Page 101 of Earl's Well That Ends Well (The Way to a Lord's Heart 5)

“Which means behaving outrageously?”

“That was only to convince you. Have I? Because I can indulge in more and more outrageous pranks until you are.”

“You are being ridiculous.”

“Am I? It is a new and interesting behavior for me. Quite stimulating.”

“Lord Macklin…”

“I wish you would call me Arthur. I really long to hear my name on your lips.”

The word led Teresa to focus onhis. Those lips that had sent fire through her veins.

“I hope it’s clear that I am offering for you again,” he said. “Is it? If I went down on one knee this time, would it help?”

“Will you be serious?”

His expression shifted. “I’ve never been more so, Teresa. I don’t think I can be happy without you.” He frowned. “That did not sound well. If you really do not wish to be my wife, then of course I won’t continue to plague you.” He looked into her eyes. “I dearly hope that is not the case.”

“Must I marry you to keep you from making a fool of yourself? Again.”

A smile curved those seductive lips. “Absolutely. It is your duty to redeem my reputation, to save me.”

“I? To save you!”

“I believe you have. At least I hope you will agree to do so. Continue to do so. For the rest of my life.”

The clumsiness of his words, so unlike the ever-confident earl, enchanted her. “How can I refuse?”

He sprang to his feet and reached for her, then hesitated. “Would you mind very much saying ‘yes’?”

“Yes,” Teresa said. “Yes, I will marry you, and we will save each other for the rest of our lives.”

He pulled her up into his arms and kissed her as she had been longing to be kissed—tenderly, ruthlessly, softly, passionately. The world disappeared into a languorous flurry of kisses.

Some indeterminate time later, they sat side by side with his arm around her waist. “Will you wear your striped waistcoat to the wedding?” Teresa asked him.

“I will wear it every day from now on, if you like. Unless…” He looked concerned.

“Unless?”

“Clayton, my valet, has been rather furtive since the Overton ball. I fear he might have burnt that waistcoat. But I will buy another exactly like it.”

Teresa held up a hand. “No. I would not like to begin our marriage by offending Clayton. He was very kind, and most imposing, when I stayed at your house.”

“You will be there always now,” he replied with complacent delight. “So we will do without the stripes, if necessary?”

“We will.”

“But nothing else. Anything you want, you need only name it.”

“I have always been fascinated by elephants,” said Teresa.

“By…” He looked down at her, caught the joke, and smiled. “It would serve you right if I purchased an elephant and put it in your care.”

“With one of those seats they wear on their backs,” she retorted. “Like the pictures from India. We could ride it about your estate. That would certainly confirm your…transformation.”

“Do you dare me? Or tempt me?”

---