Evermore (Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy #3)(66)

"Come into my study and we can discuss it further. Perhaps we can strike more than one arrangement between families today."

"Wait a moment, Father," Adelaide said. She took George's hand and he trailed behind her as she raced after her father. He stumbled then recovered and pushed his glasses up his nose. "If Jacob marries whomever he chooses, then so do I. And I choose George."

"We'll discuss it later," Lord Preston said.

"We will discuss it now."

"Father," Jacob said on a sigh. "At least listen to her. Culvert is a good man. You won't find better, and we owe him a great deal."

"You don't owe me anything, Beaufort," George said. "I certainly wouldn't accept Adelaide as payment."

"Hush," Adelaide said. "Marriage is as much a financial arrangement as anything else. If Father wants to give me to you as thanks, then we'll accept it."

"If you say so."

I looked to Jacob and he winked at me as he tried not to smirk.

Adelaide kissed her brother's cheek. "Thank you."

Lord Preston surprised us all by folding Adelaide into an embrace. "It seems my study is about to become very crowded. Come with me. Jacob, take Emily into the breakfast parlor where you can be alone. I'll send the servants in to clean up this mess."

I watched them leave, tears clogging my throat. I felt utterly undeserving of such love, but grateful for it anyway.

Jacob took me into the adjoining smaller parlor and closed the door. His breathing made the only sound in the room. I'd never heard anything sweeter.

He touched my chin and I looked up at him. He was smiling openly, such a rare and precious sight. "I shouldn't be allowed to be this happy," he said, the smile slipping a little.

"Don't say that. What happened to Frederick isn't your fault."

"It was in a way, but I won't jeopardize my future happiness because of a past mistake." His nod was emphatic and final. "If I learned anything from this whole experience it's that life is worth living. Even the bad parts. Indeed, the bad only makes the good seem so much better." He hooked me round the waist and reeled me in. "And you are so very, very good."

He kissed me, hard and hungry at first, like he couldn't get enough. Then it softened and I wallowed in the warmth of his lips, the taste of his tongue, his smell, all the things I'd wanted to experience but couldn't when he was in spirit form.

He broke the kiss and kneeled down on the floor.

"Jacob, are you all right? Do you still feel weak?"

He grinned. "I am better than I've ever felt." He sobered and the blue of his eyes intensified as his gaze locked onto mine. "Emily." He took my hands in both of his. My heart skipped madly in my chest. "Before you, I was lost," he said. "Whether in this realm when I was alive, or in the Waiting Area, my life was only half-lived until you came along and filled it. You were the only light in my dark world, a calm island in a raging sea. You changed everything. You changed me. And now I want you to complete me by being my wife."

I got down on my knees too so that we could be level with each other, and because I couldn't stand on my wobbly legs any longer. I kissed his hands then let go to touch his chest where his heart beat a rhythm as fierce as my own.

"Please say something," he whispered. "Say yes."

I lifted my gaze. Smiled. "Yes."

He circled my waist and gently lowered me onto the thick carpet then kissed me so thoroughly, my body went limp. When we separated for air, I pressed my palm against his heart again. Still beating. I think I would be checking it for the rest of our lives.

He made to kiss me but I held him off. "We should stop," I said, breathless. "Someone might come in."

"Let them. I don't care. I want everyone, including the servants, to see how passionately in love I am with my fiancée."

I stretched my arms around his neck. "Indeed? Well then, you'd better kiss me again. We wouldn't want anyone to be in any doubt."

He did.





EPILOGUE





The ball held in honor of Jacob was a hastily thrown together affair, coming only seven days after his return to life. Not that I, or any of the other hundred people in attendance, could tell. It seemed to run as smoothly as an event planned months in advance. Indeed, the only great difference to Adelaide's coming out ball was that everyone swamped Jacob upon first sight.

I couldn't blame them. They had a great many questions for him, and he answered most as best he could without touching on the supernatural circumstances. This meant that many of his answers consisted of "I can't recall." Everyone knew, however, that his killer had taken his own life, something Lord Preston made very clear. His booming voice could be heard over the throng of conversation and music, the note of pride and affection for his son evident to all.

I watched Jacob and his family from the center of the ballroom where I danced with George twice and Wallace Arbuthnot once, although my toes regretted the decision to encourage the latter onto the dance floor.

"He cuts rather a splendid figure," Theo said, as we stood at the edge of the ballroom after dancing a polka together. His eyes twinkled merrily but a hint of regret threaded his tone. "It's no wonder you fell in love with him."