“There’s a gentleman to see you, Mrs. Harding.” Nelly bobbed a curtsy from the door of the drawing room.
“Did he give his name?” Caroline put down her darning, her heart already thumping. It was the evening of the same day when she’d left Captain Grafton asleep in her old bed and tiptoed back to her new home. Millcastle wasn’t a large town. She was rather surprised that he hadn’t shown up earlier.
“Yes, Ma’am.” Nelly hurried over. “He gave me his card.”
Caroline turned the thick white card with its bold engraving over in her hand. “Please ask Captain Grafton to come in and bring us some tea.”
“Yes, Mrs. Harding.”
She stood by the fireplace, gathering her resources. Marie had gone up to bed early, and Ivy and Ruby were out with Jon attending a lecture at the Methodist Hall.
“Good evening, Mrs. Harding.” He came in and bowed low. His mere presence made the drawing room shrink in size. He wore his favorite dark blue coat and looked worn to the bone. “May I congratulate you on the purchase of such a charming dwelling?”
“Thank you.” She indicated the chair opposite hers. “Would you care for some tea? Nelly is just bringing me some.”
He took the seat and drummed his fingers on his knee.
“It would’ve been nice of you to tell me that you’ve moved out.”
“I told Mr. O’Brien. That’s all I was required to do.” She smiled at him. “I don’t think you will have any trouble letting the place over the shop. Both Mr. O’Brien and Mr. Ford expressed interest in the rooms themselves.”
“Then I’ll have to see to sealing that door up—permanently.” He studied his muddy boots. “I intend to employ Mr. Ford in your present position.”
“And leave me with nothing to do?” Caroline asked.
“Hardly.”
She hid a smile as Nelly came in with the tea. It was remarkably pleasant to see him at a loss, and she was, perhaps, enjoying it more than she should.
“Did you call on me for something specific, Captain or just to assure yourself that my family weren’t languishing in the workhouse?”
“You know damn well why I came.”
She widened her eyes. “In truth, I have no idea.”
“Caroline, I have had a very trying day, from waking up alone in your bed with no idea what had become of you, to rushing around Millcastle trying to find you—”
“You rushed around for me?” She pressed her palm to her bosom. “Goodness gracious.”
He scowled at her. “I even braved my mother’s company.”
That caught her interest. “Whatever for?”
“For this.” He came out of his chair, knelt at her feet, and took her left hand, sliding a ring onto her finger. “Please marry me.”
Caroline looked down at the huge diamond and ruby ring. “Where on earth did you get this?”
“I told you. I went to see my mother and asked her for my grandmother’s ring.”
“And she just gave it to you?”
“I’m the heir.” He shrugged with his usual arrogance. “Of course she did.”
She gazed at the ring for a long time, and then started to ease it off her finger. His hand instantly closed over hers.
“Don’t.” He hesitated. “For God’s sake just tell me what I have to do to make you marry me. Please.”
She considered their joined hands. Both of them had scars, burns and work-roughened skin. Could she imagine a future without him? He liked her just the way she was, and she liked him, too.
“I want you to court me. Properly.”
“What?” He glowered at her, and then resumed his seat, his expression thoughtful. “As in flowers, and dinner parties, and taking you to the theater?”
“Yes, publicly.”
He sat back and crossed one booted foot over the over. “For how long?”
She shrugged. “Six months?”
“Three, and then you marry me in the local church with my mother, your mother, and the great and the good from Millcastle and beyond in attendance.”
“Yes.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Yes, you’ll marry me?”
She nodded and bit her lip twisting his betrothal ring on her finger. A second later he was down on his knees again holding both her hands and looking into her eyes.
“I wish I could be that perfect man you deserve, but alas, I cannot, but I love you, and I will never give you cause to doubt it.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “You are perfect—for me.”
He stood up, plucked her out of her chair, sat her on his lap and kissed her thoroughly.
“Minx,” he muttered savagely as he kissed her again. “Leading me a merry dance.”
“That you well deserved,” she reminded him, kissing him back. “Would you like to know how I bought this house, or do you still think I stole from you?”
“You can bleed me dry if you marry me.”
“You really are in love with me, aren’t you? She sighed blissfully “What an excellent notion.”
He cupped her chin. “Dear God, I have created a monster.”
She smiled back at him. “Don’t worry, it is now in my best interests to make sure you increase your wealth at every opportunity.”
“Amen to that.”
He kissed her again and she forgot all about finance for a very long time.
I hope you enjoyed reading The Lord of Lost Causes as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you want to know when the next book comes out, please . Turn the page to read an excerpt from Educating Elizabeth, book one in the Diable Delamere series.
Best
Kate