She took it, and tried to wipe delicately. Then gave up and rubbed her cheeks. She couldn’t remember when she had last cried. But no longer did she have to hide what she felt, no longer did she have to bear everything alone. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you.”

He grinned. “No more secrecy, no more running. No more need for Gretna Green.” And he wrapped his arms around her like he would never let her go.

Little Miss Independent

Julia Templeton

One

London, England

“There was a day not so very long ago that women were pining for Lord Drayton. Who would want him now?” Elizabeth Montgomery said, her voice hinting at amusement.

Adelaide Bruce, better known as Addy to her friends, resisted the urge to toss her punch in Elizabeth’s face. A newly formed acquaintance, Elizabeth didn’t realize the man she spoke of so flippantly and with such cruelty was Roan, Addy’s brother’s best friend, who had been severely injured in battle six months ago.

“He is ghastly, I tell you.”

Squaring her shoulders, Addy did her best to control her growing anger. “Miss Elizabeth, the man you speak of is a war hero … and a close family friend.”

Elizabeth looked down her long nose at Addy, her dark eyes narrowing. “Oh dear, I did not mean to strike a nerve, my pet. I am merely repeating what others have been saying since the Captain’s recent return.”

“You would do well not to listen to idle gossip, Miss Elizabeth. At the very least, Lord Drayton deserves your respect.”

The other woman pressed her lips together and sniffed. “I do respect the Captain, especially for his service to our country. However, there is no denying his appearance is rather … frightening.” Elizabeth gave a little shudder for good measure. “And to think a year ago he had been engaged to one of London’s most desirable debutantes. Everyone knows Sara Duggart’s sudden departure to America was no coincidence. A sick great-aunt, my eye.” Elizabeth cleared her throat and leaned closer to Addy. “I have heard she is newly engaged to a wealthy Virginian. What he lacks for in height, I understand he makes up for in looks.”

Elizabeth’s voice faded as Addy watched Roan — or Drayton, as most friends called him — enter the ballroom. Tall and broad-shouldered, Roan’s long hair curled at the collar of his Navy jacket. Even as a boy he had commanded attention with his nearly black locks and intense silver eyes. In profile he looked just as he always had — handsome, powerful, masculine — but when he turned, she saw the scar that had changed his life seemingly overnight. It was raised, a mottled red and purple, running from directly beneath his right eye, down the lower lid, over his cheek and down his neck, disappearing beneath the intricately tied cravat at his throat. She had heard the burn had ravaged his entire right arm and hand, to the point he’d nearly had to have the limb amputated.

She could feel the others turn away from his stare, doing anything so as not to make eye contact. Shame on them! What was wrong with them to treat him so? His striking beauty had always made her breathless, and now she felt the familiar stirring in her breast as those piercing eyes scanned the room.

Her brother Jack came up behind Roan and whispered something in his ear. The stern expression immediately fled Roan’s features and the wolfish smile she remembered well from her youth appeared, making her heart miss a beat.

Jack motioned her over and Adelaide felt a flutter of excitement ripple through her as she made her way through the throng of guests towards her brother and Roan.

It had been five long years since the last time she’d seen him. She’d been a girl then, just shy of her thirteenth year, and he a young man of three and twenty. How proud he had been to receive his commission to captain his own vessel in Her Majesty’s Royal Navy. Word of his bravery had quickly made the rounds of balls and soirées and, when he came home on leave for a short break last year, he had asked Sara to become his wife.

Everyone had been envious of the fair-haired, statuesque merchant’s daughter who had enchanted the rakishly handsome, wealthy lord and renowned Navy captain.

That is until word of his hideous appearance reached English shores. It was said Miss Duggart had immediately broken the engagement by way of a hastily written letter, which had left Roan shattered.

With anticipation tripping along her spine, Addy stopped in front of her brother and Roan.

Jack smiled. “Addy, how good of you to join us.”

Roan abruptly turned and Addy swallowed past the lump in her throat as she made a small curtsey. “Lord Drayton, what a pleasure it is to see you again. It has been far too long.”

His intense silver eyes held her hostage, and she shifted on her feet as he stared at her without blinking.

“Addy.” He said her name as though he could not quite believe it was her. “You have grown up in my absence.”

She’d always loved his voice. The rich timbre of his voice had not changed at all, and it made the fine hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

“I certainly hope I have changed. It has been five years, after all,” she said, pressing her lips together. To her surprise, his gaze shifted to her mouth, pausing until her brother cleared his throat.

Roan’s gaze abruptly ripped back to hers. “You have grown into a beautiful young woman, Addy.”

His words thrilled her beyond comprehension. “You have not changed at all,” she said, and nearly tripped on her words when she heard a gasp from nearby.

Heat rushed up her neck as she realized what it must sound like to others. To her, he had not changed. She did not see the scar that covered his cheek, jaw and neck … but rather, the face she had adored for a lifetime.

“I wish that were true,” he said warmly, and she shifted on her feet, wishing she could recant the words. She opened her mouth to explain herself, when Jack glanced beyond her shoulder and grinned.

“Ah, there you are, Seeton.”

Addy straightened her spine. Stephan Browning, Lord Seeton — her current suitor — bowed at the waist while lifting her gloved hand to his lips and kissing the air above her fingers.

“Miss Adelaide, I am so sorry I am late.” He squeezed her hand. “May I have the next dance?”

Stephan’s golden locks were swept off his forehead, and he wore a perfectly tailored, dark-grey suit that fitted his tall frame nicely. His blue eyes crinkled at the corners as his gaze shifted slowly from her to Roan. He forced a smile and quickly averted his eyes.

She bit back her disappointment in him.

“Well, will you dance with me, Miss Addy?” Stephan asked.

“Yes, of course. I look forward to it.”

Stephan nodded, and departed as quickly as he’d appeared, saying something about greeting his uncle.

“Lord Seeton is Addy’s beau,” Jack said with a wink.

Roan’s dark brows lifted in surprise. “You have a beau, Addy.”

The way he said her name made her blood run warm.

“He is not exactly a beau, as much as a friend.”

“Do not listen to her. She is being far too coy. Seeton is one of many suitors, I might add. Our little Addy is quite the toast of the ton this season. She had her coming out in June and the house has not been silent since.”

Addy could feel her blush deepen. “You exaggerate, Jack.”

“I wish I did,” Jack said glumly. “Addy, you have cast a spell on the young men of our fair city.”

“I can certainly understand why,” Roan said, and the compliment delighted her.

“Thank you, My Lord,” she said, biting her bottom lip. “I am so very glad you approve. I have always looked to Jack as a father, and you as—”

“An uncle,” Jack said with a slight smirk to his lips.

There was something in Roan’s eyes that made her pause. Could it be that he was finally seeing her for the young woman she was? How long had she hoped for such a day?

The music stopped and, as a new song began, she gave another curtsey. “It is wonderful to see you again, Roan. We have sorely missed you. I do so hope you will not be a stranger while you are in London.”

“Roan is returning to Oak Hill tomorrow,” Jack said, taking a sip of punch.

“You are leaving so soon?” she asked, trying to hide her disappointment but failing miserably.

Roan cleared his throat. “I was considering leaving.”

“Jack, you must talk him into staying with us for a while.”

“I have already invited him to stay, but Roan seems quite determined to leave us.”

“Perhaps I shall stay for a little white longer then,” Roan said abruptly.

Her heart nearly leaped from her chest, and she could not keep the grin from her lips. “I am so very glad. That is wonderful news!”

Roan could not believe the beauty standing before him was Addy Bruce. His best friend’s little sister had always been a mischievous, independent girl, who wore her hair in two braids on either side of her oval face, and had a hankering for getting into trouble. She always did exactly as she liked, never one for going with the crowd. Jack had often said that she was more like a little brother than a sister. He called her “Little Miss Independent”. The title suited her.

He couldn’t say that any longer. There was nothing masculine — or childlike, for that matter — about the woman standing before him. The plaits were gone and Addy’s auburn hair was worn in a simple chignon that complemented her fragile features. Her green eyes were extraordinary, framed by thick dark lashes, and held a wisdom that belied her eighteen years. Her body had filled out in all the right places, with full breasts, a tiny waist and slightly curved hips. And, dear God, her legs were long.