“She just fainted. After all of this she finally acts like a proper woman,” Sean says sardonically.
Marissa eyes fluttered open in annoyance. She was lying on a couch in an ornately decorated sitting room.
“She certainly is a brave, young thing,” an older woman added.
“To a fault, Your Majesty,” Sean replied.
Victoria was there. Marissa groaned. Sean was at her side immediately.
“Are you all right, Marissa?” he asked gently.
“You said you were never coming back,” Marissa accused, avoiding his question.
Sean looked chagrined. “I could never leave you, Marissa. I love you too much to ever leave you,” he declared. “Besides, Sarah sent me a message in London telling me what you were planning.”
Marissa blushed and sat up. “You saved us both,” she said, looking around for her mother.
Sarah came over to the couch. “And your actions saved the Queen, Marissa.”
Marissa’s mind reviewed the events of the past few hours and with a blush she realized she was still in the invisible suit, but someone had wrapped a cloak around her.
“You’ve done me a great service Lady Edgington. How I can repay you,” Victoria said kindly, coming over.
Marissa quickly got to her feet and curtsied before her Queen. She looked from one face to another and then settled on Sean’s. He had finally declared his feelings and she knew that she would never be content without him. She loved him too.
“Order him to marry me,” Marissa told the Queen simply.
“What could possibly be stopping him?” Victoria asked.
“He’s much too proper to ask me himself and he won’t act out of respect for my father’s good name,” Marissa grumbled.
Victoria smiled.
“Your Majesty, it’s time for you to return to bed. You’ll have no strength if you stay up any longer,” a stately looking gentleman said from the doorway.
“Well, I have been summoned my dears. The guard will escort you out and I’m sure they will have questions for you as well. Thank you again my dear,” Victoria said patting Marissa’s cheek. She moved on to Sean, glancing back at Marissa, and ordered. “Marry her. She needs to be kept busy.”
Sean smiled and Marissa blushed. They all bowed as Victoria left and then two guards appeared at the door. Sean spent the next hour explaining what had happened to the head of Victoria’s security and he in turn promised to have the police arrest Jarvis and John. Marissa felt worn out and ready for her own comfortable bed.
“Let’s get you home,” Sean said putting an arm around her slender shoulders. She could feel the bruises where Simon had grabbed her. “And I want a doctor to look at Sarah’s head where she hit the mirror.”
“I’ll be fine, Sean,” Sarah murmured.
“I think you should take a rest from the social scene of London for a while, Marissa. Maybe it’s time you vacationed at the country estate. I could join you in a few weeks after we wrap up this mess,” Sean said matter-of-factly.
Marissa gripped his arm, feeling the same sensation of loneliness at his suggestion. “Don’t leave me, Sean,” she said urgently.
He looked into her eyes and smiled. “It will only be a fortnight and then I’ll come out. That should be plenty of time for you to plan a wedding, don’t you think?”
Her eyes widened at his words. “Are you sure?” she asked hopefully.
“Marissa, I’ve loved you for so long that I can’t imagine living without you. It killed me inside to walk away from you and as soon as I did I knew it was a mistake.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “It gave me time to consider just how foolish my ideas of what was proper were. If you’ll have me...if you love me, I want to marry you.”
“Oh Sean, I do love you,” she declared throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him soundly.
“And besides, Victoria commanded me to marry you. I can’t disappoint the Queen,” he murmured with a smile.
The End
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