When they had at least the illusion of privacy, Cam leveled a frown upon his sister. “Now, my girl, I want some answers. How in Lucifer’s name did you manage to find us this morning?”
Lydia glanced down and mumbled, “Last night, after the ball, I talked to Jenkins about what you’d planned. He always knows everything.” She paused, then met her brother’s gaze defiantly. Simon’s heart leaped with admiration and gratitude that such a spirited woman loved him. Her voice firmed. “I couldn’t let Simon die. Not when the mess we’d got ourselves into was mostly my fault.”
Cam released a short laugh, amused despite himself, Simon could tell. “I should have guessed you’d twist Jenkins around your little finger. He could never resist your wiles, not since you were a lass. But I’ll wager that it won’t be just Jenkins who ends up learning of today’s events. Word will spread about your scandalous interference. The old tabbies will have a field day.”
“Let them talk.” She paused and her voice lowered as she stared directly at her brother. “I’m so sorry, Cam. I know how hard you’ve worked to restore the family name. But you must have known you risked gossip when you invited Simon home.”
He shrugged with seeming lack of concern and smiled at his sister. “I couldn’t bear to see you marrying without love. I knew you didn’t love Berwick. I hoped… I thought you still loved Simon.”
“Heaven help us, you’re a romantic,” Simon said drily, although this was no revelation. Cam and Lydia had learned early to hide their passionate natures beneath an appearance of control, but Simon knew both of them too well to imagine the coolness was more than skin-deep. “If word gets out, you won’t be able to move for ladies swooning at your feet.”
“I’m sure you’ll keep my dastardly secret.” Cam stepped back. “Now I assume that you two have things to say to each other.”
“With your permission, old man, I’d like to propose.” Lydia turned to him with a soft smile that made his heart race. “Heaven knows I’m not good enough for your sister, but I love her, I’ve always loved her. I swear I’ll do everything in my power to make her happy.”
Cam nodded. “You have my blessing and I hope soon my heartiest congratulations.”
“Let me rig a sling for your arm first, Mr. Metcalf,” the doctor said, barging between them. “I’m sure your matrimonial intrigues can wait.”
“And I’m sure they can’t,” Simon said. “I’ve waited ten long, lonely years to claim this lady. I’ll wait not one minute more.”
“Hmph.” The doctor’s snort indicated what he thought of that sentimental nonsense.
With ill grace, Simon stood restlessly while Dr. West completed his work. Lydia remained on Simon’s good side to prop him up as Cam wandered across to the carriages. In the distance, Berwick’s gig rattled away from the field with a speed that indicated high dudgeon.
After the doctor ended his ministrations and trotted across to where Cam waited under the trees with his curricle, Simon forced himself to straighten. Be damned if he was going to propose marriage hunched over like a blasted gargoyle, although he couldn’t help his hand spasming on Lydia’s arm as fresh pain struck. With every minute, his arm worsened. Thank God it was only a flesh wound. If he hadn’t turned so abruptly at Lydia’s arrival, he had a nasty suspicion he’d now be lying dead on the frosty grass. He lost count of the number of ways in which she’d saved his life.
At last they were free of eavesdroppers. About time. He burned to settle everything with his beloved.
“My love,” he said huskily, making himself release her. He prayed he didn’t overbalance and end up flat on his arse. Fine proof of his potential as a husband that would give. “I refuse to ask you to marry me while I hang off you like damned ivy.”
Displeasure shadowed her face. “I’ve had quite enough of your ludicrous masculine pride. I’d think you’ve had enough of it, too. What on earth made you come out here to fight Grenville? You’d unequivocally won any contest you waged against him. After what happened between us last night, you must have realized I’d given him up for good.”
Simon knew that she’d never understand the peculiarly male imperative that had made him keep his appointment with Berwick this morning. “I couldn’t play the coward. I don’t want our children tarred with the tale that their father turned and ran like a rabbit from a challenge. It’s a matter of honor.”
“Honor!” She spat the word like a curse, stiffening with anger that he knew stemmed largely from her reaction to crushing fear. “What if he’d killed you? He meant to, you know.”
“But he didn’t.” Only gradually was it dawning on him that the rest of his life stretched ahead. A life he intended to devote to Lydia. “My darling, let’s not quarrel. Not now. Not when after all this time, we’ve found each other. I know I should go on my knees, but if I promise never to fight another duel, will you have me, sweetheart?”
Furious tears glistened in her amber eyes. “I don’t know if I should. You’ve been so reckless and stupid. You’ll just find more trouble to tumble into.”
“Probably.” He smiled tenderly down at her and raised his left hand to brush moisture from her fluttering eyelashes. “I need a good woman to keep me in line.”
Abruptly her anger seeped away. She blushed and caught his hand in a shaky hold. “I’m not that good.”
He laughed softly. His arm might ache like every imp in Hades poked it with a red-hot trident, but hard-won joy soared above physical discomfort. “That suits me, my love. You can be a paragon in public and my wild, passionate Lydia in private.”
Her lips curved into an uncertain smile. She stared up at his face as if
searching for answers to eternal questions. “Cam’s right about the awful scandal, you know.”
He shrugged, then winced. He really shouldn’t move both shoulders just yet. “I can live with scandal. I can’t live without you.”
Happiness shone in her eyes and she lifted his hand to brush a quick kiss across the knuckles. Call him a lovestruck fool, but the gesture felt like an act of homage. The tension in his gut eased. Even after she’d given herself to him, part of him had remained convinced that a woman as exceptional as Lydia would never agree to his proposal.
“When you came back, you never said you wanted to marry me.”
“I’ve said it now. Several times.” Simon swallowed, all impulse to humor leaching away under fierce emotion as he released her. His voice emerged calm and deliberate. The next words he spoke would be the most important in his life. “Lydia, my first and only love, the woman I will cherish all my days, will you marry me?”