“I’ll think about,” she said, spinning around and sashaying out the door.
His friends hooted and laughed as Dane rose and ran after her. “Sandrine, wait.”
He caught up with her beside a spirited horse in a red leather harness. “Let me try that again.”
“Well? I don’t have all day.” There was laughter in her blue eyes, but Dane was determined to truly win her heart this time.
“Sandrine Oliver, you make me want to listen, to be still, to wake with the sun of your smile, and plunge into the sea of your eyes, get lost there, be happy. Be content.” He brushed his thumb over the curve of her lower lip. “I’ve always had darkness in my mind, blame and shame. I thought Iwasn’t worthy of happiness, but now I want to prove myself worthy of you every single day for the rest of my life.”
“You already have, Dane. I hope you see that.”
“Those men at the Squalton Squire on my first day at the seashore said that you thought you could melt my cold, cold heart. And they were right.” He clasped both her hands in his and brought them to his chest. “Can you feel it beating wildly?”
She nodded, her eyes shimmering with tears.
“I love you, Sandrine. I’ve loved you since the moment I hauled you out of the sea. You weren’t drowning, but I was. Drowning in dark thoughts, in perilous living. You rescued me on that beach. You showed me the man I wanted to be. You saved me, sweet Sandrine.”
“I love you, Dane.” She lifted onto her toes and kissed him, pressing those breathtaking, leather-encased curves against him and causing quite a stir. “How could I not fall in love with you?” she asked when he allowed her a moment to breathe. “You’re the most unpredictable and thrilling thing that ever happened to me.”
“Is this your curricle?” he asked, eyeing the elegant chariot with red-painted wheels that matched her boots.
“Roslyn lent it to me.”
“How fast does it go?”
She traced the line of his jaw with one finger, her gaze hungry for more kisses. “Shall we find out?”
He lifted her by the waist and set her on thecarriage seat. Then he climbed in beside her and took the reins. “This might be slightly dangerous.”
“I certainly hope so,” she replied with a smile that was pure seduction, both innocent and wicked, and sent his heartbeat racing. “And it’s only the beginning, Dane.”
Epilogue
“Shh. Dane, did you hear that?”
“I didn’t hear anything.”
“A faint thumping sound. It’s Lucidora and Coraline. Listen. You can hear them walking on the floorboards above us.”
The workmen had gone for the day. The renovation of Squalton Manor was proceeding apace.
Ruby had painted delightful portraits of the ghostly sisters to hang in the entrance hall. Sandrine’s mother still wasn’t speaking to her, but they’d both attended the wedding, seated on opposite sides of the chapel, which had been a small step toward reconciliation. Sandrine hoped that with time her mother might learn to forgive, and they could all be one happy family.
Roslyn wasn’t with child. It had been a false alarm. She and Kenwick had married, which hadn’t stopped them from arguing like cats and dogs.
Marta had collected several new beaux, and Francesca had decided she loved creating wigs for fancy masquerade balls and was doing a brisk business.
Warburton had moved to the countryside, claiming he was tired of London life, but Danesuspected he was tired of people staring at his scars. And Dudley and Somersby, well, they were probably up to no good, racing carriages, swigging brandy, and trading insults.
Dane and Sandrine split their time between London and Squalton and planned to accompany Ruby abroad to visit Sandrine’s aunt and cousin. Mrs. McGovern and Miss Hodwell were back in Squalton and very involved with the restoration of the manor house.
Dane rolled over and pinned Sandrine’s arms above her head, pressing her into the mattress. “Do you hear that, Sandrine? A great thumping, coming from the master bedroom!”
He pounded the headboard against the wall.
She giggled, and then she moaned, because he transferred both of her wrists to one hand and used his other hand to push her nightgown over her hips.
“Ghostly moaning,” he said in an eerie voice. She couldn’t laugh because she was too busy writhing beneath his talented fingers.