“I have always loved you,” Daniel continued. “I will always love you. You might tell me I've gone mad, but I will still love you, because loving you is the most natural thing in the world.” He lightly squeezed her hands. “You are my best friend, the only woman I could ever love.”
“But this seems so... sudden.” Molly tried to swallow, but her constricted throat wouldn't allow it. “This confession seems to be coming out of nowhere!”
“Perhaps. But I have just now realized my true feelings.” Daniel raised her hands to his lips, kissing them several times. “I feel like such a fool. I had to lose you before I realized what I had.”
“Lose me?!” she gasped. “Why did you think you had lost me, Daniel?”
“Because you had been spending so much time with that... other man,” Daniel said, sneering. He could not bring himself to utter his rival's name. “Of course, I am sure you could argue that you were never mine to lose, but--”
“Daniel.” As she whispered his name, Molly laid a finger over his lips. “You really had no idea, did you?”
When her finger slipped away from his mouth, he asked. “No idea... about what?”
“My heart is yours,” Molly told him. “It has always been yours. I have loved you as long as I can remember.”
Daniel's mouth fell open; several seconds elapsed before he regained the use of his tongue. “Well then... I suppose this changes everything?”
“It does,” Molly agreed.
Daniel wanted to wrap his arms around her, to smash her against his chest. He wanted to caress her hair, kiss her face, and suckle her neck. He might have done any of those things if not for the fact that they were not alone—several others were drifting around the garden. Not to mention, Julian Crawford might have been lurking in the distance.
“Your nose is practically crimson,” Daniel said. “We should get back inside.”
“Per... haps,” Molly reluctantly agreed. She could not believe the last few minutes had actually transpired. Did Lord Rocksavage actually confess his love for her? Surely it was too good to be true!
“I will call on you tomorrow.” As he spoke, he tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear. “And we will continue this discussion.”
“Certainly, Daniel.” Molly turned in the direction of the house, but Daniel hovered by the trellis. “Shall we go?”
“Molly.” He needed to tell her one more time, so she would never doubt his feelings.
“Hm?”
He gently laid his palms against her cheeks, framing her face like something precious. “Molly...” Daniel leaned forward, whispering the words directly into her ear. “Molly, I love you.”
Chapter Fifteen
Lord Rocksavage was true to his word. The very next day, she found him waiting in the drawing room—with the largest bouquet of flowers she had ever laid eyes on. When he held up the bouquet, his handsome face completely disappeared behind the exploding plethora of petals.
“Oh my! Daniel!” Molly gasped.
“Do you like them?”
“Like them? Daniel, this is practically obscene! How many flowers am I looking at?”
“There are fifty roses,” Daniel said. “I have known you for twenty-five years, Molly. There is one flower for each year I've known you, and another flower for each year I failed to recognize what was right under my nose.”
When Molly took the flowers from his hand, she was surprised to discover they were much heavier than they looked. “Well... I am sure romance wasn't on our minds when we were five years old! For the first ten years of our acquaintance, I think you are exempt.”
“We could have been together all this time!” Daniel sighed. “We should have been together half a lifetime ago! Why didn't I see it? Look at how many years we've wasted!”
Molly went around the room, searching for a large vase, but she found nothing that would hold such an enormous bouquet. So she laid them on an end table and went to sit beside the bay window, where sunlight poured through the pane. The light cast a luminous halo around the outline of her body; Daniel thought she looked angelic.
“Actually, Daniel, I have wasted nothing.” Molly slyly narrowed her eyes. “I am the one who has loved you all this time. However, your revelation was a recent occurrence. If we have missed out on many years together, I think the fault lies with you.”
“Molly...”
She clenched her hands in her lap, bracing herself for whatever he might say. Hearing him pour out his heart seemed unnatural, if only because Molly never thought it was possible. “What is it, Daniel?”
Daniel knelt beside Molly's chair. He reached for one of her hands, kissed her knuckles, and held her palm against his cheek. “I want you to know, I mean what I say.” His voice was barely more than a whisper. “I love you, Molly Moseley. Having you near me... having your love... it would be all I would ever need. Your companionship means the world to me. I have never needed anyone as much as I need you. I have never loved anyone as much as I love you.”
“And I could never love another,” she said, though she questioned the truth of her words. As another man's face flashed before her eyes, she had to wonder if Daniel was sharing her heart with someone else.
“What I feel for you is real love. True love,” Daniel continued. “It is not some childish infatuation that will burn out in a few months' time. When I look into your eyes, everything seems so simple, and I am more content than I have ever been. Loving you for the rest of my life would be the easiest thing in the world.”
“I have loved you for practically all of my life,” Molly pointed out. “It is quite obvious that I will love you forever.”
“Molly...” He pressed the back of her hand against his lips and kissed it several times. “Molly, Molly, Molly...”
“Daniel, Daniel, Daniel,” she fired back at him, grinning. “Where does this leave us? What happens now?”
“Isn't it obvious?” With his fingertip, he traced the lines of her palm. “We should be together. Forever. No matter what.”
The hairs on her nape were rigid as he caressed her hand. “So... what exactly does that mean? You want to marry me?”
“Yes!” Daniel finally let go of her hand, but he stayed on his knees. “Imagine having you as my wife! It would be too good to be true!”
Molly's answer should have been obvious. She had loved Daniel for most of her life, and if his proposal was honest, there could only be one answer. So why did she hesitate? “Are you actually proposing to me, Daniel? Seriously!?”
“Yes!” he exclaimed. “Marry me, Molly Moseley. Marry me, and make me the happiest man in the world. Nay... the happiest man who ever lived!”
Molly rose from her chair and crossed the room. She needed to put some distance between herself and Daniel, so that she could recover her wits. She needed time to think, but she wasn't going to get it. Everything was happening so quickly. “But... what about Miss Crawford?”
“What about Miss Crawford?” he parroted. “It isn't as if we had an understanding.”
“True. But... you were courting her.”
“Iris Crawford has many suitors. I doubt she will miss just one.” Daniel rose to his feet and returned to Molly's side. “Besides, I could say the same thing to you. What about Julian Crawford?”
“Yes...” Molly murmured, “what about him..?”
“It doesn't matter. No one else matters, Molly!” Daniel threw his arms around her waist and pulled her toward him. He kissed her forehead several times, dappling kisses across her brow. “We belong together. It should be as obvious to everyone as it is to us.”
“It wasn't obvious to you!” Molly said with a chuckle. “Someone else had to want me before you wanted me for yourself!”
“Molly... I am so sorry.” Daniel gently brushed a thumb across her cheek. “I am so very sorry. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. But I have seen the error of my ways... I know what a fool I've been. Give me a chance. You know it as well as I do... we are perfect for one anot
her. Marry me, and let me devote the rest of my life to you, and only you.”
“Daniel...” Molly closed her eyes for several seconds and tried to think of an excuse. But why was she looking for an excuse? Was this not what she had wanted her entire life? “If I accepted your proposal, would it not be... too soon?”
“How could it possibly be too soon? We have wasted enough time as it is! I know what I want, Molly... I want you. If you truly love me, as I believe you do, then you should be my wife.”
“Very well.” When she opened her eyes and saw his face, handsome and smiling, the right answer was clear. Her choice was obvious. “I will marry you.”
“Truly? Ah... thank goodness!” Daniel lifted her a few inches off her feet and twirled her in a circle. “For a moment, I though you might reject me!”
When he set her on her feet, she gently touched his cheek. “How could I possibly reject you when I have loved you all my life?”
When she saw Daniel's face descending, Molly knew what would happen next. He was going to kiss her! Daniel, who she had loved forever, whose lips she had always longed for, was going to kiss her. As soon as she felt his soft mouth on hers, Molly's body shuddered. It was a feeling beyond description, too blissful for words.
In that kiss, she felt like all of her prayers had been answered. All of her dreams had finally come true.
Except for one.
* * *
Dear Madeline,
Brace yourself, because you will not believe what I am about to tell you. Daniel, my beautiful Daniel, has asked me to marry him! Needless to say, I accepted his proposal. Last night, he seemed to have a revelation about our relationship. He declared his love for me with such ardent passion, I could find no reason to doubt his feelings. Seeing me with Julian must have shaken him to the core... it made him realise how it would feel to lose my companionship to another. All this time, I was worried about losing him to Miss Crawford. It seems ironic that he was worried about losing me as well.
We kissed, Maddy! I never thought Daniel would want to kiss me, let alone, actually press his lips against mine. In that moment, I felt as if my heart was floating, drifting on a tender breeze. I am sure that sounds dreadfully saccharine, but if anyone could appreciate the sentiment, I am sure it would be you. I can only imagine how wonderful it will be to enjoy a lifetime of Daniel's kisses.
And yet, to be perfectly honest, I am not entirely happy. I am sure that is an ungrateful thought, considering the fact that all my dreams have just come true. However, my mind keeps lingering on Julian Crawford and my growing affection for him. The next time I see him, I will have to tell him about Daniel... how will he react? I do not have such a high opinion of myself to believe he will be crushed by my decision, but will he not be disappointed? I keep wondering what might have transpired if Daniel's revelation never happened. If Daniel never confessed his feelings for me, how would my story have ended? Would Julian eventually care for me enough to ask me to marry him? If it came to that, my life could have been entirely different!
Julian might not be crushed, but my own heart might take some time to recover. What if I never see him again? If I never see his face or hear his voice, will I ever be content with that? I know I should focus on Daniel and my future with him, but losing Julian Crawford... who was a truly wonderful man... is a devastating reality. In all honesty, I might be just as saddened to lose Julian as I was to lose Daniel. I was so lucky to attract the attention of a man like Julian Crawford. Will another woman ever be so lucky? If so, I envy her... and I almost wish I could trade places with her.
Now that Daniel and I are together, I should be ecstatic. This should be the happiest day of my life; however, I do not think I will be truly happy until I can forget about him.
Julian. My awkward Romeo.
I will miss him forever.
Sincerely,
Your confused sister
Chapter Sixteen
“Mr. Crawford is here to see you, ma'am.”
Those words made her heart freeze. Molly tried to imagine his face, let down by her inevitable news.
“S-send him in,” she stuttered. Molly was standing by the bay window, the same window at which she entertained Daniel's proposal. Just yesterday. She knew she would have to face Julian Crawford, but she did not think it would happen so soon.
When he appeared in the doorway, Molly's heart stopped again. By god, he was handsome! At first, she did not think too much of him, but the more time she spent in his company, the more handsome he became. He was the complete opposite of Lord Rocksavage, whose face still possessed a boyish beauty. Julian Crawford was rough and rugged and weathered, the epitome of a handsome rogue.
“Miss Moseley,” he politely greeted her. “You look beautiful.”
“Beautiful?!” she repeated, aghast. “Hardly, Mr. Crawford... though I appreciate the compliment. To say I am beautiful, however, is doing it a bit too brown.”
“It is no exaggeration, I assure you.” Julian took a few tentative steps into the room, but maintained his distance. “You are a very beautiful woman, Molly Moseley. Every word I could use to describe a lady's fairness would apply to you. Pretty. Handsome. Adorable.” With a grin, he added, “Breathtaking.”
“My my, Mr. Crawford! You are really pouring the butter boat over me today!” His kindness would make her task that much more difficult.
“Of course, it is your heart I admire most.” Julian held his hands behind his back as he spoke, which made him look as stoic as ever. Somehow, his passionate words did not befit his reserved demeanor. “Your kindness, your cleverness, your wit, your smile, your--”
“Please, Mr. Crawford!” Molly interrupted. “Please, I cannot bear it! Say nothing more!”
“Why?” He took another step in her direction, though cautiously. “Are you so unaccustomed to hearing compliments that you do not appreciate them?”
“No. As I said before, I appreciate your compliments, but I...” As her voice trailed off, Molly took a moment to chew on her lower lip. She needed to tell him sooner than later, but it would be incredibly difficult. If not impossible. “There is something I must tell you, Julian.”
“Oh? And what might that be?”
When Molly turned her attention back to the window, there were tears in her eyes. She knew it would be impossible to meet his gaze as she told him the news, so she settled on the window. “Yesterday... Lord Rocksavage proposed to me.”
“He... proposed.” Julian felt the initial disappointment like a fist in the gut, but he tried to hide the disappointment in his voice. His tone was cool, indomitable. “I would assume you do not mean he proposed a carriage ride through the park?”
“No. He proposed... marriage.”
“Of course. I knew what you meant.” Julian twisted his walking stick in his hands, gripping it with all of his might. “And you accepted?”
“I did.” A tear slipped from her eye, so she quickly brushed it away. Their courtship was coming to an end, and that thought was more devastating than she ever thought it would be. When Julian Crawford left the room, it would likely be the last time she would ever see him.
“I suppose... I should offer you congratulations?” Julian asked. “Well, I won't. I am sorry if that sounds cold, but you will hear no felicitous words from me.”
“I can hardly blame you.”
“And what of my niece? She was quite smitten with him, you know.”
“I know. And for that, I offer my sincerest apology,” Molly said. “I would not want my decision to break her heart.”
“And what of my heart, Molly? Have you taken a moment to consider how I might feel?”
“I have.” Molly took a deep breath, composing herself to the best of her ability. When the threat of tears was gone, she slowly turned to face him. “I am so sorry to disappoint you, Julian.”
“Well then... if your decision has been made, I suppose I should excuse myself.” Julian rose from the settee and crossed his arms. “I wish you well,
Molly Moseley.”
That was it? That was all he was going to say? Where was his passion? What happened to the man who appeared at her window and recited Shakespeare? His reaction was disappointing, to say the least.
“I always enjoyed your company, Mr. Crawford.”
“As I enjoyed yours.”
“I...” As she watched him move to the door, Molly had to force the words out of her mouth. “This is heartbreaking for me, you know.”
“If you are heartbroken, imagine how I must feel,” Julian quietly responded. “I have no fiance to balm my wounded heart.”
“Julian...”
“Yes, Miss Moseley?”
Miss Moseley. She preferred it when he called her Molly.
“Will I ever see you again?”
“I am sure you will. Now, if you will excuse me...” As he reached for the door, Julian was halted by the tears in her eyes. If she cared enough to cry on his behalf, did he stand a chance? Molly Moseley the Matchmaker was a lover of romance, of passion, and a passionless farewell would not be enough to move her.
He had to try.
If it was the last time he would see her, he had to try.
“Molly.”
“Julian.” She started to turn away from him. “Good day.”
“Molly.” Without a word of warning, Julian ran toward her and threw his arms around her waist. “Molly, you don't have to marry him!”
“But I--”
“You can change your mind.” Julian kept his arms around her, holding her tight. He didn't want to let go of her, not now, not ever. “I will hold you, and hold you, and keep holding you until you change your mind.”
“Julian...” Molly's heart was pounding. She wanted to change her mind for Julian, to give him the answer he wanted, but what would be the cost? It wasn't as if she could break off her engagement with Lord Rocksavage. Daniel was, after all, the man she had loved forever. Any reassuring words to Julian would be a lie. “I can't.”
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