Lady of the Night (Editing)

Epilogue

            To her luck, it was empty and she was left alone to ponder over her own thoughts for a little bit. In truth, she was a little saddened and crushed to see Jonathan with that young female. But he had every right and the girl was quite pretty. A pang of jealousy went through her and Lila tried to erase that feeling away. It was not the pretty female’s fault. She let out a loud and heartfelt sigh and just as she did, someone cleared their throat behind her. “May I?” Lila spun around to find the duke leaning against the balcony door frame. Quickly, her heart began to beat faster than ever and she tried not to show him how much he still affected her. “Of course your grace.”

            She heard him as he came closer and closer and stood right behind her. The hair on the nape on her neck stood to end and her body tingled all over with his nearness. The smell of his cologne was more enticing than ever and she quickly found herself taking more deep breaths to breathe it in. “How are you? How is your health?” Lila closed her eyes to hold back the tears she knew were close. She had to remind herself that he was not hers, that he was only being nice and asking but the back of mind niggled at her that their positions was very incorrect and was against propriety. “I’m fine, thank you for asking. And you?” The duke nodded at her in answer but soon the both of them were joined by the pretty young blonde female. “Jonathan! I’ve been looking all over for you. Mama needs to tell you something important and well, you wouldn’t want to upset her would you?” It was only then that the girl noticed Lila and smiled. “Oh hello! You must be Lady Lila Addison, I’m Eva. It’s very nice to meet you.” The girl stuck her hand out and Lila’s heart clenched as there was no way she could hate Eva. She was not only beautiful but would have probably been a good friend of Lila’s if they had meet before and under other circumstances. “Hello, yes I’m Lila. How do you do?” Eva smiled at her and the duke watched Lila closely. “I’m splendid! I didn’t know you knew Johnny. Then again, he doesn’t really tell me much now, does he?” Eva turned to the duke and playfully hit him on his arm. Lila was a little taken back with the nickname that she called the duke with and the intimate gesture. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t just stand there and act as if she still wasn’t hopelessly in love with him. He and Eva were perfect together and Lila knew that if she didn’t escape soon she would embarrass herself by crying. Quickly she turned around and excused herself, picked up her skirts, and swiftly ran out the balcony, with every intention of leaving.

            She was halfway through the ballroom when the duke had finally caught up to her and pulled her back against him. At first they were oblivious to everyone around them. Lila’s breathing became ragged as she stood so close to him. “Lila, my dear sweet Lila, whatever is wrong? Why did you run?” Lila laughed and tried to look anywhere but at him. She ended up just staring at his chest. “You…you can’t hold me like this or do this to me. You’re,” she swallowed, “if I am to understand correctly, engaged to Miss Eva.” It was then that the duke finally understood everything, of why she looked so miserable when Eva came into the balcony.

            “You have mistaken. Miss Eva is nothing but my niece. This is her first season and my sister’s husband is out of town so I am to oversee his position. Eva is nothing but family. Lila look at me.” Lila stubbornly refused to look at him. It sounded too good to be true. It gave her hope that she was praying not to be false.” The duke put a finger under her chin and lifted her head up so that she could meet his gaze. By then most of the crowd had stopped to watch what was happening.

            Lila finally met Jonathan’s gaze and in his eyes she melted. “Awhile back I believe we were in a similar position where I had asked you a very important question and you rejected me and fled.” He took a deep breath and slowly held her hands and got down to one knee. “Lady Lila Addison, from the moment we met and I have been besotted by you. Not only was it your grace in everything you do, but your kindness, your whit, your beauty, but most of all, the fact that you never bothered to tell me anything except the way it was. Every night I fall asleep dreaming about you and every morning I wake up with the thought of you in mind. I go out, and God knows I’m not a fan of these functions, but only in hopes of seeing you again. I’ve teased you and have been atrocious and to that I am truly, and deeply sorry. That night that Edward came to find me, I panicked. I was worried out of my mind. And then, when you were shot,” the duke said, with tears in his eyes, “I almost died just then. The thought of you gone, of my foolishness of not seeing how you were trying to protect me, of not coming to my senses and trusting you from the beginning, and of seeing you in that state terrified me to no end. And…you whispered my name before you fell unconscious and in that moment I had decided that there was no way I was letting you go again. We were in the country and it was early morning, I saw you riding your horse with no abandon and all free and in that moment I realized that I had fallen for you. That somehow, you invaded my heart, body, and soul. So, I ask you again, and if you say no today then I’ll ask you tomorrow and every day until you say yes. Lady Lila Addison, would you do me the honor of becoming my beloved wife?”

      She nodded and cried. "Yes." Jonathan, forgetting them being in a public place, hugged her and spun her around. Lila circled her arms around his neck and squealed with laughter and tears. Once he put her down, he slipped his family engagement ring onto her finger and kissed her. Some of the audience gasped and others applauded. Jonathan looked deep into Lila's eyes, smiled, and uttered the same words over and over again, making sure that his beloved wouldn't forget. "I love you," He said and danced with her all throughout the night.