“Then they would have seen a man deeply enthralled by a beautiful woman, acting on his desires.” His voice was low and husky as he continued to kiss her neck. “Why are you so jumpy anyway? It’s almost as if you’re hiding far too many secrets.” He teased her, pulling her closer until her body moulded to his.
Livinia turned in his arms and led him away from the window before kissing him deeply. He’d got into the habit of sneaking into her chambers during the day when he knew that the rest of the servants were far too busy.
“You are going to get us into trouble one of these days, My Lord,” she teased him affectionately and ran her fingers down his chest.
“I happen to know the earl who owns this mansion, and I have it on good authority that he fully endorses the seduction of his former governess and mistress.” Benedict smiled against her lips before kissing her again.
Livinia moaned softly, allowing her body to melt into his.
“Before we get carried away, there was something that I wanted to discuss with you. I’m tired of sneaking around.” Benedict’s words made her freeze as if the wind had been knocked from her sails. Was he about to ask her to leave? Had he met someone else and now wanted to settle down and start a family? She had known that their affair wouldn’t last forever, but she hadn’t thought it would end so quickly either.
“Benedict I …” She struggled to find the right words as she gasped for air. Her world was crashing around her, and she didn’t know how to stop it.
Kneeling in front of her, Benedict lifted her hand in his with a warm smile.
“What are you doing?” Confusion filled her mind as she struggled to grasp his thinking. Was he making fun of her before sending her on her way?
“Miss Livinia Campbell, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?” His eyes darkened with passion as he waited for his words to sink in and take effect.
“Benedict, I could never do that to you …” She finally managed to speak once she’d grasped what he was doing.
“You say that like marrying you would be a punishment worse than death?” He lifted an eyebrow in question but remained where he was on the ground.
“It is! You don’t know what you are asking. If I were to become your wife, you’d become a social pariah to all of your peers; we would spend the rest of our lives living under the scornful gazes of others!” Tears filled her eyes as she attempted to persuade him of his madness.
Things were fine as they were, with their affection for one another hidden from the world and the ugliness of others’ judgements.
“Don’t you think that I considered all that? Don’t you think I’ve spent my nights agonizing over my love for you? I’ve done that since the night you walked into my parlour with your nosy yet determined ways.” The look of determination in his eyes caused the tears brimming in her eyes to spill over.
Nothing seemed real to her anymore; it was almost as if they had stepped out of reality and onto the pages of a book where dreams came true.
“I love you, Livinia, more than you will ever know. I promise never to leave your side, no matter what may come our way. I know you are content as my mistress, but I promise to spend the rest of my life as your husband, drinking in every morsel of affection and love you dare to throw my way.” He held her gaze with such a fiery passion that Livinia felt as if she would swoon.
He hadn’t been asleep the night she had confessed her love for him; he had been awake and had heard every word she’d uttered to him.
“But you deserve an appropriate woman to be your wife.” She used the back of her free hand to wipe the tears from her cheeks.
“And do you not think that you are an appropriate woman for me? A woman who fights for the happiness of my soul, protects my sister without so much as a thought of her own safety, and a woman who breathed life back into the bowels of a broken and gutted home.
I would say that woman is an appropriate wife for me. I don’t care if I have to spend the rest of my life as a social pariah or even if I have to lock us in this house away from prying eyes; I want you to be my wife.”
Livinia shook her head in disbelief and lowered herself to his level, looking into his eyes as she cried, “Are you sure that this is something you want?”
“Not to jump too far into the future, but I do. Now, will you give me your answer, or will I have to stay like this for hours?” Benedict wiped the tears from her cheeks and cradled her face in his palms.
“I will be your wife, Benedict Sheffield. I love you, more than you will ever know. I promise never to leave your side, no matter what may come our way. I will spend the rest of my life as your wife, drinking in every morsel of affection and love you dare to throw my way.” She pressed her lips against his as Benedict drew her into his arms, sealing their union with a kiss.
A gasp from just outside the doors drew them apart as they turned to see the three girls standing in the doorway.
“I knew it!” Theodora was first to squeal with delight as she jumped for joy and clapped her hands.
“What are you doing up here?” Benedict asked gruffly as Livinia saw a blush spreading over his cheeks for the first time in her life. He looked almost sheepish, as if he had been caught with his hands in the cookie jar.
Theodora rushed into the room with Adelaide following quickly on her heels. “We wanted to ask Livinia if she’d join us for tea, but I’m so glad we came now! When were you going to tell me?” She rounded on her brother and thrust her finger accusingly in his face.
“I didn’t think I needed to ask your permission,” Benedict responded grumpily, pushing her fingers away.
“You don’t need my permission, but I would have told you to do it sooner! The two of you have been in love for so long, I didn’t think you would ever confess your feelings for one another.” Theodora rolled her eyes and exchanged glances with Adelaide.
Olivia stood sheepishly in the doorway, giving Livinia a warm smile as she placed her hands behind her back.
“What are you talking about?” Benedict’s demeanour changed back to his broody grumpiness.
Livinia loved the fact that Benedict showed her a side of him that he hid from the rest of the world. It felt like his softer side was a secret that he only shared with her; even if their relationship was out in the open now, she still cherished the parts that were only theirs.
Theodora held out her hand and accepted a piece of parchment that Olivia had been concealing behind her back.
“We have all been keeping a diary of sorts and exchanging notes. Every time the two of you exchanged glances or seemed as if you wanted to kiss, the three of us would make a note. I started when Livinia would join us for evening tea, and Adelaide and Olivia joined in after the ball.” She ran her finger down what seemed to be a very long list.
“You were in on this?” Livinia turned to Olivia, who started to blush.
“Not at first, but I began to take their game seriously when you snuck onto the estate. You had changed, and I knew it for sure every time you spoke of the earl.”
“Never mind all that now; we need to start planning a wedding!” Theodora ushered the girls from the room, as they all giggled on their way out.
“Where are you going?” Livinia asked with a frown as Benedict made his way towards the door.
“I’m locking the door this time.” Benedict shook his head before making good on his word and walking back over to Livinia. He took her in his arms and kissed her passionately until her breath mingled with his in a way that signified their eternal joining.
