Page 76 of Duchess in Disguise
“I did no such thing —”
“Not to mention the fact that you made it clear that you were going to marry in an effort to strengthen your dukedom. Therefore, your duchess had to be perfect in every way. I am the furthest thing from perfection, Your Grace. Please leave?—”
“You are wrong,” Richard spoke up, cutting her off. “You are the most perfect woman I have ever laid my eyes on. I have never met anyone with a heart as big as yours. I have never crossed paths with anyone so stubborn and insistent on justice. I never imagined I would meet someone as beautiful as you either.”
“I look exactly like my sister,” she could not help but whisper.
Richard shook his head patiently. “That is not entirely true. To me, you shine brighter than she does. You stand taller, more self-assured. You certainly have a bolder personality, and I might have made distasteful comments about it previously, and I do apologize. I was too ashamed to confess that I had known right away that you were not Valerie because you were so stunningly different from her. I don’t want the idealistic forms of perfection. I want you. It has been you from the moment I laid my eyes on you. I had foolishly thought I could easily uphold my end of the deal because I had always strictly adhered to myplans, but the prospect of letting you walk out of my life… of never seeing you again frightened me. I love you.”
Isobel’s heart was quaking within her.
She had been too scared to dream of this moment, no matter how badly she had wanted it. Because she knew reality was cruelly a stark reminder that such a life was beyond her reach.
But here he was, claiming otherwise, declaring his feelings for her and his intentions. And just like that, the prospect of a lonely future was fading from sight.
“But,” Isobel sniffed. “What if you wake up one day and you regret marrying me? You had so many reservations before. What if those suited you better than I do?”
Richard shook his head, reaching for her hand.
“That will never happen —”
“But what if it does? What if you wake up and feel as though you cannot stand me anymore —”
“Then marry me, you vexing woman!”
Isobel’s whole body froze, not because he had raised his voice, but because each syllable was dripping with desperation.
“Marry me, so I can wake up every day and thank God for bestowing such a blessing upon my life. Marry me so I can love you with my whole being — until you are convinced that there is nothing and no one more perfect than you are. I do not want or need anyone but you, Isobel.”
Warmth spread from where their hands were joined together to the rest of Isobel’s body, and the tears she had barely managed to restrain finally spilled over.
“Y-Yes,” she hiccuped. “I will marry you.”
Richard finally eliminated the distance between them, climbing into the carriage and pulling her into his arms. As Isobel found herself crying for the second time that day, she could not help but relish in the absence of the fear she had felt earlier. In its place was gentle fulfilment and wholeness.
Richard had come for her, despite everything that seemed to claim he would not. He had come for her, and he wanted to make what they shared permanent. Her heart felt so full she was worried it would burst.
“Shh,” he mumbled gently, pulling back far enough for him to gently wipe her tears away. “It is all right, Isobel. I am here now, and I love you more than anything. I pledge to you on my life – that will never change.”
Isobel recovered some semblance of calm long enough to pull him closer by the collar and press her lip against his.
His hands wrapped around her immediately, and his lips moved against hers feverishly, before slowing down lightly. He tilted his head to deepen the kiss, and the slow pace caused her to feel as though her brain was melting. She shivered as their tongues brushed against each other, moaning quietly when he sank his teeth into her lower lip.
When she pulled back to catch her breath and come to her senses, he pressed soft kisses on her forehead and nose, his touch so fond and loving. Isobel felt as though she were stuck in a dream.
“I love you,” Richard whispered. “And I will, every day henceforth.”
Isobel beamed, her cheeks filling with heat as she clung to his coat.
“And I love you. Forever.”
Richard smiled down at her and stole one more quick kiss before he leaned away to yell at the coachman.
“Turn the carriage around!”
Isobel blinked, confused.
“No – wait! Stop.”
