Page 108 of The Unfortunate Debutante
“They’ll love her.”
“I know. How could they not?”
Martha grew silent as she watched him for a moment. “Our once-merged paths have veered away from each other, and we’ve discovered far greater happiness than we ever thought possible when we started on our journey.”
He smiled. “Well said, Martha.”
“Well, it would be best if I join my husband in the study before the ball starts,” Martha said. “I wouldn’t want him to have all the fun without me, now would I?”
Simeon watched Martha walk down the hall, and he knew without a doubt that Martha was his past, and Emma was his future.
The main doors opened again, and Emma entered with Lord and Lady Downshire. His breath hitched at the mere sight of Emma dressed in a white gown with a pink ribbon around her waist. Her hair was piled high on her head and brown curls framed her face. Good heavens, she is stunning, he thought.
“Wentworth, you need a hobby!” Downshire exclaimed. “I fear you might smother Emma with all your unwanted attention.”
“It’s not unwanted,” Emma remarked with a coy smile. “In fact, I find I’m constantly encouraging him.”
“I will personally acquire a special license, and we will get you married tomorrow,” Downshire suggested.
“We shall not,” Rachel stated. “Emma and I have been planning the wedding luncheon for over a week now and invitations have been sent out.”
“I need a drink,” Downshire mumbled as he continued to walk down the hall.
“Poor Luke. He doesn’t know quite what to do with Emma being in love,” Rachel teased. She followed her husband with a light laugh.
Without waiting another moment, Simeon reached for Emma’s hand and started leading her towards the gardens in the back of the townhouse.
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
He grinned as he opened the door. “I wanted a moment alone before your guardian comes looking for us, and quite possibly challenges me to a duel for absconding with you.”
“I doubt he’d do that,” she replied, her eyes full of mirth. “More likely, he will demand that we marry in the morning by special license.”
He pulled her against him. “I find that I am in favor of that.”
“As am I,” she murmured before their lips met.
After a few moments, Simeon broke the kiss and reached into the pocket of his jacket. “I have something for you.”
“Another gift?” Emma asked with an uplifted brow. “I daresay you’re spoiling me.”
He pulled out a diamond bracelet and held it up. “I saw this in a shop, and I thought of you.”
Emma smiled as she fingered the matching diamond necklace around her neck. “I’m beginning to suspect you think of me often when you visit shops.”
“It’s true,” he agreed, placing the bracelet around her wrist. “I think of little else.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Emma declared, “I wish you would stop buying me jewelry. I don’t need fancy jewels or clothes. I just want a place in your heart like you have in mine.”
“You already own my heart.” Simeon kissed her firmly on the lips, then added, “I love you.”
“And I love you.”
Resting his forehead on hers, he spoke softly. “Before you came into my life, I was a shell of the man I once was. But you changed me. With you, I’m free to live again.”
“Careful,” Emma teased, “it almost sounds like you believe in fairy tales.”
“I admit that I am becoming a believer in happily ever afters.” He smirked. “And the night is still young.”
