Her nerves fluttered so badly she didn’t think she’d be able to keep down a cup of tea. “No, thank you. The day is fine, so I’ll probably encourage him to take me driving after… Well, afterward.” At least that would afford them true privacy, for no doubt her parents would wish to hover and ply William with questions.
“Very good, Miss Bancroft.” Then the butler departed, and Fanny pressed a hand to her warm cheek.
“I suppose I shouldn’t keep him waiting.” The only thing she wanted to do was throw herself into William’s arms and reassure herself that he had suffered no ill effects.
“Fingers crossed, dear.” With one last hug, her mother let her go.
The closer Fanny came to the drawing room, the more riotous her heartbeat grew, and when her gaze fell upon William as he contemplated the Mayfair streets out the window with his hands clasped behind his back, need shivered down her spine.
“Good afternoon, William.” She didn’t bother closing the door, for there was no point. Her parents would lurk, for they were probably as excited as she.
He swung about. So many emotions flitted over his face, she couldn’t settle on just one. “It’s so good to see you again, Francesca.”
Oh, that deep rumble of his voice set off an avalanche of tingles within her chest. “You look well. I assume you’re healing nicely?” The fact they were reduced to inconsequential niceties sent anxiety into her belly.
“Yes. All is well.”
Fanny came further into the room. “Why didn’t you call?” she asked in a soft voice. “I’ve missed you.”
His expression crumpled into concern. “I wanted to allow you time to heal, to acclimate to what happened, and I was confined to bed for a few days anyway with my own injuries.” For the first time since she’d known him, a hint of vulnerability shadowed his eyes. “I fear the separation might have made you change your mind about me.”
“Never.” Then, because she couldn’t stand it any longer, she closed the distance between them and threw herself into his waiting arms, and they were just as eager as he held her close. “I thought you had changed your mind and that was what kept you away.”
“Once I make up my mind about something, it rarely changes.” The scents of bay, citrus, and spices washed over her like a cleansing flood. “I apologize profusely if my staying away caused you distress. That wasn’t my intention. There was much to put into motion.” He set her at arm’s length, but kept hold of her hands, and the intensity of his gaze sent tiny fires licking through her blood. “Thank you for writing that article. I’m so proud of you.”
Tears sprang to her eyes from his praise as well as the admiration evident on his face. “I only reported the facts.”
“No, you completely left out the part where you played a huge role in unmasking the killer or even providing the distraction that led to me taking her down.” William squeezed her fingers. “We make a good team.”
“I think so too.” The warmth of his fingers—had he taken his gloves off prior to her arrival?—on hers only added fuel to the wanton desire stacking like kindling inside her. “Did you mean what you said that night?”
“Refresh my memory, sweeting. I’ve applied myself to many tasks since then.” But he winked, and she knew he remembered.
“That you wished for me to remain as your partner for upcoming cases.” When she tried to pull her hands away, he tightened his hold. “My editor thinks it’s a good idea—within reason—especially after the article ran and increased their subscriptions. After all, the General Evening Post had the only exclusive on the female serial killer.” And what a sensation she’d caused in that newspaper office when she’d turned in her article! Never would she forget it or the grudging respect she’d been given by her editor as well as her male counterparts.
“For good reason. You’ve a knack for journalism.” Then concern lined his face, furrowed his brow. “I’ll concede to the plan on two conditions.”
“Which are?” Why was adult life always a series of conditions, rules, and compromises?
“First, that you go into this partnership with your eyes wide open. There might be danger involved; there might not. Some of my cases are incredibly tedious, but some are horrific and gruesome with no answers. And some require hunting down criminal elements that won’t hesitate to harm you in order to get to me.” His voice broke slightly, but he cleared his throat and continued. “I couldn’t bear to see you injured, or worse, on my behalf.”
“It’s a partnership, William. That means we’re equals in everything. I’m more than capable of defending myself, or you, on occasion.” She arched an eyebrow. “Besides, I’m a real journalist now. What makes you assume you’ll always be the target of ire-laden criminals?”
“Touché.” The corners of his mouth twitched with the beginnings of a grin, and all she wanted to do was kiss him until he did.
“And the other condition?” Drat it all if her voice hadn’t suddenly taken on a breathless quality.
“Just this.” Still holding her hands, William sank to one knee with a slight grimace. No doubt his stab wounds were still a touch painful. “I’m offering you this partnership if you’ll consent to becoming my wife.” His stormy gray eyes never left her face, and the longer she looked, the more love shone up from the dark depths. “I’m not the wordsmith that you are, so I’ll keep it brief. I love you. I can’t go another day forward in my life without securing your promise that you’ll come with me as my bride. I want your partnership—your love—in all the ways that matter between two people.”
He loves me!
Those tiny little words sent happiness pinwheeling through her stomach. Never had anything sounded as sweet. “Oh, William.” Fanny’s hands trembled, and once more tears filled her eyes. Never had she thought a proposal more romantic or more… him. “I love you too, so of course I’ll marry you.” Then, to her mortification, a loud hiccup escaped her throat.
But the dear man laughed, a deep-down belly laugh that soon had her joining him. “You keep me guessing, you shock me with your bravery, you amuse me with the little bits I’m coming to know about you.” William released one of her hands to delve into a waistcoat pocket and bring forth a ring, which he held aloft between his forefinger and thumb. “You distract me in the best possible ways with your kisses and by being yourself.” Slowly, he slid the band onto the fourth finger of her left hand. Two oval-shaped sapphires nestled beside each other, with two tiny diamonds twisted between in a silver setting. “And I can’t wait until you’re mine.”
“Because you want to protect me?” The gemstones glittered in the afternoon sunlight that spilled into the room.
“That and for the sheer fact I want to be everywhere you are.” He struggled to his feet. “You’re the pieces of my heart, my soul, I never realized were missing until I met you, and you’ve never stopped showing me how nicely we fit together.”