Page 80 of Her Ruse with the Rakish Duke
Victor really loved her.
And those letters he had written her… they were so beautiful. She would have never imagined that he would do such a thing for her.
Victor was playing with the curls that had come loose from her chignon.
“Daphne,” he whispered as he kissed her forehead.
“Mmhm?” she hummed, reveling in the affection.
“Look at me, darling.”
She sat up on the sofa, facing him. Victor ran a hand across her cheek and grinned.
“My dear Lady Daphne, I cannot bear to spend another moment without you by my side. So, to spare an old fool like me from such torment, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he asked.
Daphne’s heart almost burst with joy as she cried out, “Yes. Yes, of course, I will!”
She swore she could see Victor’s eyes glisten with tears but all her thoughts vanished when he seized her body back into his arms and kissed her.
In that fleeting instant, time seemed to stand still as she melted into his embrace. The world around her faded into insignificance, and his touch became her whole world.
The kiss was a symphony of emotions — love, longing, and unbridled desire, intertwining in a dance as old as time itself. Each touch, and each caress spoke volumes, conveying the depth of their connection in a language that transcended mere words.
As they finally broke apart, breathless and flushed with ardor, Daphne felt as though she was floating on air. She gazed into Victor’s blue eyes. In that moment, she knew without a shadow of a doubt that their love was destined to endure, unyielding and eternal.
“I might be the happiest man in the world right now,” he chuckled, and kissed her cheek.
Her eyes fell on the window. The sun was slowly descending, and soon, Daphne descended back to reality.
“We need to speak to my father. And Percy, he’ll?—”
“Shh, it’s alright. I will take care of that, don’t you worry,” he reassured her and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
“You really know how to make a lady feel relaxed,” she told him and he smirked.
“Oh darling, I can make you more than relaxed. But let’s focus on the task at hand now,” he said, desire glimmering in his dark eyes.
The memory of his tongue between her legs made her body tingle with anticipation.God,it had been too long since she’d felt him like that.
But he was right. They had to take care of other matters now.
She stood up, and arm-in-arm, they walked out of the library together.
* * *
The wedding breakfast had barely finished, but Amelia and Harry had allowed everyone to stay the night at the manor since they were going to be leaving at the end of the day for their honeymoon.
Daphne had to ask one of the servants about her father’s whereabouts, and the footman had eyed her from head to toe, focusing particularly on her arm, which was around Victor’s.
Ordinarily, she’d never be so boldly open with him — they were somewhat like that during their fake courtship, but this display was now real — though now she did not care.
The footman informed them that some of the guests and her family were enjoying the last bit of sun at the lake next to the manor, so Daphne and Victor wasted no more time in the house.
As Daphne and Victor approached the serene lake where Daphne’s parents were seated, the tension in the air was palpable. The Earl of Wallace sat with a contemplative expression, while Percy lingered nearby, his demeanor tense with anticipation.
Victor took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come, before stepping forward to address the earl. “My lord,” he began, his voice steady and resolute, “I have come to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”
The earl’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Marriage? But Daphne is already engaged to Percy.”
