“But I’m heir to two titles now. Will that make a difference to your father?”

She laughed. “No, but—two? How did that happen?”

He told her briefly about finding his mother, and the lie that had been told to her to keep them apart. “I can’t even be angry at Cyril for lying to her—well, I can, I am, it cost me so much. And yet if it hadn’t played out as it did, I never would have met you.”

“I beg to differ. You and I were destined. We would have met somehow.”

He smiled. “You think so?”

“It’s what every woman in my family would say.”

“But not you?”

“Don’t be silly. Who am I to dispute a consensus that big?”

“You did, as I recall. You would have made your destiny wait a full year.”

“Not anymore.”

His turquoise eyes perused hers, and he looked a little too serious when he said, “Are you sure? Because I haven’t actually heard you say yes.”

She grinned. “Yes.” She kissed his cheek. “Yes.” She licked his ear. “Definitely yes.” And slid her lips across his face to say against his mouth, “D’you need more convincing that I’ll marry you?”

He crushed her to him for a moment before he said, “The first yes did it, but by all means, continue.”

She shook her head. “If we’re going to slip out, we probably need to do it now, before my uncle tells my father that you’re here.”

“He already knows. Frankly, I’m surprised he hasn’t ordered the doors locked and the crowd to part.”

“He wouldn’t want to feed the gossip mills. He doesn’t care about creating scandal about himself, but wouldn’t want even a whiff of it to spread to me, so he won’t make a scene. It’s mostly my extended family here tonight, but there are still other members of the ton in the room.” A quick glance around her and she had to amend, “Actually, a lot more than were invited. But that would be why he hasn’t ripped you out of my arms yet. He probably does know exactly where we are and is just waiting until the music ends.”

“Wonderful.” Damon groaned.

“We can elope to Scotland and inform them afterward.”

“Impulsive as ever.”

“No, but now that I’ve decided I’m not waiting for next year after all, I don’t want to wait another day. Although it’s going to take more’n a day to get to Scotland.”

“But less than a day to get to Essex, where my father already has a special license for us.”

Her brows went up. “That sort of title?”

“Yes—and an extra name. If you marry me, you will be Jack Reeves Chandler. I’ve just met my real father.”

She started laughing and wouldn’t stop.

“It’s not that funny, Jack.”

“Oh, but it is.”

Then Judith bumped into them deliberately and exclaimed with wide eyes that swept over Damon, “So this is him? And you haven’t eloped yet?”

Jacqueline grinned. “We were about to. Damon, this is my cohort in all things secret, my dearest, dearest cousin and best friend, Judith Malory Tremayne. Judy, meet Damon Reeves. He’s got a third name, but if you don’t know it, then my parents won’t be able to pry it out of you and figure out where we went, so it can wait. Give us an hour’s head start before you let them know I’ve hied off to get married. Tell them I’ll send word tomorrow where the after-wedding party will be held.”

“They’re going to worry.”

“No, they’ll be too angry to worry, and they’ll hear from me before that changes.”

“Are you sure you don’t want a big wedding like mine?”

Jack grinned. “The family and I enjoyed yours just months ago, and besides, you know my father was never, ever going to give his blessing, no matter what, not for Damon, not for any man. I was giving him an extra year to get used to the idea, but it just wasn’t happening. So, fait accompli instead, which is more exciting and fun!”

They didn’t run out of the room, which would have drawn people’s attention, but they did move rather quickly to the entrance and then started running along the curb to Damon’s coach. Jacqueline was laughing, so happy she couldn’t help it. And Damon’s driver had been warned, so the moment they were in the coach, it started moving, and they started kissing. She couldn’t help that either! It had been far too long since she’d seen him, tasted him, felt him in her arms.

“Wait—” he tried.

“No!”

He chuckled. “Just for a moment.”

He was getting something out of his pocket, and he brought her hand to his lips to kiss it before he slipped a ring on her finger. The beautiful large emerald was surrounded by so many diamonds, Jack laughed.

“It’s the perfect wedding ring to receive from a pirate,” she teased. “Are you sure it’s not ill-gotten booty?”

He smiled tenderly. “My father gave it to me, a Chandler family heirloom. They are expecting us. They were as hopeful as I that you would say yes. They’ve missed so much of my life, they are thrilled to be part of our elopement. We have their blessing, at least.”

“You know we might have to marry again someday for my parents.”

“If they ever accept me, certainly.”

“My mother approves. She did invite you to the ball, after all.”

He rolled his eyes. “Just so she could slap me.”

Jack grinned. “You had to expect that, and it may even happen a few more times. But she wants me to be happy, and she could see that I am with you.”

“Are you?”

She kissed him soundly to answer him, but it wasn’t long before she wanted more. “Can the driver go any faster?” she asked breathlessly.

“I think this is as fast as we can go at night without running off the road. Besides, considering what we’re doing, I don’t want to face a clergyman and my parents just now.”

She laughed and reached under her gown to pull off her drawers before climbing up on his lap to make love to him. The bouncing of the coach was exceptionally nice once she felt him inside her!

In the throes of passion, she cried out, “Faster!”

“I told you the driver—”