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“But why?”

William smiled sadly. “He doesn’t think I deserve you. And he is right. I am disliked where you’re revered. I am unwelcome where you are loved. I shall never be a man worthy of your attention, even if I give you my whole heart.” He paused, shallow breaths leaving his mouth. “I am beneath you. And if your uncle won’t approve of our match, your sister won’t either, and then all your dreams are dashed.”

“You don’t know her.” Victoria shook her head, rejecting the thought.

His gaze was forlorn. “She doesn’t know me either.”

“She will love you,” Victoria said vehemently.

“You can’t know that.”

“Oh, yes, I do,” she said confidently. “Because I love you.”

He briefly closed his eyes. “Sometimes love is not enough.”

She squeezed his fingers. “It will be for us.”

He looked at her with a question in his eyes. “What are you saying?”

She straightened her spine. “Since Uncle refused your courtship, I propose we skip it altogether.”

“Skip the courtship?”

“Yes. And get married. Right away.”

William’s lips curled in a smile. “If you marry me, it won’t be easy.”

She waved a dismissive hand. He was a duke’s son, black sheep or not. He was a gentleman, a part of noble society, welcome or not. They didn’t need Englishmen’s approval. They would marry, go to Russia, and fulfill her and her sister’s dreams. “There is nothing we cannot overcome if we’re together.”

He raised her hands to his lips and held them there as he spoke. “I truly hope you mean that.”

“I do.” Victoria grinned. “As long as you agree to marry me.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist, picked her up, held her close to his body, and twirled.

Victoria laughed as she threw her arm around his neck, her gown getting soaked from his wet clothes. But she didn’t care.

He kissed her deeply, his tongue sweeping broad strokes inside her mouth. “I love you,” he whispered against her lips.

She grinned, her palm stroking his cheek. “I love you too.”

He covered her hand with his, leaning into her caress, staring deeply into her eyes as if looking into her soul. “I’ve loved you since the moment I met you.”

“Truly?” she whispered.

“Truly. Seeing you, lying in the heaps of your skirts, your nose red and runny. Who wouldn’t have fallen in love with you right then and there?”

“Be serious.” She playfully swatted at his chest. “Was it love at first sight?”

“Hmm…” He frowned in thought, a deep rumble reverberating through his chest. “No, it wasn’t. It took me a full five minutes to fall in love with you.”

She chuckled as she looked deeply into his glittering blue eyes. “It took me four.”

“Liar.” He grinned before pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. “How would you like to get married?”

She chewed her lower lip, excited at the idea of marrying him. “Well, a big church wedding is not an option. What about a fleet marriage?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “No, I am not going to marry you in the debtor’s prison. But if you’re in a hurry, I shall arrange for a common license tomorrow.”