A Man Of Many Talents (32 page)

Was she angry? Christian shrugged. “I had to give you the choice. I didn’t want you settling for me because you had no other options.”

Her lips quirked. “Would I settle for anyone? Only the most intelligent, most clever, most resourceful man could tempt me to wed.”

Christian lifted his brows. “Do I know him?”

Abigail shook her head. “No, you don’t realize all that you are, but luckily I appreciate every single one of your talents,” she said, pausing to tick off these supposed attributes on her fingers.

“Your knowledge of architecture, your quick thinking, your ability to unravel the most complex of mysteries, your love of adventure, your boldness in the face of danger, your bravery, your strength, your cleverness, your skill with locks, your physical prowess, your passion. You think you aren’t a man of learning, but you know things you don’t even know you know,” she said in a breathless rush.

Christian blinked at that cr
yptic remark, but she went on. “
Truly, you are a man of many talents, far too many to list.
And I love you in all your guises, ghost router, scholar
…
and scoundrel
.
”

Christian felt his pulse pick up its pace. “And I love you, not only the Governess, the woman who served as a companion, the most reasonable and practical of females who had the courage to call me an idiot to my face, but Abigail as well, the lady who longs fo
r adventure and sword fights…
and passion. And let’s not forget Abby, who stole my childish heart and held it in her keeping all these years.”

She smiled, so softly and sweetly that Christian felt a hitch in his chest. “You remembered.”

He nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

“Maybe deep in my heart, I still harbor a yearning to be swept off my feet and overwhelmed by a pirate in gentleman’s breeches. Or out of them,” she said, her lips quirking.

Christian laughed. “I am that pirate, and as I recall, you were once a pirate’s wench.
My wench.”
And with that, he stepped toward her and did what he had always wanted to do. He tossed her over his shoulder and carried her back to the house, where he lay claim, at last, to the woman who would be his wife. And his wench.