Page 70
Mama stopped with a cake halfway to her mouth. “Advertisement?”
Emily flushed and smiled in memory. “He advertised for a—an assistant. He’s an antiquities scholar, Mama. I thought the advertisement was from a woman. A female scholar. I was rather shocked when I discovered he was a man.”
Mama took a bite of her cake. “How extraordinary. Then what happened?”
“Well, he proposed. You see, he was looking for a wife who could also be his assistant.”
Mama took a sip of tea. “Most peculiar. He’s quite a well looking fellow. Why did he have to advertise?”
She looked over at Deo who was still talking to the Ashfords.
“He’s shy,” she said with a soft smile. “And he wanted a wife who was also interested in antiquities.”
“So, all those fusty books you read helped you find a husband?”
“Yes, Mama.”
“Hmm.” She took another sip of tea. “An earl no less.”
“Yes, Mama.”
“Well, all’s well that ends well then.”
“Yes, Mama,” said Emily with a smile.
“He’s rather big, isn’t he?”
“Yes, Mama, he is. You should see him without his shirt on!”
“Emily!” But Mama was smiling. Emily felt a surge of relief. Mama would never change, but now Emily didn’t need to deal with her everyday and—she glanced at Deo across the room—she thought her husband would be equal to Mama in future.
Emily joined her husband as Deo turned to the duke. “By the way, Rob, what did you do with Smiggens?”
“I sent him back to the cottage under Hastings’s supervision. We will have to decide what to do about him. I can’t believe he took the items.”
“He didn’t! I’d swear it,” said Annis staunchly.
“But someone has,” said Deo. “We should search the rest of the house and post a watch tonight.”
“Agreed,” said the duke.
Once tea was completed, the duchess conducted the Effords to a suite, where they planned to rest until dinner, and the rest of the company dispersed.
Alone at last, Emily turned to Deo and walked straight into his arms.
“You meant it, what you said to Papa?”
“Of course!” he said gruffly, hugging her tight. “Did you mean it?”
“Deo, I’ve been in love with you since we left London, I think.” She frowned in an effort of memory. Everything was a bit of a blur. “I think when I discovered you loved Gothic novels, too, it was, oh, just the icing on the cake. You were my perfect match. My soul’s mate.” She smiled up at him, misty eyed.
“You’re mine too, Em. I couldn’t imagine my life without you now. I was certain of it the day we cleared the tomb, but even before that I knew I wasn’t prepared to let you go for anything. I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out. Emotions are not something I’m used to dealing with. But I’ve been wanting to tell you I love you for several days now. I don’t know how I kept it in. It felt so overwhelming sometimes. Like I couldn’t breathe, it hurt so much.”
“Oh, Deo!” she sighed and buried her face in his great chest. “I’m so happy!”
“Me too!” he said and kissed her.
The kiss, as always, was delicious, and she lost herself in it for several minutes until he finally broke it and murmured, “I’ll have to sleep elsewhere tonight, now your parents are in the house. We will get the license and be married in the chapel as soon as possible. I can’t wait to make you my wife properly, Em.”
