“Diana, nothing is officia—”

She popped up and kissed him again.

“You might change your—”

Her heels didn’t even touch the ground before she kissed him one more time. This time, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him the chance to enjoy it. Her lips were soft against his but not hesitant. They were confident, just like she was. As if they had a mind of their own, his arms reached around her back to pull her tightly against him. She might be confident, but he still needed to be reassured that this vibrant woman was actually willing to share his life with him. She pulled away but left her arms about his neck just as he was beginning to believe it could be true.

“If your brother sees us . . .” Everton didn’t need to finish that sentence.

Diana smiled at him, her head still conveniently tilted to one side. “Nothing could be more scandalous than proposing to me in the middle of Parliament. Nate will be all right. He knows what love is.”

Heaven forgive him, he had never been able to deny this woman what she wanted. He pulled her to him and lowered his mouth to hers. There was no hesitancy, no fear, and no guile. Diana sighed into him, and he tucked her closer to his chest. It was scandalous really, to kiss a woman outside the halls of Parliament. And yet, nothing about this moment felt wrong. Diana—his own goddess of hope—was to be his wife. His days of brandy watching and scandalizing women were over.

He pulled away. “You know . . . I really did enjoy helping those women . . .”

Diana pursed her lips together and narrowed one eye. “We will find another way to help them.”

“I thought my plan worked rather well. What are we to do now if a young lady needs to damage her reputation a bit?

“Then she can come help me in the office.”

“And if she needs to have her prospects raised?”

“Then she may become our friend.”

Everton laughed and pulled her back to him. His chin rested on the top of her hair, and she nestled into his chest as if she had always belonged there. His life had changed the moment this woman had come barging into his study dripping and desperate for his help. He had been bitter, broken, and determined to live out the rest of his life as a sorry shadow of a man. He wrapped his arms tighter around Diana. Thanks to her, his future lay open before him, and it was as fearless, bright, and exhilarating as the woman he was holding.

Epilogue

Diana opened the nursery door, careful not to make any noise. She peered into the room and found Everton and little Hope exactly where she thought they would be. Hope’s head and mop of black hair were tucked directly under Everton’s chin, her darling little outstretched arms rested on either side of Everton’s neck. Everton’s eyes were closed, and from the tilt of his head and stillness of the rocking chair, he had, once again, fallen asleep with their daughter nestled into him. Diana couldn’t help but smile. Marriage had tamed his reputation some, but many of the people of London still saw him as a complete scoundrel.