Please don’t mock me.

He tightened his arm around her waist, and when she looked at him, his face held such a look of joy that it transformed his features entirely. He leaned down and planted a kiss on her lips.

“Watch the road, Lucius,” she admonished, her lips curving upward.

She breathed in sharply as realization struck. “But, Lucius, we still have not solved the problem! Even if you marry me, I will be in your company without a chaperone overnight—never mind that we are not in the same room. That alone will ruin my reputation. Oh, why did we not bring Alice? We could easily have found room for her.”

“Confound Alice,” he said. “She would have been de trop. I have not underestimated the danger to your reputation, dearest, but as I said—I always come prepared." A smile played on his lips, as he looked straight ahead. "In my coat pocket, I have a special license—"

"For Rebecca and Lord Harrowden,” Selena exclaimed. "What good can that do us?"

"Do you think I would lose an opportunity to get a special license for them and not request one for us?" he said. “That would have been bacon-brained.”

Selena looked at him in shock. Such a thing had never occurred to her.

“It's hard enough to convince you—stubborn girl that you are—to marry me,” he continued. “I can see that it will never do, with my sister constantly sowing seeds of doubt—although you may be sure that she and I have had a talk and we now understand one another perfectly—and cow-hearted men like Downing making you doubt your worth. His Grace has given me the direction of the vicar at Campton, and I will marry you tonight.” He flashed her with a proud grin. "Now that you have finally said yes."

Nestled in his arms, Selena was flooded with joy. She could not believe that such joy belonged to her "Oh, Lucius," she breathed as she opened her eyes wide to him. He pulled his horse to a sudden stop and fixed his gaze on her.

“Why did you stop?" she asked.

With one hand around her waist and with the reins wrapped around the other, he pulled her close. “For this.” Lucius kissed her until she was faint with longing, pulled up tight against him and cradled in his arms. He pulled away at last, his breath coming quickly and his eyes glowing in the near darkness. A smile grew on both their faces as their gazes held.

“So where do we find this vicar?” Selena asked shyly.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Two days later, Sir Lucius and Lady Clavering arrived at Harrowden Estate, and Selena shot Lucius a glance full of misgiving. They had spent the two days following their impromptu wedding ceremony selfish beyond permission, Selena had told her husband more than once, but he banished her objections easily.

“It is time someone thought about you, and that is my role now,” Lucius had told her.