“No, that was a gift. The other was something you stole.”
There was a chorus of shocked gasps, one of them Allie’s. “I did not!” she said indignantly. “I’ve never stolen a thing in my life!”
He reached the landing. His face was just below hers. “You certainly stole this.”
She gripped the bannister rail tightly. “What? What do you say I stole?”
“My heart.”
There was a sudden hushed silence. Slowly, he lowered himself to one knee. “I love you, Allie Fenton. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Allie stared down at him, dazed, hardly able to believe it wasn’t a dream or some kind of joke. The silence stretched.
She felt a firm little hand in the small of her back. “Go on, miss, say yes!” There was an immediate chorus of whispers. “Say yes.” “Tell him yes.”
He rose to his feet and held out his arms to her, his eyes glowing with love and humor. “Do as your girls tell you, Allie. Say yes.”
She couldn’t say a word. Her heart was too full, her eyes were too full.
“She says yes,” Melisande declared and shoved Allie off her step and into his arms.
He caught her against his chest. “Thank you, Melisande, but the decision is Miss Fenton’s.” He looked down at Allie and added softly, “You thought I’d abandoned you, but I was called away urgently to my grandmother’s deathbed. Luckily, it turned out to be a false alarm, but when I returned to The Oakes, as I’d promised, you were gone, and your cousin refused to tell me where. But Lady Holly knew, thank God, and so I tracked you down.” He cupped her chin. “Allie, my love, can you forgive me? And will you marry me?”
“Yes, of course,” she said mistily, and reached up to kiss him, oblivious of the delighted onlookers.
You never knew how life was going to turn out. She’d been so miserable as the new year began, but now . . . Lord Kelsey’s arms tightened around her. Allie sighed with happiness. 1816 had brought her her heart’s desire after all. It was going to be a good year. A very good year indeed.
He bent to kiss her again and despite their audience, she made no move to stop him. Girls, after all, needed to learn about happy endings, as well as French verbs.
KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Compilation copyright © 2015 Kensington Publishing Corp.
Prologue and “Miss Finch and the Angel” copyright © 2015 Jo Beverley
“My True Love Hath My Heart” copyright © 2015 Joanna Bourne
“A Scottish Carol” copyright © 2015 Susan King
“Christmas Larks” copyright © 2015 Patricia Rice
“In the Bleak Midwinter” copyright © 2015 Mary Jo Putney, Inc.
“Old Flames Dance” copyright © 2015 Andrea DaRif
“A Season for Marriage” copyright © 2015 Nicola Cornick
“Mistletoe Kisses” copyright © 2015 Anne Gracie
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
KENSINGTON and the K logo are Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
ISBN: 978-1-6177-3923-1
First Trade Paperback Printing: October 2015
First Electronic Edition: October 2015
ISBN-13: 978-1-61773-924-8
ISBN-10: 1-61773-924-3
The Last Chance Christmas Ball Page 38