“W-were – you – s-shocked?” she whispered.
Lord Dorrington held her so close that she could hardly breathe.
“My adorable sweetheart, I have prayed I could awaken a little flame within you from the fire that utterly consumes me.”
Alyna made a little sound that was half a sob as she murmured,
“The – fires – of Venus.”
“The Prince of Wales told you to trust my judgement,” Lord Dorrington said. “I knew that no one could be so beautiful, so utterly and completely lovely, and be without a heart.”
“And now it is – yours,” Alyna said. “I love you – Knight Errant, with all my – heart – my soul and my – body.”
“And you are no longer afraid?” Lord Dorrington questioned.
“Not of you – I have never been afraid of you.”
“Now you have no need to be afraid of anything, my darling. I can protect y
