into a smile that illumined his entire face. “You wouldn’t believe the looks I got from the jewelers I visited when I told them what I wanted. There’s probably a rumor in all of London by now that the Duke of Lybrook is a complete narcissist.”
“It’s perfect. Just perfect. I’m so glad you—” She quickly willed back the tears that threatened to fall. “It’s not an emerald is it? The color isn’t quite right.”
“It’s a sapphire.”
“But sapphires are blue.”
“Not this one. They actually come in many colors. Do you like it?”
“I love it, Daniel. I really do. To think I was worried…”
“What is it, love?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“It’s just…when you wouldn’t tell me why you were going to London, and then you wouldn’t let me go with you, I just assumed…”
“What?”
“I thought you were going to see one of your mistresses.” She bent her head, unable to meet his gaze.
Daniel drew her chin up, forcing her to look at him. “Lily,” he said. “I don’t have any mistresses.”
“But Lady Gregory—”
“Was never my mistress. We had an affair. It went on and off for several years. But I never kept her. I never kept any woman. I never even wanted to.”
“But I thought…”
“It’s all right. I know my reputation precedes me. I’m not particularly proud of my exploits, and if I could erase them all for you, I would. But I can’t. I know I’m not worthy of you. But I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you. I’ll do anything to make you happy.” He kissed her lightly on the mouth and cupped her face in his hands, gently caressing her cheeks. “Lily, would it really be so terrible to be my wife?”
Lily attempted a smile as tears slowly trickled down her cheeks. “I never wanted to marry anyone,” she said. “But you… You…”
Daniel wiped her tears away with his thumbs. “Don’t cry, love. I’ll do anything for you. Just tell me what you want. A castle in France? A yacht on the Mediterranean Sea? I’d buy the whole Louvre for you if I could.”
“I’ve no need for more fluff, Daniel,” she said, sniffling. “There are only two things I want from you, and neither will cost you a shilling.”
“Anything. I swear it.” His green eyes penetrated her. “Just tell me.”
Her entire body trembled. Such feelings! They overwhelmed her, and she feared he wouldn’t be able to offer her the two things she desired most—his love, and his fidelity. She couldn’t bring herself to admit what she needed from him. “Just kiss me. Please.”
He complied, pushing aside the remains of their lunch and lowering her onto the blanket. He kissed her mouth tenderly, licking and stroking, whispering her name. She pulled him close, seeking the answers to all her questions. When he held her like this, kissed her, whispered her name as if in prayer, she imagined that he loved her.
And it came to her, as if she had known it all along, that she loved him. Somehow, she knew that she would never have gone to bed with anyone but him. She loved his passion for art and horses, his sense of humor that threw her into fits of giggles. She loved the way he made her body and her heart sing. She wanted to be wherever he was, beside him, helping him. She wanted to bear his children, grow old with him, share everything that she was with him. She wanted him at her side when she strolled through the Louvre, dined in Paris, climbed a mountain in Switzerland.
Somewhere along the way she had given him her heart, and everything had changed.
She loved him more than she had ever loved anyone, yet her heart ached. Could he return her love? And if he wasn’t satisfied with her alone, could she live with that?
He had lavished her with generous gifts, gifts he had known would touch her heart. He had treated her kindly, taking her virginity with great care and affection. Whether they were riding, looking at art, talking, laughing, or making love, a closeness existed between them. Did he feel it too?
“Please let me love you, Lily,” Daniel whispered. “I need you so much.”
“We can’t.” Lily breathed sharply. “Out here. Someone will see.” She sought his mouth with her own.
“It will be all right. No one will come out this way. I promise you.”
“How can you make such a promise?”
His eyes twinkled at her. “Because I have servants on the perimeters of the vineyards, standing guard.”
“I see. So