“You kept it?” she gasped.
He swallowed. “I did not know why until I wronged you. This has been my hope, and I have cherished it, keeping it close to my heart. It is somewhat bruised and wilted, but it is still in one piece. As is my hope, at this moment.” He chuckled awkwardly. “I had not realized until now, but it is somewhat like that game…”
“He loves me, he loves me not?”
Evan nodded. “Only, for me, it issheloves me,sheloves me not. I should have plucked the petals to find out.”
“You do not need petals,” she told him, pressing her palm more firmly against his chest. “My love for you has wavered since that night by the stables, but it has never truly abandoned me. Hearing what you have told me, I believe that you never truly abandoned me either.”
His eyes widened. “You… forgive me?”
“I am in the process of forgiving you, yes,” she replied.
“And… you love me still?”
She mustered a smile. “I love you still, though my heart—like this daisy—will need some nurturing and nourishing soil to bloom again.”
“I will surround you with it,” he promised, bringing his free hand up to her face, cradling it tenderly. “I will be your sunlight, your quenching rain, your… bonemeal.”
She burst out laughing, despite herself. “How terribly romantic.”
“It is better than what I was intending to say,” he replied, grinning hopefully. “For what else helps plants to grow?”
She pulled a face. “You are rather ruining the moment.”
“Then, allow me to remedy it.” He dipped his head, catching her mouth with his in a soft, slow press that stole her breath away.
With one hand still feeling the thunder of his heart, she smoothed her other hand up his broad chest and over his shoulder, allowing her fingertips to caress his neck and run through his silky, blond locks. All the while, she kissed him back, no longer afraid of what it might mean. It was the beginning of something and the end of something, forging a new promise for the future.
His arm encircled her waist, pulling her closer as he kissed her with all the love he possessed, their lips moving together as if in a dance. Indeed, their bodies swayed too, heeding some secret music that only they could hear. And as the breeze rushed in from outside, it whispered its congratulations, ruffling their hair as it softly cheered.
All too soon, Evan pulled back and gazed down into her misty eyes. “My love, would you do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife? We do not have to wed soon, if you do not wish to. We can have a true courtship, if that is your desire, but I must know if you will make me the happiest, most fortunate gentleman in all of England.”
“I cannot,” she said quietly, stroking her fingertips across his cheek. She could almost hear his heart falter. “I love you with all my bruised heart, but I cannot.”
“You… cannot?”
She shook her head. “Not yet.”
“Not yet?”
A soft laugh escaped her lips. “It would mean my greatest happiness to marry you, Evan, but there is something that you must do first.”
“Anything,” he gasped, as if in relief.
She smiled. “Visit your father. Put your ghosts to rest,” she told him. “And when you are done, return to me and ask again. Then, and only then, can our happiness bloom.”
“But you do love me?” His brow creased, like he was bracing for a blow.
She stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips, whispering against them, “Oh, my love, without doubt.”
From the hallway beyond the library door, a small voice squeaked, “May we enter now?” ItwasAnna, likely eager to discover if there was still hope for love and romance in this world. And as Olivia replied, “You may,” she was only too happy to prove Anna right.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
It had been over a decade since Evan had made the journey north to Lisbret House, though he had wandered the echoing, frozen hallways often enough in his nightmares. In truth, he had hoped he would never have to return to that place. Before Olivia became dear to him, he might never have done.
“Are you afraid?” Daniel asked, riding at Evan’s side.
