A Game of Hearts

by Joanna Barker

“If ever I heard an offer of marriage from you, I would laugh before the words finished leaving your mouth.” “And I’d hope Uncle would send for the doctor because surely I would be suffering from an episode of madness.”

“Everyone knows she is quite wild for her husband-to-be.” We’d been teasing each other, light and sweet, but now Tristan sobered, his eyes fixed on mine. “Is she?” His voice was hoarse. Did he really not know? Could he really not see how much I loved him? I stepped to him, slipping my hands up to rest upon his chest. He swallowed hard, staring down at me. His heart pounded beneath my palms. “Yes,” I whispered. He took a long breath, closing his eyes. “Because if you did have doubts, I would understand.” I touched his cheek with my fingertips, lightly tracing the hard lines of his jaw. “Tristan.” “I know we were thrown into this engagement.” His words poured out, as if he was worried there was not time to say them all. He found my eyes again, his gaze filled with knee-weakening purpose. “I know I was not your first choice, or even your hundredth. But you are mine, Marigold. My first and only choice. And I’ll choose you every day, without pause, for the rest of my life.”