The Earl's Daughter (7 page)

Peter Hughes could go to the devil!

“Well...” Peter took a step away from her, toward the carriage. “Farewell, Miss Stafford.”

“Farewell, Peter.” In her fury-fueled mind, she added the words,
may we never meet again.

She heard him climb into the driver's seat and flick the horse's reins. She heard the carriage pull away, down the cobbled path, and she had to summon a tremendous amount of strength to resist the temptation to fall to her knees and cry. When she turned in the direction of her father's house, she felt something akin to terror in her heart. She was dreading her reunion with her father and Charles more than she had ever dreaded anything.

In the distance, Sylvie heard someone shout, “
Miss Stafford
!” Very slowly, she turned toward Peter's departing carriage. It had stopped halfway down the path, and he was alighting from the driver's seat. As he ran back to her, Peter cried her name. “Sylvie!”

“Peter...” Sylvie clasped her hands behind her back, lifted her chin, and tried to look exceedingly composed. He did not need to know how much his presence rattled her, or how hopeful she was to see him return to her. “Was there something else you wished to say?”

“I love you!”

“Well, that's...” Wave upon wave of secret relief flooded her body. She wanted to fling her arms around him and declare herself his, but she needed to hold back, lest she end up looking like a fool. “That is certainly an unexpected confession.”

“I needed to tell you that, so I don't have any regrets,” Peter said. “I love you. I've been in love with you from the moment I saw you, Sylvie Stafford. I never thought I'd get to be with you, but last night... gave me hope. I'm not a man who gives out his heart too easily, and I know I've never felt this way in my life. I'm also a very proud man, so you should know I don't say any of this lightly.” His dark eyes twinkled as he smiled at her—and the devilishly delicious dimples reappeared. “I love you, Miss Stafford, and if there's even the slightest chance you were serious about running away with me, I
needed to tell you how I feel. I need to know, no matter what happens next, that I did everything I possibly could to keep you by my side.”

“Peter Hughes...” Sylvie cleared her throat before continuing. “Before I say anything else, I--”

All of a sudden, Peter's arms flew around her body, pulling her close. He pressed his lips against hers, kissing her as passionately and deeply as he could. He cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb across her nose. And he smiled so sweetly, as if hoping the adorable expression, if nothing else, would convince her to go with him.

“I...” As she hesitated, they both held their breath. “I'm afraid I've fallen for you too, Peter Hughes. And I was
very
serious about running away with you. As mad as that idea may be, I was utterly, completely, painstakingly serious.”

“You're
afraid
you've fallen for me?” His dark eyebrows were pitifully pinched as he considered her words.

“On the contrary, I am very relieved to have fallen for you, because if not for you, I would have nothing.” Sylvie seized both of his hands, squeezing them. “I want nothing more than to be at your side. Always.”

“Conveniently for you, I want nothing more than to keep you at my side.” Peter winked, then bent down to kiss the top of her head. “You don't suspect your father might be watching us from a window, do you?”

“Then I suppose we should get on our way very quickly!” Sylvie held Peter's hand and headed back to the carriage. “To America, then?”

As he helped her into the carriage, Peter said, “We go wherever you want to go. The choice is yours.”

“For once, Peter, I have absolutely no idea where we should go!” Before he returned to the driver's seat, Sylvie seized the back of Peter's head and pressed her lips against his. “Every option in the world is open to us... and I find that, surprisingly, a relief.”

“I get to wake up tomorrow, and you'll still be with me.” He kissed her again, and again, before
finally pulling away. “The woman I love will be at my side, and that makes me extraordinarily happy.”