Page 106 of Impossible
“I know you have a life here and that you love your position at the club. Perhaps you can remain employed there. I’m sure Lucien will work it out for you. They’d hate to lose you. In fact, you can stay in London, and I’ll be with you as much as I can. Once Mrs. Tallent is up to speed at Stonehill—”
Ada cut him off. “Just stop! Yes, I’ll marry you.” Her stomach flipped, and it had nothing to do with the wherry.
Max suddenly pitched forward into the river. Ada screamed. She launched from her seat to the edge of the wherry, tipping them toward the water.
“Ye daft chit!” Gradon hollered. “Get away from there. Ye’re going to send us over.”
Ada sprawled backward. “Save him, please!”
“He don’t need saving. He’s swimming.”
Evie helped Ada up before retaking her seat.
Then Max’s hand appeared on the side of the boat.
“Bloody hell,” Gradon muttered. He gestured Ada and the others. “Get to that side so we don’t tip over.”
They scrambled to do what he said as Gradon moved to pull Max into the boat. “Ye’re an idiot.”
Max grinned. “Yes, I am.”
Gradon rolled his eyes. “Sit in the middle there and don’t move or ye’ll unsettle the boat. Ye ladies get to the back.”
“Can I sit in the middle with him?” Ada asked, desperate to touch him.
“Be quick about it,” Gradon grumbled.
Ada joined Max and immediately put her arms around him—carefully, lest she rock the wherry too much. He embraced her in return, and she became thoroughly damp.
She pulled back in alarm. “How is your shoulder? You should not have done that.”
He grimaced. “Probably not. But I’d do it again.” He smiled at her and kissed her.
Around them there were shouts and applause.
“You’ve an enthusiastic audience,” Evie said with a laugh.
“I can’t believe you followed me here,” Ada said.
“I couldn’t leave without telling you how I felt and begging you to be my wife. Did you really say yes?”
She nodded. “I love you too. I have for some time. I never imagined you could feel the same about me.”
He stared into her eyes, truly perplexed. “Why?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I suppose I thought I was destined to be alone, that I wasn’t worthy of love or family.”
“That could never be true. You make everyone around you feel so special and valued—like family.”
She’d never thought of herself like that. She was cheerful and kind, but Max made her sound like someone who was…worthy. “I thought I was meant to be alone, that I deserved to be after all I’ve done.” Apparently, she wasn’t as adept at dismissing guilt as she wanted to believe.
“No more than I deserved to live a life of darkness and despair. You showed me that wasn’t true, that I could have and be so much more. I just have to work for it instead of hiding away.” He caressed her cheek. “Will you let me try to do the same for you? I don’t know if I can give you even a fraction of what you’ve given me—”
She put her finger over his gorgeous lips. “You’ve already given me more than I dreamed. You’ve given me the impossible.”
She kissed him, heedless of their audience or the wherry or the fact that they were now both quite wet. She didn’t care about anything but him and their future together.
Mrs. Renshaw’s drawing room was an extremely feminine space, with floral wallpaper and a combination of bold and soft hues. It made Max feel more beastly than usual, or perhaps he was still trying to find his comfort in a group. By the time he and Ada had returned to the Phoenix Club with Prudence and Mrs. Renshaw, the latter had planned a dinner for that evening to celebrate his and Ada’s betrothal. Max would have preferred to be alone, but he could see how happy Ada’s friends were and wouldn’t deny them this occasion. It wasn’t even a large group—just Mrs. Renshaw, Prudence, Glastonbury. Lucien and Dougal hadn’t yet arrived.
