“He is. My father always says Jack has the soul of an old, wise man trapped in the body of a dandy.”
The two chuckled but the air between them remained heavy.
“Would you allow me to walk you to your chamber?” She nodded and took his arm when he offered it and together, they walked up the stairs into the manor. As they made their way up the grand staircase, he took a breath. He had to say what he came to say, and she had appeared amenable.
“I do not care about what others….” He started.
“I am sorry for…” She said at the same time.
They spoke at once, their words drowning one another out.
“I apologize. Please, go ahead, Lady Ruth.”
“I wanted to apologize for my abrupt departure. And for the manner in which I did. I am entirely overwhelmed by what transpired.”
Is she speaking of my confession of my love for her, or the incident with Lawrence? Perhaps it is both.
“I should not have been as forward as I was. Alas, I am not accustomed to feeling for a lady as I do for you. And you are right, everything is overwhelming.”
“Ours is a complicated quandary.”
He shook his head. “I do not believe it is. For I am as determined as I was yesterday, and my words still hold true. I adore you, and I ardently declare this with all my heart. And I know you feel it too. At least if what your father tells me, and what my own observations tell me is true.”
“I do.” Her voice was so low he could hardly hear the words. “But I am consumed by fear of what might happen if we …” She stopped speaking. She did not have to complete the sentence for Kenneth already knew all of her worries.
“I share your fears, but I will say this. They pale in comparison to the life I envision, should you reconsider your stance from last night.”
They stepped from the staircase into the hall and walked down toward her chamber.
“I have never been in a situation such as this and I never expected to.”
“Neither did I. Please, Ruth, do not dismiss what is between us out of fear of society or out of fear of the wrath your sister might feel. For I care little about society, and your sister will recover. She and I share nothing, and I doubt she feels even the tiniest of affection for me.”
Ruth stopped outside of her chamber and turned to him. To his delight, she reached out her hand and placed it on his forearm.
“I will not dismiss what is between us. Speaking to your friend has allowed me to see what I want. And you are right, my sister will recover.”
His lips parted as the meaning of her words became clear. “So, you are… Do you say that…”
“I say that despite my fears and reservations, my feelings cannot be denied. My father has spoken of the love he had for my mother so many times and of the joy it gave him. I wished to have this for myself for so long but never thought I would. Now my wish has come true.”
“Ruth, you make me the happiest of men. I will speak to my father. I have already spoken to yours and he will give us his blessing. I know it.”
“But what of your mother?”
He suppressed a groan. “I am sure she is in high dudgeon already today regarding my cousin’s tales. She will in time come to accept you, especially when there is an heir. The only thing my mother despises more than the lack of perfection is the thought of the estate and title going to my cousin.”
He sensed her unease at his mention of an heir and recalled Lawrence’s words from the previous night.
“Even if there is no heir, I fully intend to live long enough that Lawrence will never get his hands on the title. But that is something to worry about another time. We cannot know the future, only what is now.” He smiled and shook his head. “I sound like Lord Bronwyn, do I not?”
She nodded at him with delight. “You certainly do. But he is a wise man, as you said.”
They locked eyes. Images of the future they might have, danced in his mind.
“I wish to make our connection official. It is my most ardent wish that we enter into a formal courtship if that is also your desire.”
She colored; her face turned up at him.
