She cast him a glance of rebuke. “Do you doubt the book placed us together?”
“Yes.”
“Robert,” she said, aghast. “How can you doubt it. Without those encouraging words, I would not have attended that ball.”
He touched her cheek tenderly. “Wrong. You were unfulfilled, and you are brave and daring even if you had been ignoring that side for years. You would have come, Sarah, and we would have met. We would have chatted at midnight and made wicked love in the gardens. Without the book, I would have met you, a most lovely and incredible woman, and we would have fallen in love. I would believe nothing else for you are the perfect fit for me and surely were destined to meet.”
She smiled gently, and such a lovely smile it was. Sarah kissed him. Sometime later, Robert told the coachman to turn around and return home.
“I think we should marry as soon as possible and hope no one counts the dates,” he murmured.
“But not before we tell the girls they can be bridesmaids and wear their new dresses, the ones they were planning to wear for the open day fete…”
As she chattered on with sweet animation, Robert smiled, thinking he was damn glad he had attended that midnight ball.