A ragged breath left him. “I love you, Elle. Marry me.”
“Yes.”
They soared together for several minutes before he returned her to her family’s side. Elle was glowing, her cheeks pink and her eyes glittering with happiness. That was all that mattered to Lucien. He dipped into a bow, turned around and melted away from the ball.
The next day,Lucien presented himself to the Earl of Celdon in his office.
“You are asking my permission to marry my sister,” the earl said, slowly twirling a chess piece between his thumb and forefinger.
“Yes,” Lucien said firmly. “I love Eleanor and I promise you she will never want for anything. She will be treasured always, my lord.”
The earl’s expression remained inscrutable as he observed Lucien, who only offered him a cool, unflappable smile.
“Somehow, I suspect my approval is neither here nor there.” He got up from his desk and tiptoed over to the door. Lucien stared in amazement to see the earl tiptoe. He opened the door, and several ladies tumbled inside, one even spilling on the floor. All were shrieking with laughter and tossing accusations at the earl for being beastly.
Lucien stood, unsure of what was happening. He counted five females, and he grinned when he realized it was Elle who had tumbled to the floor and that they had all been pressed against the door listening to the conversation. Incorrigible minxes. Suddenly he was glad he only had one sister. Vi was already such a handful. He could not imagine having this many.
Lucien laughed, and that drew their gazes. Ellie pushed to her feet and rushed over to his side.
“We will elope, of course, Colin,” she said, grinning.
The earl sighed and looked at the ceiling as he hoped for some sort of divine assistance.
“I will speak with the old dragon,” the earl said. His gaze met Lucien’s. “You have my blessing. Welcome to the family.”
After that, it was beautiful chaos. He did not get a chance to even brush a kiss over Elle’s mouth before she was whisked away. The questions of how she had met him and when they had fallen in love aimed her way.
Lucien stood alone in the large library, and with a low chuckle, he made his way from the earl’s home. At the threshold, the sound of his name stopped him. He turned around, and his heart clenched. There Elle stood, in a pale rose dress, her feet bare of stockings, her toes peeking out, her lovely hair tumbling down her back. He went back to her, took her fingers between his and squeezed. “If I did not suspect we were being watched, I would kiss you senseless.”
Of course, a few giggles reached his ears. Elle grinned, tipped onto her toes and pecked his cheek. Just a touch, but one he savored. “I love you,” he murmured.
She rubbed her cheek against his, the move so sensually feline and playful. “I love you too.”
Then she released him, whirled around and ran down the hallway and up the stairs. Lucien went outside and hopped into his carriage. He had a London townhouse to buy for his bride and a ring to procure.