Page 88 of When He Was a Duke
He led her through narrow streets past the hum of taverns until cobbled paths gave way to dunes. The sounds of town faded, replaced by waves crashing gently against the shore. The sea glowed in the late afternoon light, silver and blue stretching to the horizon.
“It’s beautiful,” Rose said, her voice soft.
“I came here when I needed to think.” He paused, then added quietly, “To plan.”
She nodded, understanding flickering in her eyes. “I can imagine you here, contemplating your revenge.”
There was no bitterness in her tone, but the truth hung between them nonetheless. Sebastian led her to a weathered log near the water’s edge. They sat in silence for a moment, waves filling the quiet.
“Mr. Hale told me about your inheritance,” he said finally. “Your freedom. I’m glad for you.”
“It gives me opportunities I never expected.” She turned to face him. “Sebastian, I have something to say, and now that I’m here, I hardly know how to begin.”
He braced himself, expecting anger, recrimination.
“I’ve come to tell you I love you. And that I’d like us to marry.”
His mouth fell open. “What?”
“I should have said it that night in the garden, but I was overwhelmed and then chaos ensued.”
“I love you too. With everything in me. But are you sure about marriage?”
Her face went pale. “Why wouldn’t I be? What else is there to consider now that I’m free?”
“Because I have nothing to offer you. My family is disgraced, my title stripped. And the scandal—marrying the man who brought down your father? Society will shun you. You would have to face that for therest of your life.”
Rose let out a bitter laugh. “I’ll be shunned regardless. My father’s actions have ensured that. No one will think of me without remembering what he did.” She stared out at the water. “But I find I don’t care. I’m free to choose what I want. Who I want. I choose you.”
“But I’m poor, Rose. You should hate me for the lies and deceit.”
“Do you want me or not?” Her voice broke slightly. “Because you seem to have a lot of reasons to reject me.”
Sebastian’s chest constricted at the tremor in her voice. “God, no. I’m so in love with you I can’t think of anything else. I want you by my side, in my bed, building a life together. But I want what’s best for you, and I fear I’m not it.”
Tears gathered in her eyes. “That’s your choice to make. I won’t beg.” Her voice grew stronger. “I’ve been at my father’s mercy all my life. He took the person I loved most away from me. You can choose to let him do it again, or you can choose differently.” She wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. “I’ve offered myself to you. If you don’t want me, I’ll go home heartbroken but proud of my courage.”
He reached for his handkerchief and pressed it into her hands. “Making you cry is the last thing I want.”
“Then don’t.” She dabbed at her eyes. “Tell me you’ll come home with me.”
“Will there be a day when you look at me and see only the man who destroyed your father?”
“Sebastian, you didn’t destroy him—he did that himself. My God, he killed my mother and was ready to hand me to a monster.” Her voice grew fierce. “When I look at you, I see the man who saved me. You offered to give up everything for me. I’ll never forget that.”
Sebastian reached out, brushing a tear from her cheek. “You saved us, Rose. Your courage, your goodness—that’s what made this possible.”
“Come home with me,” she whispered.
He studied her face, seeing the determination mixed with vulnerability, the love shining in her eyes despite everything they’d endured. How could he refuse her? They belonged together, regardless of how they’d found each other.
“What will we tell our children about how we met?” he asked, a smile tugging at his lips.
Relief flooded her features. “The truth. No good comes from secrets.”
“And about our first kiss?”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t know.”
