The Lady Forfeits (20 page)

‘Marry me, Diana!’ he urged passionately. ‘Marry me and allow me to love you until the day I die and beyond. Say yes, my darling, and I promise I will worship at your beautiful feet for the rest of my life.’

Perhaps it was she who had lost her senses? Gabriel could not really be kneeling in front of her saying these wonderful things to her! He could not! Could he?

He gave a choked laugh as he obviously saw the
bewilderment in her expression. ‘Dominic warned me of how it would be if I ever fell in love; to my shame, I chose to dismiss his warning.’ He drew his breath in sharply. ‘I do love you, Diana; I realised some days ago just how much. So much, my darling, that my very happiness depends upon your every word and smile. These past days of even thinking of living without you, of some day watching you marrying another man, has been an agony I wish never to be repeated.’

‘But you became so cold and distant whilst we were at Faulkner Manor and after we got back,’ she said.

He sighed. ‘I believed you must think less of me because of my blindness to both the events in the past and my neglect of my mother.’

‘I could never think less of you because of those things, Gabriel,’ she insisted. ‘You and your family were lied to and deceived by your uncle and aunt, and you could have had no idea of their treatment of your mother. Once you did learn of it, you put the matter right immediately. No, Gabriel, I could never think less of you because of those things,’ she repeated firmly.

His hands tightened about hers. ‘Then will you not consider marrying me? Will you not put me out of this agony of uncertainty and instead make me the happiest man alive?’

Diana could see by the lines of strain that had appeared beside his eyes and mouth that he spoke only the truth. The complete, unvarnished truth. Gabriel loved her! Really loved her. He could no more bear the thought of living without her than she could bear the thought of being parted from him!

She drew in a shaky breath. ‘I do not need to consider
marrying you, Gabriel—because I could marry no one else. I love you so very much, my dear darling love!’ She placed her hands on either side of his face as he got slowly to his feet and looked up at him with that love shining brightly in her eyes. ‘Whatever I once thought I felt for Malcolm is nothing in comparison to what I feel for you. What I know I will
always
feel for you. I love you so very, very much, my darling Gabriel.’

He could barely breathe as he slowly lowered his head and his lips claimed hers in a kiss that showed her just how deep and overwhelming his love for her was—and she returned it whole-heartedly.

‘Everyone will be wondering why we did not appear for either luncheon or dinner,’ Diana said, scandalised.

‘The fact that no one has come in search of us shows that Caroline did not leave them wondering for long!’ Gabriel lay back upon the pillows of Diana’s bed, his arms about her and her head resting upon his shoulder as she snuggled into his side, the long length of her golden-red curls a warm caress against the bareness of his chest.

The hours since they had confessed their love for one other had been ones of pure bliss for both of them, as they made long and delicious love together, and then talked softly of the misunderstandings of the past few days, before making love again. ‘As soon as we have the strength to leave this bed I intend taking you to the best jewellers in town and buying you the biggest sapphire ring we can find,’ he announced with satisfaction.

Diana glanced up at him. ‘I do not need fine jewels to know that you love me.’

His arms tightened about her. ‘Maybe not, my love, but I need to place my ring upon your finger as a warning to other men that you belong to me.’

She laughed softly. ‘Can there be any doubts as to that?’

‘Hopefully not,’ he muttered.

‘Definitely not!’ she protested.

Gabriel sobered. ‘I do think that perhaps we should not delay the wedding for more than a few days or so.’ He smiled to himself, knowing that despite his previous intentions, he had been so enthralled by the beauty and pleasure of their lovemaking that he had lost all control and consummated their marriage ahead of the actual ceremony. ‘Perhaps a double wedding with your sister Caroline and Dominic?’ he suggested.

‘Perhaps,’ she said quietly.

‘Only perhaps?’ Gabriel turned to look down into Diana’s slightly pensive expression. ‘You are not having second thoughts? Now that we have made love, have you decided that—’

‘Hush.’ Diana placed slender fingers against his beautifully sculptured lips. Lips that had kissed and explored parts of her body that still made her blush to think of. ‘I have told you that I love you, Gabriel, and I do.’ She gazed deeply into his eyes. ‘I love you. All of you. Now and for ever.’

Gabriel’s arms tightened about her, only slightly reassured. ‘But you will only “perhaps” marry me?’

A slight frown creased her brow. ‘I do not believe that either Caroline or I wish to be married without Elizabeth present.’

‘Of course.’ He finally relaxed, relieved by the obvi
ous explanation. ‘Then Vaughn and I must find her as quickly as is possible.’

‘I am afraid you must, yes,’ she agreed.

‘Never be afraid to ask anything of me, Diana.’ His eyes glowed lovingly down at her. ‘Whatever I have, whatever I am, it all yours, and always will be.’

No woman could possibly ask for more than that from the man that she loved and who loved her in return.