Everyone chuckled, except for Anne, who was not sure what role she would play in this family’s new future. She had not been able to fulfill her contract with Garrett and secure the Pembroke fortune. She would therefore not receive the compensation that had been promised to her—the compensation that would have ensured her independence.
But what would Garrett want? she wondered as she listened to him describe how grateful Marcus and Joshua’s parents had been when they arrived to collect the boys that morning. They had wept tears of joy as they thanked Garrett and Dr. Thomas.
Anne was so happy for him, and so thankful that everything had worked out.
At last, Garrett told his family about his boating accident in the spring, and how he had not been able to save the passengers on board. “I came home seeking some form of atonement, but what I’ve learned is that nothing will ever erase what happened on the water that day. Nothing will take away the grief of those who were left behind. All I can do is try to remember that I did my best to save them, and that in the future, I will find ways to be useful and helpful in this life. Yesterday, it took all of us to bring that boy back from disaster. Not one of us could have done it alone. It was a shared effort.” He paused. “I do not believe I am meant to be alone.”
“No, you are not.” The duchess took hold of his hand and kissed it with all the love and compassion Anne knew she would provide, if only Garrett would open up to her and the rest of his family.
Garrett met Anne’s eyes just then and gazed at her for a tortuous moment while she tried to read his thoughts about their future together, but it was no use. She was lost in a haze of longing and desire.
“Anne.” he said in front of everyone. “You, more than anyone, deserve my most heartfelt apologies for keeping you waiting last night. How can I ever make it up to you?”
She looked down at the floor. “That is not necessary, Garrett. You and Dr. Thomas have explained why you could not be here. It could not be helped and I am so happy you were able to help those boys. I certainly bear no ill will.”
Before she realized what was happening, Garrett had crossed the room and was down on one knee before her. She blinked down at him with surprise.
“This is something I must do in front of witnesses, Anne, and please listen carefully.” He took hold of her hand. “I came home to Pembroke Palace a broken man, but in a very short time, you helped make me whole again—with your kindness, your understanding, and your beauty, inside and out. If I am not mistaken, my entire family has fallen in love with you, and I more than any of them cannot imagine a life without you here with all of us at Pembroke. I kneel down before you now, not to fulfill the terms of any contract or to act out a charade, but to satisfy my own heart, because I love you with every breath in my body.”
She laid a hand over her own heart, fearing that it might stop beating.
But there was more. He still had more beautiful things to say.
“I want you for the rest of my life, Anne. I want you as my bride, and as the mother of my children. And there will be children, I guarantee it—a whole houseful of them—if you would but honor me with your hand.”
Anne sucked in a breath and struggled to find her voice. Was this really happening?
Garrett smiled up at her with those dazzling blue eyes and said, “Will you marry me, Anne? For real? Never to be apart? Will you make me the happiest man alive?”
Overcome by a dizzying mixture of joy and disbelief, feeling as if she were caught in a glorious, heavenly dream, she reached out to run her hand over his thick, golden hair.
“You haven’t answered me,” he said with a confident, seductive smile.
She responded by tugging at the shoulders of his jacket to pull him to his feet. “You know I love you, Garrett, so how can there be any answer but yes?”
She was vaguely aware of the others cheering and applauding as he pulled her into his arms and pressed his mouth to hers for a passionate kiss that sent the whole world spinning.
His hands settled on the curve of her hips as he drew back and looked down at her dress. “You are already dressed for our wedding. Can we not do it now?”
Anne couldn’t help herself. She laughed out loud and glanced at Charlotte, who was watching with wide, hopeful eyes.
“Say yes!” Charlotte shouted. “The vicar is still here. He couldn’t leave in the storm last night. He is probably in the breakfast room by now. He already has all the papers prepared.”
Anne’s heart beat fast with excitement. “Am I dreaming?” she asked.
“No, by God, you are fully awake,” Garrett replied, as he kissed her again with fierce, relentless passion. The touch of his lips seared her blood. Then he swept her into his arms like an eager groom about to cross the threshold on the wedding night.