“I’ll be close to you, and that is what I want.” He stroked her cheek, happy in the knowledge he could freely touch her now. She was his.
“You will be close to me in Switzerland. I’m going with you.”
He stared at her. “No. Your work is here—”
She put a finger over his lips. “My life is where you are, and I’m not going without stipulation.”
He raised a brow.
“You must promise to return to England.”
“Of course. The appointment is for a year or two at most.”
She kissed him. “Good. If I can work for the Foreign Office abroad, I will. If not, the Barbican group will go on without us for a little while.”
“Then you want to return to work for the Barbican group at some point?” he asked.
“Of course. One day, I plan to be the director.”
“You plan…” But why not? This was Miss Qwillen—Q. She could do anything.
*
Twelfth Night, London
The noise from the revelers on Piccadilly was muted within the secure stone walls of the Barbican headquarters. But it said something of the spirit of the celebration that Q and Moneypence could hear it at all in the bowels of the building, deep in the Dungeon.
As this was the night of feasting and balls, the offices of the Barbican were largely empty. The agents were either out reveling or home with family exchanging the traditional gifts. It was the perfect night for Eliza and Pierce to peruse some of the lesser-known volumes of the Dungeon. They sat side by side at one of the stone tables in an alcove hidden behind rows and rows of files.
Moneypence pushed a book toward her. “What do you think of this?”
She turned the book upside down, and then right side up. “I do not believe my body will contort into that position.”
He laughed. He laughed much more these days. “It will be excessively diverting to try it.”
“Perhaps for you!”
“For both of us,” he said, and his expression grew serious.
She drew back slightly. “What is it? You did not buy me a gift, did you? I thought we agreed.”
“If I have a gift for you, it’s not the sort one might buy.” He winked, his eyes full of promise. “I shall give it to you later.”
“You are very naughty.” And she loved him for it.
“I want to ask you for a gift.”
“Of course. Anything.”
He pushed back from the table, and she realized he was falling to one knee. “Pierce!”
“We’ve spoken of it, Eliza, but I must do this properly.” He took her hand in his and looked into her eyes. Ever since she’d been a small girl, plain and mousy, she’d dreamed of the day a man asked for her hand in marriage. She had not thought any man would ever see her, much less want her for his bride. And now Pierce was asking her, his words as sweet to her ears as honey was on her tongue.
“Eliza, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I love you. I cannot live without you. Please say I will never have to. Please give me the gift of your love.”
She kissed him tenderly. “Yes. Oh, Pierce. With my whole heart, yes.”
He had impeccable timing. On this night of traditional present-giving, when all the world celebrated the gifts given to celebrate God’s greatest offering to humanity, how could she not say yes? Pierce was correct. This love between them was the perfect gift, the most wonderful gift of all.
About Shana Galen
Shana Galen is the bestselling author of passionate Regency romps, including the RT Reviewers’ Choice The Making of a Gentleman. Kirkus says of her books, “The road to happily-ever-after is intense, conflicted, suspenseful and fun,” and RT Bookreviews calls her books “lighthearted yet poignant, humorous yet touching.” She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston’s inner city. Now she writes full time. She’s happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making.
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Books by Shana
Want more Moneypence and Q? Check out Shana’s newest release, Love and Let Spy.
Pre-order the first in Shana’s new Covent Garden Cubs series, Earls Just Want to Have Fun, coming in February 2015.
Check out Shana’s other book series.
The Lord and Lady Spy series begins with Lord and Lady Spy.
The Jewels of the Ton series begins with When You Give a Duke a Diamond.
The Sons of the Revolution series begins with The Making of a Duchess.
The Misadventures in Matrimony series begins with No Man’s Bride.
And check out the latest book in the Misadventures in Matrimony series, The Pirate Takes a Bride for only $2.99!
The Regency Spies series begins with When Dashing Met Danger.
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