The Rake (35 page)

"Yes, you are. They promise to remain fully clothed this time."

"Aunt Frederica!" Georgiana exclaimed, flushing.

"Get on with it." Sending her a brief, encouraging glance, the dowager duchess closed the door.

Georgiana and Tristan stood for a moment, gazing at one another in the sudden silence. "I hadn't realized the news would spread this fast," he said in a low voice, "or I would have been here earlier. Amelia and
Luxley
aren't nearly as interesting to everyone as I'd thought they would be, obviously."

"I was hoping everyone would be so occupied with talking about them that they would forget to mention us."

Tristan cleared his throat. "I need to ask you a question. Two questions, actually."

If her heart beat any faster, she was going to faint dead away. "I'm listening," she replied, feigning calmness as best she could.

"First," he began, handing her the bouquet, "do you trust me?"

"I couldn't believe you remembered that I liked lilies," she said, holding on to them so she would have something to do with her hands.

"I remember everything, Georgiana. I remember how you looked the first time we met, and I remember the look in your eyes when I betrayed your trust."

"But you didn't, really," she returned. "You hurt me, but no one else ever knew. How did you keep it quiet, with a wager resting on the outcome?"

He shrugged his broad shoulders.
"Creativity.
Georgiana, do you—"

"Yes," she interrupted, meeting his gaze. "I trust you."

If he'd been waiting for a moment to get his revenge, this was it. She'd spoken the truth, though. She did trust him, and just as importantly, she liked him. She loved him.

"Well, then," he said, as though he hadn't been certain what her answer would be, "this is for you, too."

He held out the box. The size of a box of cigars, it was bound with a single silver ribbon, tied in a bow at the top. Swallowing, Georgiana set aside the lilies and took it in her hands. It was lighter than she expected.

"It's not another fan, is it?" she asked, trying to joke.

"Open it and find out," he replied.

She thought he looked nervous, and it made her feel a bit sturdier to realize that he wasn't invulnerable. She tugged on one end of the ribbon, and it fell away. With a swift breath, she flipped open the lid.

Her stockings lay neatly folded side by side, the rolled-up note in between them. She started to thank him,
then
noticed what held the missive in its tight coil.
A ring.
Tristan's signet ring.

"Oh, my," she whispered, a tear running down her cheek.

"And now for my second question," he said, his voice not quite steady. "Some people will say that I'm asking you this because of your wealth. And I do need what you have in order to save Dare. Other people will say it's because I have no choice, and that I am obligated to save your reputation. We both know there's far more to it than that. I need
you.
Even more than your money, Georgiana, I need you. Will you marry me?"

"You know," she said, wiping another tear away and torn between laughing and crying, "
when
this first began, I only meant to teach you a lesson about the consequences of breaking someone's heart. What I didn't realize was that you had something to teach me, as well—about how people can change, and about how sometimes you
can
trust your heart. My heart's been in love with you for a very long time, Tristan."

Tristan took the box from her and set it on the table. Removing the ring from the parchment, he reached for her hand. "Then answer my question, Georgiana. Please, before I expire from the suspense."

She gave a teary chuckle.
"Yes, Tristan.
I will marry you."

He slipped the ring on her finger,
then
pulled her up against him, touching his lips to hers. "You've saved me," he murmured.

"I'm happy my money can help with Dare," she said. "I always knew that would be part of any arrangement I entered."

Sapphire eyes held hers. "No, Georgiana. You've saved
me.
I kept wondering how I could even think of marrying someone else, when I compared every female I met with you. But I knew you hated me, and—"

"I don't anymore." She sighed. "I'm not certain I ever did."

Tristan kissed her again. "I love you,
Georgie
—so much that it frightens me a little. I've
been wanting
to tell you that for a while, but I wasn't certain you would ever believe me."

She'd worried about the same thing. "I believe you now. And I love you."

He took her hand, looking down at the overlarge ring on her finger. "I suppose we should tell your family, before they shoot me." His eyes met hers again. "And please, tell me you're through with lessons."

Georgiana chuckled again. "No promises. I may feel the need to continue your education later."

"Heaven help us both, then," he whispered with a smile, and kissed her.

Why, man, she is mine own,

And
I
as rich in having such a jewel

As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl,

The water
nectar,
and the rocks pure gold.

—
Two Gentlemen of Verona,
Act II, Scene iv