Page 93 of The Duke of Desire
Chapter Twenty-one
Ivy held her breath as she watched the play of emotions on his face—wonder, anger, determination, and something she thought might be…love. She could see how much this meant to him, how badly he wanted to defend her.
“I appreciate you wanting to protect my honor,” she said softly. “But I don’t need you to do that. I survived Bothwick before, and I’ll do it again.” Her mouth curved up of its own volition. “Would it please you to know that I hit him earlier?”
His eyes widened briefly. “You did?”
“At the risk of sparking your outrage to even greater heights, he accosted me in the stairwell and tried to touch me. I hit him so I could get away.”
West’s mouth tightened, and his eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. “I’m going to kill him.” He started to turn toward the entrance to the Assembly Rooms, but she grabbed him by the arm and dragged him away.
“No. You’re not.” She pulled him to where Dartford and Lucy stood.
Lucy looked at her expectantly, her gaze flitting to the visibly angry West. “What’s happened?”
“West has just agreed to call off the duel,” Ivy said, tucking her hand in his. She looked up at him. “Is Dartford your second?”
West’s expression relaxed slightly. “Yes.”
Ivy turned to the earl. “Would you mind informing Bothwick’s second that there will be no duel?”
“With pleasure,” Dartford said, grinning.
“I still want to kill him.”
Ivy squeezed West’s fingers. “You broke his nose in spectacular fashion with a rather grand audience. Isn’t that enough?”
“No.” The single word came out as a growl.
Her heart warmed at his ferocity. “It’s enough for me.”
“Listen to your future wife,” Dartford said. “It’s much easier than not.”
“He’s right,” Lucy said, snuggling up to Dartford with a smile.
Dartford put his arm around Lucy and held her close. “I’ll wait to inform Bothwick for a few hours yet. I think I’ll let him stew for a while.”
West huffed out a breath. “If that’s the least we can do.” He sounded disappointed.
“Well, it seems as though everything is all sorted out,” Dartford said jovially. He looked down at Lucy, who was still pressed against his side. “Shall we away, my love?”
Lucy stepped away from him to give Ivy a quick hug. “I love you,” she whispered.
Happiness pushed a smile from Ivy’s lips. “I love you too.”
Lucy put her arm over Dartford’s, and they walked toward The Circus.
Ivy and West would go the opposite direction. If they left together. She saw the footman standing several feet away and turned to West. “Should I send the footman home?”
West studied her for a moment. “Did you just agree to marry me?”
Another smile came to her mouth. She didn’t think she’d smiled so much ever. “Yes.”
His mouth came down on hers hard and fast, and she felt his lips spread in a smile. When he pulled back, his eyes were alight with joy. “You have made me the happiest man in England. No, in the world.”
“You can’t just kiss me in public.”
He arched a dark brow at her. “After the night we’ve had?”
