Peculiar Proposal from "How To Seduce a Scoundrel"

 

When they reached the drawing room, Tristan inhaled. "Everyone must step outside for five minutes, except Hawk and Julianne."

 "Why?" the dowager duchess said.

"Hawk needs to propose to Julianne," Tessa said.

The dowager duchess held her quizzing glass up to her eye. "Is this another one of your sham engagements?"

"No, it is not," Hawk said.

"You will not engage yourself to my daughter for five minutes," the dowager duchess said. "Or for one hour. You are a scamp and a rogue. And your poor mother will go into a decline when she hears my daughter threw you over after only five minutes."

"I believe he is sincere," Hester said. "Look at him. He’s lovesick."

"I am not sick," Hawk said. "But I am in love. Now, if you will all excuse us, I wish to make a proper proposal to Julianne."

Julianne rose. "Why should they stand outside the door?" She walked over to Hawk and grasped his arm. "Come stand with me before the hearth."

"Julianne, I do not want an audience when I propose to you."

"You are not proposing," she said.

"What? I risked a beating from your brother and you are telling me I cannot propose?"

They had reached the hearth. "You are not proposing. I am."

"No," he said. "I am making a proper proposal to you, and you will listen and say yes."

She took his hands. "When I was a little girl, I knelt on my knee and proposed to you. You said I could ask you when I grew up. I am grown up." She tried to lower herself to one knee and wobbled.

He caught her by the waist and lifted her up. "Damn it, woman. Let me do this properly."

"Watch your language," the dowager duchess said.

Hawk’s shoulders shook with laughter. Then he knelt on one knee and took her hands. "Julianne, I love you with all my heart. You have made me a better man. You also tried to steal my curricle, but I forgive you."

"You stole my bonnet," she said.

"This proposal is terrible," Tristan said.

"Hush," Tessa said. "I think it is sweet."

 Hawk looked at everyone. "Will you let me finish?"

 "Get on with it, Marc," Hester said.

He turned his attention to Julianne again and met her gaze. "Julianne, I love you, and I can’t live without you. Will you marry me?"

"Yes, I will marry you."

 He enfolded her in his arms and kissed her.

"Stop that," Tristan said.

Hawk decided his best friend deserved to witness him giving Julianne a thorough kiss. He opened her mouth and slid his tongue home. She kissed him back.

"Get your hands off my sister," Tristan growled.

Hawk broke the kiss and framed her beautiful face with his hands. "You have made me a very happy man," he whispered.