Apparently he wanted an answer now. She tried to think, hoping her brain hadn’t turned to mush like her legs. “I love you, Harry, you know I do. But what about your reservations? That others would think you my pet”—she gulped, hating to say the word—“monkey?”

He nuzzled the hair at her temple. “I can’t deny that it will bother me. That and what they will say about you. But the thing is”—he raised his head and she saw that his emerald eyes had grown soft, almost vulnerable—“I don’t think I can live without you, my lady.”

“Oh, Harry.” She cradled his face in her palms. “My brothers like you, as does Violet. And, really, they’re all that matter in the end. The rest can go hang for all I care.”

He smiled, and as always, her heart sang at the sight. “Then will you marry me and be my lady for all our lives?”

“Yes. Yes, of course I’ll marry you.” She felt tears start in her eyes. “I love you desperately, you know.”

“And I love you,” he said rather absently, in her opinion. He carefully removed himself from her sensitive flesh.

“Oh, must you?” George tried to hold on to him.

“I’m afraid so.” Harry was swiftly rebuttoning his breeches. “They’re waiting for us out there.”

“Oh, let them wait.” She wrinkled her nose. He’d just proposed to her in a most romantic manner. Couldn’t she savor the moment?

Harry leaned forward to flip down her skirts and kiss her nose. “We’ll have plenty of time to lounge about after.”

“After?”

“After our marriage.” Harry frowned at her. “You did just agree to marry me.”

“But I didn’t imagine right away.” She checked her bodice. Why wasn’t there a mirror in here?

“You were ready to marry that popinjay out there right away.” Harry gestured with an outflung arm.

“That was different.” Did she look like she’d been doing what she had been doing? “And Cecil isn’t a popinjay; he’s—” She noticed that his expression had darkened alarmingly. Perhaps it was time to change the subject. “We can’t get married. We need a license.”

“I already have one.” Harry patted his coat pocket. It crinkled.

“How—?”

He cut her off with a kiss that could only be described as masterful. “Are you going to marry me or not?”

George clutched at his arms. Really, some of Harry’s kisses left her quite weak. “I’m going to marry you.”

“Good.” Harry tucked her arm through his and marched her to the door.

“Stop!”

“What?”

Men could be so obtuse. “Do I look like I’ve just been tumbled?”

Harry’s lips twitched. “You look like the most beautiful woman in the world.” He kissed her soundly again. He hadn’t exactly answered her question, but it was too late now.

He opened the door.