“Yes, it is.” Bennett blew out his breath. “You can’t expect me to…sit in the morning room and chatabout the weather with her mother, and hold her yarn while she knits, and…wait five weeks before Iattempt to hold her hand.”

“...He had no breath, no being, but in hers, she was his voice; he did not speak to her. But trembled on her words; She was his sight, For his eye followed hers, and saw hers, Which colored all his objects-he had crease to live within himself; She was his life, The ocean to the river of his thoughts...”

“The animal is making quite a mess,” the butler droned.“Are you referring to the monkey, or to my nephew?” Fennington drawled, strolling into the room.“Hm. How long did you lurk outside the room waiting forthat opportunity?” Bennett asked”

“Even the way he was the only man she’d ever met who both could and dared to hold up his side of a conversation with her.”

“Does that mean there’ll be no engagement ball?”“There will be,” he said, “once I convince Josefina to say yes.”“She turned you down?” Zachary asked skeptically.“She kicked me, actually. My timing did leave something to be desired.”“Josefina kicked you,” Eleanor repeated. At his nod, she pursed her lips.“Perhaps I do like her after all.”

“He lowered his head toward her, so she could feel his breath warm againsther skin, their mouths only inches apart. “You’re panting for it, aren’t you,Princess?” he murmured.”

“I’m going to say a word, just for your general opinion and consideration,” he said, his light blue gaze touching hers.“I’m listening.”“Marriage.”Zephyr blinked. Had he actually just suggested a proposal? A marriage? With her? A thousand thoughts all flitted through her mind, none of them making any sense, but several of them centering on whether she was reading too much or too little into one blasted word. “I think”—she stumbled, backing away from him and toward the village—“that if you mean to ask a question, you should ask it. And you shouldn’t make it so stupidly ambiguous just on the chance that a negative response might embarrass you or wound your feelings.”“Is that so?” He stalked after her.“It is so. And another thing. Before you ask such a question, consider giving me—or whoever you intend on asking—a reason to say yes.”