Susan looked over at him. She could see his genuine pain at her evasion, and she felt a twinge ofguilt.
“I’m sorry, Sir Jasper, I must admit to my continued uncertainty about my answer and I amsorry.”
She stopped the walk and turned to address him directly. She had known her answer for some time now, but her parent’s strong insistence that she marry had made her prolong giving an honest answer to the poor, sufferingman.
She reached out and offered him her hand, which he took. But she didn’t speakimmediately.
“You’re refusing me, aren’t you?” Sir Jasper saidquietly.
“Yes, Jasper, I am. I’m most sorry, but I can’t marryyou.”
He was annoyed. “Susan, you are five and twenty years old. Do you really believe there are that many other worthy suitors out there who’d lavish you with the time and attention Ihave?”
She was not going to be intimidated by this man. “That is as it may be. However, I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t love you, and I don’t wish to enter into a loveless marriage. Please forgive me, but I must be honest withyou.”
Sir Jasper turned away and stared at the river. “I greatly resent the time I’ve wasted as I’ve waited for your answer. Why couldn’t you inform me of this decisionearlier?”
“For that, I take full responsibility, and I’m truly sorry. You may put that down to my feminine timidity—and my parent’s forceful insistence that I marryyou.”
“So you disregard your parent’s wishes?” he asked as he turned back to faceher.
“As you say, I’m indeed five and twenty, and I’m no longer a child, and I know my own mind. You are correct to admonish me for my cowardice, but believe me when I say I’ve spared you from a marriage you would eventually come toregret.”
“Very well. I accept your decision. Then I propose we return to you home and I shall then forever take my leave of you and yourfamily.”
“Sir Jasper, can’t we remainfriends?”
“I think not.” And he turned and walked away without escorting her back to herhouse.
* * *
The villageof Ash was but a short walk through her family’s fields, and she often did the family marketing when she was not teaching and would stop by to visit with her friend, Katherine, as they loved to chat andgossip.
Katherine lived with her family in a house just off the main square where her father had a cobbler’s shop on the ground floor. After doing her shopping at the market, Susan knocked on the family’sdoor.
“There you are,” Katherine said, “I thought you’d forgotten aboutme.”
“Never,ever.”
“Come in,” Katherine offered. “I’ve just baked the most deliciously evil, pudding cake. Would you like to try aslice?”
“Ofcourse.”
Katherine led the way down the hallway beside the cobbler’s shop to the back of the house where the family lived. The kitchen was at the very back of the house and led out to a fairly generous garden where the family spent a lot of time during the summermonths.
Susan studied her friend as she made the tea. Katherine had lustrous, rich, red hair, which she piled atop her head. She was a big girl but had an infectious laugh that immediately endeared her to everyone she met. And her green eyes sparkled, invited, and enlivened her fullface.
“Would you like some tea with your cake?” Katherineasked.
“I would, thankyou.”
Having prepared the refreshments, Katherine led the way to the back of the garden where there was a table and several comfortable chairs under a broad oak. She set down the tea tray and servedthem.
“Any news?” Susan asked as she stirred hertea.
“There is,” Katherine responded. “I can see Roger is working his way up to popping thequestion.”
“And you’llaccept?”
