Lucy squeezed his arm and looked at him with a smile. “Yes, I am. I had not thought about that until just now. But unless I wake up and find this is all a dream, and I am called upon to wait on her Grace’s every need again, I should be able to spend my time on my writing.”
Lucy realized she had not answered Harold’s question about someone special in her life, but she did not want to discuss that. It was still too personal, and her intentions were still unformed. But that made her think of Betsy.
“Brother, do you have some young lady in your life?”
Harold chuckled. “Why, yes—you.”
“No, I mean aspeciallady friend?”
“I do not. There has been no time for such considerations. And, quite frankly, the London society ladies are not to my taste. I believe I am just a country lad at heart—despite my education and patrician upbringing.”
“Well, I happen to know there is a certain young lady who is greatly smitten with you.”
“Oh, and who might that be? I know no one in this area.”
“You do now.”
“You mean one of the sisters?”
“I do.”
“Not Miss Ann, I hope. She has such a sour disposition.”
“Not Ann but Betsy, the youngest sister.”
Harold considered that. “Betsy… Huh. I shall need to get to know her. But she is quite lovely. You must know her well.”
“I do. And she and George are the only members of the family who ever treated me well as I was growing up.”
“Then I shall find a time to get acquainted with her.”
They had now reached Isabell’s cottage, and little Chrissy was the first to spot them and came squealing over toward them. The noise, of course, brought Isabell out of the house.
“Lucy, I was not expecting you,” Isabell said coming over to give Lucy a hug.
Isabell stood back and studied the stranger accompanying her.
“And Isabell, might I introduce you to my brother, Harold?”
* * *
Isabell had been delighted to meet Harold, but even happier to learn of Lucy’s new integration into the Grayson family—although she was not fully accepted yet by her Grace or two of the sisters.
They spent most of the rest of the morning visiting with Isabell, and Harold was delighted with little Chrissy, who reminded him of one of their sisters who had perished in the fire.
Returning to Grayson Manor after their visit, Lucy said, “I have a dilemma, Harold.”
“Yes?”
She explained about the job offer from Lady Harding.
“Oh… and are you going to accept it?”
“I was going to. I had so little income, I thought I must accept. But now that we have reunited, I am uncertain what to do. I do not want us to be separated again.”
“Lucy, you need not want for money. I have more than enough and would be happy to settle a handsome amount on you if you choose to marry.”
Lucy grabbed hold tightly on Harold’s arm. “You would do that?”
