He opened a small velvet box, his face alight with hope and a tremor of fear. Candlelight caught the diamond, and it winked and twinkled, beckoning me.

But that ring wasn’t the offering. The offering was his heart.

Breathlessly, I nodded. “Yes,” I whispered, that word that belonged to him.

With shaking hands, he slid that ring on the finger tied to my heart, and when he stood, it was to pull me into his arms and kiss me like I was his, truly and forever.

But I already had been. I’d been waiting for him my whole life, it seemed, as if every step and every choice had brought me closer to him. To this moment. To all the moments ahead of us.

Because of all the dreams and wishes I had, he was the greatest of all.

Thank you so much for reading Gilded Lily! Hope you went out and bought yourself some flowers, because you’re worth it.

I hope you enjoyed Kash and Lila’s story. Ready for Marcus’s book? Follow the link to read Mum’s the Word, or turn the page for a sneak peek. And if you’d like to read my free bonus content, just click here!

If you’re itching for more Austen retellings, I have a treat for you. There’s Wasted Words (Inspired by Emma), A Thousand Letters (Inspired by Persuasion), Love Notes (Inspired by Sense and Sensibility), and Pride and Papercuts, coming fall 2020.

If the idea of crossing Gatsby and Gossip Girl makes you tingly, you should definitely check out the first book in my new series, Star Bright. It’s the perfect escape in a time we need it the most.

I’d love to keep in touch, so come join us in my Facebook group, Read Your Hart Out, and get exclusive giveaways and sneak peeks of future books. And to be sure you don’t miss any releases, you can http://stacihartnovels.com/get-the-newsletter

Thank you for all your help in spreading the word and telling a friend. I appreciate each and every one of you, and I hope you’ll consider leaving a review on your favorite book site.

Turn the page to read a sneak peek of Mum’s the Word!

Mum’s The Word

MARCUS

A peal of thunder split the sky open.

Rain fell in a sheet of fat drops, the deluge too sudden for a single person on Fifth Avenue to even reach for their umbrella, never mind open one. With a swear, I held my attache over my head in a useless attempt to protect my suit from the torrent as the foot traffic scattered like ants after the mound had been kicked in a scrambling, tumbling blitzkrieg for cover.