Page 66 of Charlotte's Kisses

Candles and lanterns still glowed, so he peered into Charlotte’s chamber.

She sat at her dressing table, brushing out her golden locks, her kitten on her lap.

Hopefully, he did not terrify her because she had been through enough these past few days. He pressed his face against the glassand lightly tapped.

Snowball leaped from her lap, and Charlotte gracefully swirled to face him. His heart danced about in his chest as he lifted the sash and entered her chamber.

“I had hoped you would come,” she said as she skipped to him.

He wrapped her in his arms. “I cannot stay long,” he whispered against her cheek.

“Oh, bother.” Her slippered foot stomped on the carpet.

Chuckling, he escorted her to the bed. She sat and patted the mattress. Damnation, it would be hard to be beside her and not touch her. But touches led to kisses, and kisses led to licks. Which led to suckling. Which would most definitely lead to an overwhelming desire to sink his cock into her tight cunny…

But that was not what this visit was about. He called forth his discipline and sat beside her. Taking her hand in his, he inhaled a steading breath. “Charlotte, I spoke to your father today.”

“Yes. He told me.”

Her all-consuming smile warmed him to his soul. Lord above, let him speak his mind without becoming tongue-tied.

“I know we have not known each other long, but I knew the second I saw you standing in the garden lighting up the night, that we were destined to be together.” It had been as if a lightning bolt zapped between them, binding their souls.

She squeezed his hand. “I felt it too.”

“I know I am not worthy, and I do not have as much to offer you as Lord Nash.” —the pile of horse dung.

She wrinkled her nose. “I detest him.”

Thank fuck. “If you will do me the honor of being my wife, I shall devotemyself—”

Charlotte leaped onto his lap, peppering his face with kisses. “Yes. Oh, yes, Hugh.”

He laughed like an absolute fool. “May I finish my proposal, I worked quite hard on it?”

She placed her hand over her mouth and stared into his eyes. As still as she sat, he could feel vibrations of excitement bubbling through her.

“I shall devote myself to your happiness. I plan to open my own business. Fletcher’s Investigations and Bounty.”

“How wonderful.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You shall be so successful.”

Lord, he hoped. Where was he? Oh yes. “I spent the afternoon looking at properties in the city and have found the perfect location. There is a lovely flat above it. ’Tis quite large, and you may decorate it as you see fit. I believe it requires a kitten, a puppy, and a few songbirds to make it even more cozy. There is a stable not too far, where we can keep a horse and a goat. You may bring your maid and the young lad who works in your father’s stable to be your staff.”

She squealed with delight.

So far, this was going splendidly. “If you are agreeable, we shall marry next month and travel to Brighton for our honeymoon.”

She gasped. “Next month?”

“Is that too soon?”

“Nay.” She giggled. “’Tis not soon enough.”

He could not agree more because he was impatient to start their new life together—to wake up in her arms every morning and make love to her every night.

“You chose the date,” he said.

She bit her lip. “Shall we marry here with my family or in Brighton with yours?”