Excerpt of The English Lily by Kae Elle Wheeler

He rushed over. "Thank God," he whispered. He crouched down next to her. "Thank God," he said again, touching his forehead to hers.

"Joseph? Lord Lawrie?" Her voice cracked. Her white glove was no longer white. He wished he could have protected her from that.

Leaning back, he peeled the stained fabric away.

Her hand clenched. "My hands—"

He brushed his lips over the tiny scars. "Your hand is perfect," he said. "We'll have to marry, you know."

"Married. I've dreamed of marrying," she whispered, smiling. Her eyes were dry, but in them he read the shock and fear.

Something tight squeezed Joseph's chest, he found he could hardly breathe. Death hovered over them. While he might fail in creating bliss for Kendra's last moments on this earth, he could offer her the whimsical fairytale.

Joseph dropped her hand and cupped her head with both hands. "Lady Kendra Frazier, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife, mademoiselle, s'il vous plait?"

With a stately incline of her head, she replied with a trembling smile. "I shall be honored, Viscount Lawrie, Chevalier Joseph Pinetti Gray. Lord Hardwick's Marriage Act was enforced in Scotland, in fifty–four, so we've no need to post the banns." A small hysterical laugh erupted. "Shall we escape to Gretna Green, my lord?"

Her spirit touched him as nothing else could. Even in the throes of shock and danger, she managed to recall his full proper name and title. He pulled her to him as heavy steps echoed on the wooden planks just beyond the door. But for a moment he could pretend they would live a long and fruitful life together. "Oui, Gretna Green suits my purposes, perfectly, love," he whispered against her lips, before crushing them beneath his own.

The door crashed back.