Page 81 of The Gentleman's Confession
“I—I’m not sure.”
“Honestly,” Ian grumbled. “The man who knows the least about love has to be the one to tell you to go after her.”
“Go after her. Right.” Miles stood. “Wish me luck.”
“Just don’t rile her up again,” Paul said.
“And don’t let Mrs. Fortescue’s undying love confuse you,” Tom added.
Miles sputtered a laugh and strode from the room. Once outside, he saw a glimpse of the Mannings’ carriage turn the corner. If he knew Jemma, she wasn’t returning home. He collected his horse and followed after her.
It wasn’t long before he steered his horse around the Mannings’ carriage parked in front of the church. He tied his horse up and darted down the lane, turning at the dirt path and following it toward the trees.
His steps slowed when he saw her. She was at the bench—their bench—waiting.
When she saw him, she stood, her rosy cheeks matching the pink of her gown. She was beautiful when she was embarrassed.
“I suppose it’s my move again?” he said.
She took a deep breath and nodded.
“If there were a contest for the element of surprise, you would win.” He came up on the other end of the bench and hesitated. Was he interpreting her correctly? What if she was still angry and her kiss was her way of paying him back? “I, uh, thought your engagement would be announced by now, with a wedding date set for the end of the summer.”
Jemma frowned. “The end of the summer is a dreadfully long time. Do you think Ian has connections to produce a special license so we might marry sooner?”
“We?” Was Jemma Fielding proposing to him now? Would wonders never cease?
Jemma sighed. “You need to keep up on the lateston dit. Let me summarize: Mr. Bentley is marrying Lisette. While I was busy rather inelegantly learning about love, Lisette was comforting Mr. Bentley. They grew attached in the process, and it seems they cannot live without each other.”
Lisette? And Mr. Bentley? “Then, I am free?” His head fell back, and his chest rose and fell as if he had never breathed such sweet air before.
“We both are.” She shrugged her dainty shoulders. “I don’t suppose I will be needing any more lessons.”
He climbed over the bench, his mouth pulling into a grin. “Perhaps not, but I would like to finish what we started.” He stepped closer. “Lesson five ... loyalty, devotion, fidelity, and commitment to always keep you in my heart. It’s what I want to offer you in our own relationship.” He put his hand out, palm up. “I cannot give you the world, but this hand is yours if you want it.”
She slipped her hand into his, a smile blooming on her face. “It is everything I want. And in exchange, I give you my whole heart, though you might not believe a woman mad enough to barge into a gentleman’s club, I mean every word.”
Miles chuckled, wrapping her hand in both of his. “We have sufficiently rebelled against the rules of Society, have we not?”
“Our relationship is rather unorthodox. After all our secret meetings about love, it was time for us to make a public statement.”
He chuckled again. “I cannot think of a more romantic gesture, Jemma.” He leaned down and set his forehead against her,inhaling her scent of roses and sunshine. He brought one hand up to stroke a glossy ringlet by her face. “I can barely believe this is real.”
She leaned into him. “It’s no dream. I have loved you for as long as I can remember.”
He pulled back. “You are lying to me.”
She shook her head. “I lied to myself for too long. I have decided it is time to come clean to my vicar.” She ducked her head. “I was scared to let myself love anyone. Even after I promised Grandmother, I kept fighting my heart. I wanted to keep you near me but at a safe distance. But I was only torturing myself and denying myself an even greater happiness. Those fears combined with my concern for Lisette.
“I couldn’t fathom how things could work out, so even when I wanted nothing more than to be with you, I couldn’t let myself. I wasn’t brave enough, Miles.” She lifted her chin again, her green eyes arresting his full attention. “I am so sorry.” A tear trailed down her cheek. “But I promise, I’m going to be brave from now on. I love you, Miles Jackson.”
She had barely uttered the words before he covered her mouth with his own. Those perfect lips had already made him so happy. He could not wait a moment longer to embrace them. He wrapped his arms around her, relishing the feel of her trim waist, slender shoulders, and elegant neck. Finally, she was his. This moment was the beginning of the story he had longed to not just write but also live. He’d fill this new book with memories of them and daily expressions of his love. It would be an epic journey where hardships only strengthened them and tragedies were weathered side by side.
His hand came up to cup her small jaw, her skin infinitely soft beneath his fingertips. Her floral scent filled every part of him as he kissed her cheeks, her throat, and her lips once more. She tasted sweeter than any peppermint or lemon drop. She was aconfection in a class of her own. He deepened their kiss—a kiss he had desired for a lifetime—wanting to hold her long enough to make up for all the long winter months without her. From now on, it would be summer ever more.
CHAPTER 36
Hours seeped away, but withMiles, it felt like minutes. Jemma had never been happier. Miles had spread his jacket on the ground for them to sit on, both of them leaning back against the bench, with their hands tangled together. She told him about finding his poems and the dozens of letters with money for the hurting Greeks. She had kissed him again at those pronouncements. No other thank-you seemed more appropriate.
