Page 108 of Impossible
He turned toward her and put his hands on her waist, not caring about the others on the other side of the room. “I’m marrying you because I love you completely—as completely as a fraction of a man can.”
She put her hands flat against his chest. “You are not a fraction of a man. Indeed, I sometimes think you are more man than I can manage.”
Laughter bubbled from his chest, and it was the loveliest sensation. “There is nothing you can’t manage.”
“If you say so.” She smiled up at him, probably not meaning to be seductive but provoking lustful thoughts just the same.
“I do. I have not yet thanked you for finding Arrow. I took a short ride late this afternoon and it was as if we’d never been parted. I don’t know why I let him go. I suppose I thought it would be less painful.”
“That sounds familiar,” she murmured. “It seems we were both ready to let the other go rather than risk our hearts.”
He looked into her eyes and saw the reflection of his immense love for her. “I’m still afraid I’ll lose you. Perhaps I always will be. But I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
“I know. And I’ll do the same for you. For the first time in so long, I feel truly connected to someone. I know you won’t leave me.”
He squeezed her waist and brushed his lips across hers. “Never.”
The butler came in to announce dinner, and they reluctantly parted. Max offered her his arm, and they walked downstairs to the dining room.
“I wonder if you might teach me to ride?” Ada asked.
“I should love that. I’ll visit Tattersall’s to purchase you a mount.”
“I suppose you must, given the dearth of livestock in your stables at Stonehill.”
“Perhaps I should buy a few horses. Can I afford that? I reviewed the books before I came to London—your work astonishes me—but you know them better than I do.”
She laughed softly. “Yes, you can afford them.”
“Even after I buy you an enormous and outrageously expensive betrothal ring tomorrow?”
“Well, perhaps it needn’t beoutrageouslyexpensive. Unless you insist.” She looked up at him, smiling. “I truly don’t need anything grand. All I need is you.”
When they were seated, Lucien lifted his glass of wine. “A toast to my very dear friends, Max and Ada. May they always be as happy as they are today—happier even.”
A chorus of “Hear, hear,” went round the table as everyone raised their glasses.
Joy expanded within Max, and he realized hewasa whole man, and that Ada had made him that way.
Epilogue
Stonehill, October 1815
“Lady Warfield!” Mrs. Bundle called as Ada stepped outside to cut a bouquet of what could be the last of their autumn flowers from the garden.
After nearly three months of marriage, she was finally becoming used to her new honorific. Turning with a smile, she greeted the housekeeper, who was thrilled, but harried, to be overseeing the first house party at Stonehill in years. She was also trying to settle the new butler in. Wick had started last month.
“Is aught amiss?” Ada hoped not, but if so, they’d manage. The guests would arrive that afternoon.
“There is a change to the dinner menu. The turbot was bad.”
“I trust whatever alteration you need to make.” Ada saw the concern in the woman’s gaze. “You are doing a marvelous job. Truly.”
Mrs. Bundle seemed to relax, her forehead uncreasing. “I don’t want you to think I can’t manage this sort of event.”
“I would never think that. This is the first time Stonehill has supported so many people, and there are a good number of new retainers. None of our friends or family will have any complaints. Nor will his lordship or I.”
“Thank you for saying so.” Mrs. Bundle glanced toward the basket hanging from Ada’s forearm. “Are you gathering flowers? I could have had one of the maids do that. Or, better still, one of the gardeners. I am still getting used to having so many people.” She added the last in a wry murmur.
