Chuckling lightly, he whirled around and opened the door.
Anger surgedthrough Felicity’s heart, and she jumped to her feet. “How dare he say there will be no wedding! He said he liked me and wanted to marry me, and—”
The door shoved open, and she snapped her head up. Phineas framed the doorway, his piercing blue gaze narrowing on her tears-tracked face.
“You are crying,” he said gruffly.
“Because you wereodious!”
They stared at each other, and it stunned her to see a small smile on his mouth. “I was leaving to visit the chapel to confront that harridan when I realized something very simple.”
She narrowed her gaze at him. “What?”
“That I love you.”
She stared at him in wordless wonder, happiness bursting inside her heart. “Phineas?”
“I fell in love with you, Felicity. For the last few days, I could feel you pulling away, and it fucking scared me. I could sense you wanted to end this, and now I know why. I want you in my bed, my heart, my life,always. When that hit me, all the anger I felt deflated. I want you so damn much.”
“Oh, Phineas. I did not want us to get married with a lie between us.”
“I know,” he said gently. “And you love me enough that you would sacrifice your happiness and tell me the truth, knowing I might walk away.”
“Which you almost did,” she said with a sniff. “Like a dolt!”
“Come here,” he said tenderly.
She rushed into his arms. With a relieved groan, he enfolded her into a hug and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Lifting her face to his, he kissed her for several long minutes. “I love you, Phineas, so very much. I am sorry I took so long to tell you the full truth of the matter.”
“I should have done more to let you know that you can trust me with anything,” he said gruffly, hugging her close, and brushing his lips across her forehead. “I love you, Felicity Harrington, and I am damn glad you agree to be my wife.”
“I’ll be a good countess,” she promised.
“This is something I know without you vowing it. Everyone will love you. Now,” he said with a villainous chuckle, “let’s plan our revenge on that old biddy.”
Felicity stared at him in astonishment before she dissolved in laughter.
At the chapel…
“What doyou mean you and Jane will not be marrying,” the countess cried, pressing a hand against her chest. “Is that why you have closed the door to the arriving guests!”
“They are content to stroll the lawns,” he murmured. “And we will not be marrying here today.” A wicked truth. They would be eloping to Scotland, and a year or so later, he might tell them of it.
His grandmother wobbled, and to his thought, she looked sufficiently shocked.
“I am sorry for lying to you,” he said, meeting the gaze of each of his relatives. “Her name is not Jane, but Miss Felicity Harrington; she was my pretend fiancée.”
“Pretend?” his grandmother screeched, looking as if she might truly collapse this time.
“Yes.”
“But, Phineas,” Annabelle cried. “Why would you need to go as far as to—”
He arched a brow and she fell silent. “I am sure you are all aware why I would make such a fib. Grandmother would not relent, and her frail health could take no shock. I am certain you know why I did not confess it.”
“But you like Jane…I mean, Felicity,” Sarah cried. “I can tell.”
“Yes.” He nodded. “However, she has informed me she cannot marry me knowing that nanna is not ill and has faked everything to push me to the altar.”