Page 40 of Never Dance with a Duke

“Thank you for trusting me with something so private, Mathias. Rest assured, I will never even let your mother know I’m aware.”

“Thank you.” He kissed her nose. “I could not in good conscience take you as my wife, Nicolette, without confiding in you.”

“It makes no difference to me who sired you.” She pressed a kiss to his hand. “It’s you I love.”

“Mathias!” Lady Calbraith’s plaintive wail cut through the peaceful night. “Oh, Mathias, my dearest, tell me it isn’t so.”

One arm draped around Nicolette’s waist, he turned to face the viscountess as she glided across the terrace, her features arranged in carefully contrived distress. Her gown hugged her voluptuous curves, accenting her shapely figure to perfection. And as was her wont, her bountiful breasts were on full display, bouncing gently as she rushed toward them.

“What isn’t so?” He traced his fingers up and down Nicolette’s bare arm. “That I called Kilbourne out for insulting my betrothed? Or that I am to wed the most marvelous woman in the world?”

Other guests began trailing onto the terrace, whether to see what the commotion was about or whether they’d heard the news of the pending duel, Nicolette couldn’t guess.

Or…had Kilbourne wasted no time in sullying her reputation?

She realized with a start, she really and honestly didn’t give a bloody damn.

Mathias loved her, and she loved him. Everything else was inconsequential.

Lady Calbraith blinked several times, her mouth opening and closing like a freshly caught salmon. Or that peculiar little monkey Nicolette had seen once at the fair.

“What?” The viscountess managed, at last, her voice very much sounding like she’d gargled shards of glass. “M…m…marry?”

She said the word as if enunciating an obscene oath.

Nicolette couldn’t prevent the small, jubilant smile curving her mouth.

Well, perhaps, not so very small.

At least two dozen guests crowded near them now, including her Mother, the Sutcliffes, Rayne, Gabriella and Ophelia, and those bruising Scottish dukes.

“Whatever is going on?” Everleigh asked, sweeping to the front of the engrossed crowd, white lines bracketing her mouth.

A wide grin splitting his handsome face, Mathias dropped to one knee before Nicolette. “I’m proposing to the most remarkable, intriguing woman.”

“Oh, my,” Everleigh breathed with approval. She cast a beaming smile to her husband and reached for his hand. “Isn’t it the most romantic thing, Griffin?”

“Indeed,” came the duke’s droll response.

Several delighted feminine gasps echoed—and perhaps a few not so very thrilled, as well.

“I knew it!” Nicolette clearly heard Ophelia exclaim. “Didn’t I tell you, Gabby and Rayne? Oh, this is simply marvelous.”

A familiar male figure edged forward, and head canted, he crossed his arms.

Ansley?

His penetrating gaze drifting between her and Mathias, and a reserved smile slanting his mouth, he gave an approving nod.

Joy warmed Nicolette’s veins as she returned her attention to Mathias, though her vision was decidedly blurry and her smile tremulous.

He took both her hands in his and gazed into her eyes with such earnestness, her breath caught. It seemed to do that quite often in his presence.

“Oh, my goodness,” she heard Mama say amidst sniffles. “I’m so delighted.”

A hush settled over the crowd, anticipation fairly vibrating in the air.

“Nicolette Adelia Estelle Twistleton, I adore you. I want to spend every day of the rest of my life, looking into your glorious eyes and putting a smile on your face.” Mathias winked naughtily. “And perhaps even ride elephants together in Africa and Asia.”