“How do I know that?” Dorothy was surprised she could speak. “How can I trust what you’re saying?”
“Because what I’ve done with you is different. This Season, I’ve not been with any other woman. Then once I met you, I couldn’t think of anyone else.” He kissed her again. “I love you. I think I have since I first laid eyes on you.”
Those were words that Dorothy had longed to hear. And it left her heart fluttering. She flung her arms around his neck.
“I love you, too.”
Lucas’ arms tightened around her. She was getting him wet, but Dorothy didn’t care. She just wanted to stay in his embrace.
“I apologise so much for how I proposed to you before.” Lucas eased her back, brushing her wet hair away from her face. “I went about it the wrong way. Back then, I didn’t want to admit that I had fallen for the woman my parents had picked out for me. I hid behind doing my duty because of what we did because I wasn’t ready to say it out loud. Then when you turned your back on me, I knew I had said the wrong thing.”
“You should have said something,” Dorothy croaked.
“When you wouldn’t talk to me or read my letters?”
He did have a point. Dorothy swiped at her face. Whether she was wiping away water from the pond or her tears, she had no idea. She just didn’t care right now.
“I was so hurt when you said it was the right thing to do. I thought you saw me as an obligation. That was not what I wanted a marriage to be based on.”
Lucas winced.
“When I said it was the right thing to do, I meant with regards to how I felt about you. That was as close to saying that I loved you as I could get. And it was the wrong thing to say.”
“Yes, it was.” Dorothy licked her lips. “You knew Gabriel was going to propose to me, didn’t you? That’s why you’re doing this?”
“Frederica said everyone was talking about it, and people were expecting you to be engaged soon. I know Burville is a safe option for you, and he would be ideal, but he wouldn’t make you happy.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “If you are going to marry anyone, I would rather it was me.”
“That’s a bit presumptuous of you, isn’t it?”
“You just said you loved me, didn’t you?”
“But it’s meant to be my choice. That’s all I wanted for myself.”
Lucas smiled, brushing his lips over hers.
“Dorothy Napier, the woman who had captured more than my attention, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife? Because this fool loves you, and he’s willing to show you every day how much until you believe it.”
Dorothy couldn’t help laughing, and Lucas looked a little hurt.
“You weren’t meant to laugh at it.”
“It’s just that last part.” Dorothy touched his face, his skin warm under her cold fingers. “What were you planning on doing to show me that you love me?”
“You want to know?”
“I’m curious.”
A devilish look appeared in Lucas’ eyes as he grabbed her, tipping her onto her back. Dorothy squealed as his mouth came down on hers, turning her squeals into moans. He was grinning when he broke the kiss.
“I’m sure I can show you a bit more. But only after you accept my proposal.”
“Are you blackmailing me?”
“I’m just giving you a promise of what you can get from me.” He trailed a finger down her cheek, his thumb brushing across her lower lip. “And you’ll be the only one getting my attention. I promise.”
Dorothy believed him. She wasn’t sure what had changed, but she believed him this time. She sucked his thumb into her mouth, causing Lucas to groan. Then she rose and kissed him.
“Then I’m going to have to accept your proposal, aren’t I?” she said in a teasing voice.