Page 59 of Eight for Losing, One for Loving

They had stayed for two more nights, unable to tear themselves away from each other, or from the bed. Every meal had been taken in their room and they had been grateful Jenny’s ankle was on the mend so she could take over care of Mau, who was rather disgruntled by the lack of attention. They must make a great fuss over him to ensure he did not resent Vi’s sudden presence in Leo’s life.

Vi turned in his arms, coiling her arms around his neck and gazing up at him.

“Thank you,” she said, and he heard the sincerity behind the words, gratitude of a depth he did not understand.

Leo frowned at her. “What for?”

“For never giving up, for knowing who I am, who I can be, even if I was too afraid to be her for a while.”

Leo’s heart contracted at the words, and he held her close. “Never thank me for that, love, for my actions were entirely selfish. I can’t live without you, you see.”

“I could not live without you, Leo, that is the reason I was so afraid, you know that, don’t you? I cannot love you this deeply and lose you, I… I should go mad and—”

“Hush,” he told her, holding her tighter still. “I’m going nowhere, and I’ll take no silly risks, you have my word.”

The tension left her with his reassurance, and he looked down, lifting her chin so he could kiss her. “Vi?”

“Yes?”

He had thought of and discarded a dozen different ways to ask her the question he had longed to ask for such a long time, but in the end, it was simple now. She would not want some grand gesture or convoluted expression of undying love, she knew she had his heart in the palm of her hand already. So, he simply got to one knee, holding her hands in his, knowing everything he felt must be written clearly upon his face.

“Violetta Spencer, my darling girl, my dearest friend and most vexing adversary, I love you, I shall love you alone, forsaking all others, for the rest of my days. Please marry me, love, and I shall do my utmost not to annoy you beyond reason, and to make you as happy as it is possible for two people to be together.”

She laughed, tears sparkling in her eyes as one drop fell, sliding down her cheek.

“Oh, Leo, you are the most wonderful, most ridiculous man, as if you needed to ask. Of course I shall marry you. I cannot think of anything I wish to do more. Well…” she added, glancing at the bed.

Leo gave a bark of laughter and got to his feet, hauling her against him and kissing her soundly. “My beloved, you are a wicked, wicked woman,” he said in delight, turning her around and giving her behind a sound smack that made her exclaim and glare at him in the most enticing manner.

Yes, marrying Vi would be an adventure all of its own, he thought with a grin.