He strode across to take her limp, cold hands in his, chafing them to bring back some warmth. “Emily, you pea-goose, you should not be up. You do not look at all the thing.” He led her, unresisting, to a well padded settle, pulled up close to the fire. “Sit here, sweetheart. I have already rung for some hot chocolate. Maybe that will restore some colour to your cheeks.”

This unexpected kindness was Emily's undoing. Her eyes filled and tears trickled unchecked down her face.

“God's teeth! I am a brute,” she heard him swear, not for the first time. Then she was on his lap, with his arms firmly around her. “I do not mean to frighten you, darling, you must know that I would never harm a single hair on your head.”

Emily raised her tear-stained face to his, a watery smile curving her lips. “Unless I drive you to it by my irresponsible and unforgivable behaviour.”

He chuckled, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. “I admit last night my intention was to spank some sense into your lovely head.”

She settled more comfortably into his arms. “And now?”

“And now, I find to my astonishment that I have forgiven you, again.” He frowned, his volte face sending shockwaves down her spine. Her fear reflected on her face. “Do not panic, you silly girl; I shall not do it this time. But, I promise, if ever you do anything so stupid again you will sincerely regret it.”

Emily raised her eyebrows. “I can assure you, I have no intention of jilting you in public a second time.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “I do not give a damn for that. I am talking about jumping from a moving carriage and running away into the night. I have never been so scared. Even Boney's crack troops have not engendered such fear in me. I thought I would not find you in time.” He bent his head and touched his lips to hers in a gentle kiss.

“I find,” he said, when he finally raised his head, “that you have stolen my heart, little cousin. I did not know such a thing could happen, and so fast.”

Her smile was radiant. “And I, although I have fought hard not to, have become besotted with you, Cousin Sebastian.”

“What ever are we going to do about it?”

“I cannot imagine, I am quite at a loss.”

In answer he pulled her tightly to his heart. “Can you feel it, darling? It beats just for you. How soon can I persuade you to marry me?” He smoothed her hair, and touched his lips softly to her bruised face. “I can not imagine why you love me, Emily. I have behaved appallingly. I am, I promise you, known throughout Europe as a calm and reasonable man, not given to wild tempers and uncontrollable rages.”

She laughed and, wriggling free of his loose grip, resumed her seat on the sofa. “And I do not, as a rule, behave like a hoyden with as much commonsense as a chicken.” Her ringless hand still rested in his.

“I have something to ask you, my love. Will you marry me? Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife? Will you make me the happiest man in England? You must answer me from your heart. I will understand if you feel that you cannot tie yourself to a brute like me.”

Her answering smile made his heart turn over. “I love you, and you love me, that is all I ever wanted in a match. I do not care how volatile our relationship will prove to be; if we truly love each other, it will survive.”

Instantly he looked younger, more like the man of scarcely four and twenty that he was. He smiled and his eyes bored into hers. “You still have not answered my question. Are you going to marry me? And how soon?”

She tipped her head as she considered. “Well, I promised Grandfather we would return for the Christmas festivities perhaps we could be married then, make it a double celebration.”

To her astonishment he leapt to his feet yelling out in triumph. The sound of smashing crockery outside the door announced the unfortunate demise of the expected hot chocolate. Sebastian froze in mid-air and his look of horror sent Emily into a fit of giggles.

“For God's sake, Emily, desist. The poor girl will think you are laughing at her expense.”

Still laughing, she ran across to open the door. Outside a smiling parlour-maid was scooping up the mess. “There is no hurry for my chocolate; I am sorry that Viscount Yardley startled you.”

“Not to worry, Miss Gibson. It's grand when a gentleman is so happy that he shouts it out like that.”

Emily closed the door and turned to face the man she had promised to spend the rest of her life with. He was watching the play of emotions cross her face.

“I have something here that belongs to you, my love.”

She held out her hand and he slipped the emerald ring back where it belonged.