I do not own Miss Scarlet & The Duke.

I believe I will end this story with this chapter. There may be a sequel in the future. Depending on feedback, and also my desire to continue this story while waiting on Season 5. I definitely have an idea of what could come next in this story, and it would include tying up more ends. But this is a good stopping point for now.

Thank you for reading thus far, let me know if you want a sequel.

Chapter Thirteen

"Eliza," Duke breathes easy into the pillow next to her, he reaches his bare muscular arm over to her, his hand reaching into her ringlet curls that fall across her sleeping figure.

"Eliza," He leans over whispering, pressing a kiss to her smooth cheek, chilly from the fireplace going out in the early hours of the morning.

"Mm," she stirs from sleep, mumbling.

Duke lays on his side, "Eliza, I want to marry you."

"Hmm?" She says, still not fully aroused from her slumber.

"I said, I want to marry you." As he repeats his words, she sits up quickly.

"Did I miss my ship?" She asks, wide eyes looking around the room.

"That is not exactly the answer I was expecting." He chuckles and sits up beside her.

"Luckily, I am already fully dressed. Oof, the corset is digging in, I should not have slept in that." She winces, adjusting it.

"Hey, it was your choice." He puts his hands in the air, defending himself.

"I believe your exact words were, 'Keep your dress on, Eliza,'" Her glance challenges him.

He laughs, "I needed to protect my woman's wishes, of being proper and sorts." He says, gazing at her smiling.

"To that, I thank you." Her cheeks fill with a rosy hue.

She stands and brushes her hair out with her fingers.

"Eliza, your hair is so lovely," He rolls onto his side, his bare broad chest peeking out of the sheets. Her dress may still be intact, but his shirt graces the floor.

"Thank you, William," She beams at him.

"Now, back to what I was saying before you cleverly changed the subject," He says, and she scoffs.

"I did not change the…" His eyebrows entice her to go on.

"Alright, I did change the subject. You wish to marry me you said." The color rises in her cheeks once more.

"I do, Eliza, I do not know how much longer I will be here, but when I get home, I intend to make you my wife. That is…" She crawls back onto the bed, at his proposal.

"That is?" She asks him.

"That is, if you will have me." He says in a serious tone.

She smiles and gives him a soft kiss on the lips, "Well, I will have to consider it William, you know I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions," He chuckles.

"Are you teasing me?" She asks him.

"Never." He answers her and pulls her back to the bed with him, kissing her slowly.

xxx

"Remember my love, rough patches will exist. But you are everything to me. Love comes first. It will carry us through. You are my future." His eyes seek hers, and he grabs ahold of her hand at the dock.

"One step at a time? Yes?" She smiles and nods.

"Yes, Eliza. One step at a time." He nods, pressing a chaste kiss to the back of her hand.

"I do not want to let you go," He shakes his head, "but, I will think of you every day,"

"It is not goodbye, William. It's only goodbye for now." She repeats his words back to him that he said to her, mere months ago.

"Write me." She breathes then.

"You can count on that." He wraps his arms around her waist, and kisses her without abandon, not caring who sees.

She picks up her suitcase, ready to board the ship.

"Goodbye for now, Mrs. Wellington." He calls out to her.

And Eliza, with her playful spunk, flashes her empty ring finger back at him, "Erm, it is Miss Scarlet to you, Sir," she winks, playfully teasing him.

"Not for long, Miss Scarlet, not for long," He whispers to himself as he waves her on.

For sooner or later, he would make her his wife, for real.