“Wesley and I did leave together. After I called off the wedding, he offered to bring me to you. He was remarkably understanding and said that he just wanted me to be happy.”
Well. That made Oliver feel a tad guilty for wishing the man would be run down by a carriage.
Oliver smiled and took in a deep breath as he stared into his favorite pair of sky blue eyes—eyes he now could—would—get lost in for the rest of his life. He moved one hand to her jaw and another to her lower back, pulling her in close to him. “My darling Lizzie, I have something very important to tell you.”
She spoke on a breath. “And what’s that?”
“You are beautiful,” said Oliver, making Elizabeth laugh. He smiled and his eyes dropped to her lips. “And you terrify me.” Those words, coupled with Oliver’s thumb now dragging across Elizabeth’s lower lip, had her trembling in his arms. “My darling best friend, I love absolutely everything about you. I have for several years now.”
“Really? Then why did you not tell me? Did you think I truly loved Lord Hastings?”
“No. Or—possibly. But it was more that I hoped you loved him because I was afraid that I would never be able t
o take care of you as you deserve. Several years ago, I went to my father and told him how much he had hurt me. He laughed at me and said not to judge him so harshly because it was only a matter of time before I was just like him. He said his blood was in my veins. Those words have kept me prisoner since the day he spoke them.”
Elizabeth rested her hands against his chest and moved in closer so that he could look deeper into her eyes and see the truth that she already knew about him. “Who you are is not determined by the blood in your veins. You are what you love. And you love goodness, Oliver. You love joy. You love family. And now I know that you love me. I will help mend the scars your father caused everyday for the rest of our lives—if you will let me.”
He smiled down at her, his hold around her waist growing tighter and the bond between them strengthening. “Have I told you I love you?”
“Yes,” said Elizabeth, letting her gaze fall to his mouth.
“Hmm. Well, then, have I told you that I want to light candles all around the room and dance with you?”
“No,” she said softly, feeling her face bloom with heat. Oliver noticed and moved his thumb to run across the flush of her cheeks.
“Have I told you I want to hold you and kiss you from night until morning?”
“No, you haven’t.” She could no longer keep the tears from pooling in her eyes or the smile from tugging at her lips.
“Have I told you that I want to chase you on adventures for the rest of our days?”
“I don’t think you have.”
Oliver bent down slowly and whispered across her mouth, “Will you marry me, Lizzie?”
Elizabeth paused for a moment, staring at his mouth and savoring the question her heart had longed to hear. She raised her eyes to meet his and smiled playfully. “I asked you first.”
Oliver only gave her enough time to suck in a quick breath before he wrapped her fully in his arms and captured her mouth with his. He kissed her long and fully, holding her close to him, and allowing her to revel in the realization that she was loved by the person who knew her most in the world.