He pulled out a notebook. She recognized the journal. He carried it with him whenever he visited her father. “You were right so long ago. You called me a useless fribble who only attends parties. You said I don’t care about science—”
“Trevor, I was angry.”
“You were right. I’ve been dabbling at my studies, but here…” He flipped the book open. “I want to work more. I want to work with you.”
She knew of his research. She’d overheard him talk with her father about it, but she never thought he’d want to share it with her. “But Trevor, I work with chemicals, not insects.”
“You’re a scientist, and I never realized how much of your father’s work is actually yours. I should have. I’m sorry. All those times I was trying to get your father’s advice, his clarity of mind and singular focus—I really wanted yours. Mellie, I’ve been an idiot.”
She blinked away tears. Of all the things she should be tearing up over, this always came as a surprise. He saw her work. He knew what she did and admired her for it. “Of course,” she pushed out through her tight throat. “Of course I will help.”
“Thank you,” he said gravely. “But that’s not where I was the biggest idiot.”
“Trevor, stop.” She couldn’t take anymore. Her heart was breaking, and yet the hope, the possibility that there might be more to his words, had her nearly dizzy with want.
He kept talking as if she hadn’t interrupted. “I never understood this madness, Mellie. I’ve never felt it before. And my biggest idiocy was when I proposed to you—”
“What?” she gasped.
“I proposed without saying the most important part.” He grabbed her fingers. “I love you, Mellie. I want to marry you and grow old together. I want to make babies with you, then argue science in the morning. But mostly, Mellie, I just love you. Please don’t marry anyone else but me.”
There it was. He’d said the words, and more importantly, she saw the truth in his eyes. He loved her.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
“Don’t answer yet,” he said. “Just listen. My family will be a bother. They’realwaysa bother, but you already handle my mother. And did I tell you that my investment in the mine has finally paid off? I found out just yesterday. And we can sell your cosmetic formula, so even if my grandfather does cut me off, we’ve got plenty of money.”
“I’vegot plenty of money,” she said. “I’m an heiress, remember?”
“And your father won’t really cut you off. When he sees how deliriously happy I’ve made you—”
“I had a letter from him weeks ago. He said he was wrong.”
He blinked at her, then suddenly blew out a heavy breath. “See there? It will all work out. I promise. You just have to say—”
“I love you.”
“I love you too. God, Mellie, please, please don’t turn me away.”
She laughed, the sound light even through her tears. “Idiot! I love youmeansyes. Yes, I will marry you. Yes, I will have your babies. And yes, I will help you with your research if you will help me with mine. And you will show me how to do…” She swallowed and held up the book.
Then they were kissing. She was in his arms, and he was pulling her tight. And suddenly, she knew that everything would be all right. Despite everything, his plan had worked. And her plan had come out just right. And they were in love, so even if it hadn’t, they would find a way.
Epilogue
Above all else, never lose hope.
Ronnie sat in the dirt at a crossroads and contemplated murder. His intended victim stood nearby, happily pecking at the dirt, completely ignorant of its doom. But before Ronnie did the deed, he had to summarize in neat form the full extent of the creature’s crimes.
First and most important, the bird’s purpose in life had been to win Ronnie his lady fair. Far from doing that, the stupid creature had tripped him during the duel, pecked him in very private places, and covered his favorite shoes in shite. Then, to compound his crimes, the thing’s demented squawking had gotten them thrown off the mail coach at this deserted crossroads too far from London for a decent inn. So here he sat contemplating murder while the afternoon sun baked his shoulders, causing the sweat under his clothes to make his wounds itch.
“What creature is that?” gasped a woman’s voice.
He turned to see a tall woman with a yellow bonnet sitting atop a cart. He had heard the thing coming, of course, and had intended to stand and make himself more presentable. But so black was his mood that he hadn’t even bothered, choosing instead to think of ways to kill the hideous creature.
But now that she asked, he felt the compulsion to answer. So he pushed slowly to his feet and began his speech. “This, fair maiden, is the noblest of creatures. A rare descendent of the hitherto extinct dodo bird. It hails…” He swallowed. “I mean…” He felt his shoulders slump, his heart not in his performance.
“Sir?”