
“If I will have you?” he quirked an eyebrow. “I would have you one hundred times over, but we don’t even know if I have a future outside of a jail cell.”
“You will,” she insisted. “I will make sure of it. My father might be uncertain of the two of us, but he will not allow an innocent man to take the fall for this when he has proof otherwise. This, I know.”
“Very well,” Colin said, uncertain about trusting Lord Harcourt, but if Lily believed in him, then he would believe in Lily. “This is not the most romantic place or time to do this, Lily, but I love you, more than I ever thought was possible. If we are able to clear my name, and if you are willing to change your life to be with me, then I would love nothing more but for you to be my wife.”
He dropped to a knee before her, a place he never thought he would be. “Will you marry me?”
“Of course,” she said, her eyes shining with happy tears. “No matter what comes our way, Colin, I want to face it together. The two of us. By your side, for the rest of our lives — whether you are accused or not."
He rose to his feet and pulled her into another searing kiss, sealing their promise. When they parted, he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "We should probably figure out where we go from here,” he said with a wry smile. "I can't exactly walk you down the aisle from Tommy's blacksmith shop."
Lily nodded, her expression growing serious. "Of course not. I have a plan, but it requires a fair amount of risk.”
“Do tell.”
“How are your ribs — truly?”
What did it mean that he had nearly forgotten about them since she had arrived?
“They are… fine.”
“Fine enough to play a football match?”
Her gaze was bright, expectant, and he peered at her with uncertainty.
“Just what are you suggesting?”
“Well, it starts with you playing in the game against the Athletics tomorrow.”
As she outlined her plan, he questioned it, yes. But at the same time, he realized this could work.
It was a chance he was going to have to take.
"And after that," Colin said, lacing his fingers with hers, "we start planning our future, Lily. A future where I'm a free man, able to give you the best life possible."
She squeezed his hand. "I already have everything I could ever want or need, right here in front of me. We'll win this match. We’ll clear your name. We’ll see that Montgomery gets what is coming to him. And our life together will be all the sweeter for having gone through it all."
With renewed hope burning in his heart, Colin drew Lily close, ready to face the challenges ahead.
He wasn’t quite as enthusiastic as she was, but what he did know was that they could face it all much better together.
Chapter Thirty
Colin wasn’t sure what to expect when he walked through the door of the bathhouse at Pomona Gardens.
After a few moments of shocked silence, however, a cry of delight rose through the team, with Tommy standing and walking over to him, patting him a few times on the back, stopping when he noted Colin’s wince.
