“I told you I didn't have a heart. I do have one. I just didn't know it until I met you. You are my light. My soul craves you, and I love you with every ounce of the heart you've awakened in me. I...I could live without you but I wouldn't want to. Will you marry me, Evelyn Marie?”

“Come below for a moment. Please.”“Zephyr, I don’t have time t—”“Bradshaw, do me the courtesy of at least looking at me when I’m talking to you, or I shall punch you in the nose.”His lean jaw twitched, but he folded his arms across his chest and faced her. “What is it, then?”She took a deep breath. This would have been so much easier in a more intimate setting and if he wasn’t glaring at her. “Shaw, I just wanted to say—that is, I mean—I . . . I love you.”Something crossed his expression so swiftly that she couldn’t decipher it. But then he very obviously scowled. At her. “You’re only saying that now because I bullied you into it.”Oh, that was enough of that. “Idiot. You have no idea how much considering I’ve been doing. And you have never bullied me into anything. I said I love you because I love you.”He hesitated again. “Very well. Thank you. Now you won’t have to worry that you drove me to my death if I don’t return.”Zephyr narrowed her eyes. “All you did was say you loved me and then run away. I’m standing here saying it back to you, and all you can do is try to make me into a liar. It’s your fault, for surprising me. I don’t keep a response to that sort of thing in my pocket, ready for use.”“I know that. And I said thank you.”

“For a long moment the butler sat in silence, his jaw hanging open. “I . . . my lord, I simply don't feel qualified to advise you about such matters.”“Don't tell me that,” Saint protested. “Tell me whether you can imagine me as a married man or not.”To his surprise, the butler set aside his brandy snifter and sat forward. “My lord, I do not wish to overstep my bounds, but I have noticed a change in your demeanor of late. The question of whether anyone can imagine you married or not, however, is one I believe must be answered by you. And the lady, of course.”Saint frowned. “Coward.”“There is that, as well.”

“Reg: Furth's in London. And yes, I know, it's my fault. But as long as I'ver roused the lion, I was going to ask you to speak to him on my behalf.Alex: You wish me to speak to Furth.Reg: Well, yes. He's always like you. Just tell him what a noble, upright fellow I am, and how I have always upheld my position with dignity and respect.Alex: Lie, you mean.REg: Whatever it takes.”

“He sighed. “You’ve chosen poorly, you know. When we return to England you’ll be celebrated, just as I will be. If you’ve decided to abandon me, you might have netted someone titled, someone with enough wealth to see you esteemed and me able to continue my botanical studies. That would have been the aim of a dutiful daughter.”“I’m not abandoning you, and I chose Shaw. You’re the one who declined to attend your daughter’s wedding.”“You never used to speak to me like this. A dutiful child would never have accepted a proposal from the first man who asked, simply because he did ask.”“He didn’t propose to me. I proposed to him.”Finally he looked more surprised than angry and frustrated. “You proposed to him?”“Yes, because I didn’t think he believed me when I said that I loved him. I can hardly blame him, since I had to think about it for an entire day after he said it to me, but I do love him. More than I can articulate to you.”

“There are rules,” he interrupted, scowling. Before she could move, he had both her hands in his, theirfaces inches apart. “Don’t put me off, Phillipa. I’ve given you my one warning; I am after you. If you wishme to proceed your way, I will. To a point. But if you continue throwing up that damned—blasted—‘youcan’t do that’ protest and still look at me with that same…passion in your eyes, I will put you back in thatphaeton and not stop driving until we reach Gretna Green. Is that clear?”

“Phillipa, my heart, my blood, my everything,will you for God’s and my sake marry me?”