Page 35 of A Diamond for a Duke

“Dare I hope your answer is yes? It’s not too soon?”

Jemmah gave a jerky nod, afraid she’d weep for joy if she spoke.

The carriage gave an abrupt shudder as the rear wheel sank into a hole, jostling them against each other.

Jules beaver hat smacked her parasol, skewing it to the side.

As he straightened it, he sought her eyes.

“Yes, it’s too soon, or your answer is yes?”

“Yes, I’ll marry you, darling man,” she whispered, perhaps not as quietly as she might since she didn’t care who knew this wonderful news.

They’d still Mama to convince, of course, but Jemmah refused to let that obstacle steal a single speck of her elation.

Jules released a long, shuddering breath.

“Thank God. I almost swallowed my heart. I think it’s still lodged somewhere in my throat.” After patting his neck, he winked and tucked her scandalously closer. “We can discuss the details while we wander Vauxhall, and I promise to propose properly. Too many ears, right now.”

He waggled his eyebrows toward Mary.

“But, I must tell you,” his voice dropped to a low purr, causing the most remarkable of sensations to sprout in unmentionable areas. “I adore you, Jemmah, love.”

A plump tear did escape then. One of pure, unadulterated joy.

“And I love you too, Jules.”

Had for years, but she wasn’t ready to share that just yet. Not until they were alone, and she could show him just how ecstatic she was.

Knuckle bent, he caught the wayward droplet. “I only want to see tears of happiness in your beautiful blue eyes from now on.”

“They will be.”

Sparing a glance overhead, Jules closed his eyes. “Doesn’t the sun feel glorious?”

“Yes.” Though he was far more spectacular.

Trailing her gaze over his refined profile, she put her other hand to her middle to still the odd spasm that always occurred when she gazed upon him thusly. She didn’t remember a time she hadn’t loved him, and that he felt the same...

Galloping turtles, such glee made her lightheaded.

Gone was the stiff, stern, unapproachable peer others had mocked for his severity. Jules now let the rest of the world see the man she’d always known existed beneath his prickly, protective exterior.

A contented sigh passed between her lips.

A half an hour later saw Mary settled beneath a tree with a book and several gossip rags, while Jemmah and Jules strolled the gardens. She’d lived in London her entire life and had never been inside Vauxhall.

Father’s pockets had always been in dun territory, made worse by the funds he frittered away on his mistresses.

“Have I told you how beautiful you are today, Jemmah?” Jules deep voice rumbled low in his broad chest.

A pleasure-born blush bathed her that he would think her so. “No, but I know a taradiddle when I hear it. But it does my womanly pride wonders to hear the nonsense, nevertheless. You forget, I have a looking glass.”

He tweaked her nose. “And you, my dear, are blind to your own loveliness.”

“Well, isn’t this a coincidence. I was just speaking of you, Jemmah.”

Upon hearing Adelinda’s spiteful voice, Jemmah spun around.