The older man eyed him warily. “Such as?”
“Such as we will not be parting in a year’s time, or in any of the ones following it.”
Something stirred inside Lucius, something he recognized as hope. “No?”
“No,” Toby assured with certainty. “I love you, Lucius. I am in love with you. I have been in love with you for almost a quarter of my life. I know I always shall be in love with you. The law says we cannot marry each other, but I would still like to ask you if you would do me that honor if it were possible?”
That hope now burst inside Lucius’s chest in a rainbow of light. “It is,” he assured as he rose to his feet. “Or, at least, something very like it. The local vicar to my estate in Kent can perform a blessing, which is very like a normal wedding, with the exchange of vows and rings. He has already done so for my butler and head groom.”
“In that case…” Toby fell to his knees in front of Lucius before taking one of the other man’s hands in his. “I do not have a ring or anything to give you as yet as a promise of my intent but… I am in love with you, Lucius Percival Grenville Cranfield. I have loved you since I was sixteen years old, and I know I shall continue to love you for all the years I have left on this earth and beyond. As such, I would deem it the greatest honor if you would consent to spend the rest of your life with me?”
“Yes.”
Toby blinked. “Yes?”
“Yes,” Lucius repeated joyously as he sank onto his knees to grasp Toby’s hands in his. “I love you so much, I hate being out of your company for even a second. Indeed, I find it hard to breathe when we are not together. The thought of you leaving me at the end of a year…” He gave a shake of his head. “I cannot bear to even think of the two of us not being together.”
Toby squeezed his hands. “In future, there will never be a reason for you to need to do so.”
“You truly love me?” Lucius’s eyes glowed with happiness.
“I do. Do you truly love me?”
“I do.”
“For a lifetime?”
“And beyond.” Lucius nodded. “I know what I shall write in your book of poetry now. ‘Forever yours, your Lucius,’” he vowed before his lips claimed Toby’s.
It was a kiss of both promise and intent.
Lucius hoped that Daniel, wherever he was, knew that Toby loved and was loved in return, and that Lucius would cherish and love Toby for who and what he was for the rest of their lives together.
Newsletter and Social Media Links
For news on upcoming releases in the Regency Men in Love, Regency Lovers, Regency Club Venus, Steele Protectors, Regency Sinners, Dragon Hearts, Regency Unlaced, Knight Security, and Alpha Series please sign up to my mailing list/newsletter: http://www.eepurl.com/2rfzz
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Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@carole_mortimer
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Visit my website: www.carolemortimer.co.uk
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Or email me at: [email protected]
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If you have enjoyed reading HIDDEN LOVER, please don’t forget to leave a review of this book.
About the Author
Carole Mortimer is a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2015, RT Career Achievement Award 2017, RT Pioneer for Romance Award 2014. She was also recognized by Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 for her ‘outstanding service to literature’. Carole has written 250 contemporary, Regency and paranormal romance novels.
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She is happily married to Peter. They have 6 sons, and live on the beautiful Isle of Man. She also loves to hear from Readers!
Other books by Carole Mortimer
Regency Men in Love:
Hidden Lover (Regency Men in Love 1)
Hidden Desire (Regency Men in Love 2)
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Regency Club Venus:
Bastian’s Surrender
Gabriel’s Torment
More books to come in this series
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Regency Lovers Series:
INDECENT (Regency Lovers 1)
OBSESSION (Regency Lovers 2)
CRAVING (Regency Lovers 3)
FORBIDDEN (Regency Lovers 4)
SURRENDER (Regency Lovers 5)
SCANDAL (Regency Lovers 6)
Series complete
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Steele Protectors Series:
LOGAN (Steele Protectors 1)
ATTICUS (Steele Protectors 2)
BRYCE (Steele Protectors 3)
ROURKE (Steele Protectors 4)
HAYDN (Steele Protectors 5) Author’s 250th book
More books to come in this series
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Regency Sinners Series:
Wicked Torment (Regency Sinners 1)
Wicked Surrender (Regency Sinners 2)
Wicked Scandal (Regency Sinners 3)
Wicked Deception (Regency Sinners 4)
Wicked Captive (Regency Sinners 5)
Wicked Temptation (Regency Sinners 6)
Wicked Sinner (Regency Sinners 7)
Wicked Christmas (Regency Sinners 8)
Series Complete
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Dragon Hearts – Contemporary paranormal
Nathaniel (Dragon Hearts 1)
Deryk (Dragon Hearts 2)
Bryn (Dragon Hearts 3)
Dylan (Dragon Hearts 4)
Grigor (Dragon Hearts 5)
Garrett (Dragon Hearts 6)
Aeran & Rhys (Dragon Hearts 7)
Dragon Reunion (Dragon Hearts 8)
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Regency Unlaced Series:
The Duke’s Mistress (Book 1)
Claimed by the Marquis (Book 2)
Taken by the Earl (Book 3)
Pursued by the Viscount (Book 4)
Desired by a Lord (Book 5)
Captured by a Gentleman (Book 6)
Pleasured by a Duke (Book 7)
Seduced by a Marquis (Book 8)
Tamed by the Earl (Book 9)
Series now complete
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Knight Security Series: Spin-off to ALPHA series
Resisting Alexandre (Knight Security 0.5)
Defying Asher (Knight Security 1)
Challenging Gabriel (Knight Security 2)
Capturing Caleb (Knight Security 3)
Tempting Zander (Knight Security 4)
Enticing Ian (Knight Security 5)
Seducing Ethan (Knight Security 6)
Series now complete
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ALPHA Series:
Christmas Alpha (Alpha 1)
Dark Alpha (Alpha 2)
Shadow Alpha (Alpha 3) Author’s 200th Book
Midnight Alpha (Alpha 4)
Renegade Alpha (Alpha 5)
Warrior Alpha (Alpha 6)
Rogue Alpha (Alpha 7)
Savage Alpha (Alpha 8)
Series is now complete
Hidden Lover: Regency Men In Love 1 Page 13