part of what made him the remarkable man he was.
"Very fortifying. Stronger than usual." He indicated a platter piled high with iced cakes, three of which he placed on a plate for his guest. "I made more of your favorite cakes, too. After all, this is a celebration of sorts. Even if the path leading to this all-important threshold was strewn with your customary impatience and impulsiveness." He arched a pointed brow at Aurora, then settled himself on the settee. "I don't know what I'm going to do about that reckless nature of yours," he declared, kindling the fire to a higher blaze. "'Tis a good thing I soon won't have to contend with it alone."
"Mr. Scollard." Taking his cue, Aurora plopped down in an armchair, leaning forward and staring earnestly into his face. "Have I done the right thing? Am I making a mistake? Have I totally lost my mind? I never truly imagined I'd marry at all, much less wed Julian Bencroft. What should I do?"
"My suggestion? Drink your tea. It won't stay hot forever."
"Really?" Aurora shot him an I-know-better look. "I rather suspect it might. 'Tis your tea, after all." Dutifully she drank down the whole cup, feeling that extraordinary surge of energy Mr. Scollard's tea always produced. She then proceeded to gobble up one of the cakes she so relished. "Um. Delicious," she proclaimed between bites. "But three of them? Even I have never managed to devour more than two." Gratefully she accepted the refilled cup Mr. Scollard handed her, then bit into her second cake. "Although I am hungrier than usual this morning. Perhaps I can indulge myself just this once. Not a crumb more than three, however. I've already been measured for my wedding dress—late yesterday afternoon, in fact. The modiste will have my head if all those exquisite yards of silk and lace don't fit."
"Wedding dress?" Mr. Scollard's forehead wrinkled in concentration. "Oh, yes. That delicate silver and white gown you've envisioned since you were five; a gown you obviously never imagined wearing, given the fact that—what was it you just said?—ah, given the fact that you never truly imagined you'd marry at all."
Aurora's lashes swept her cheeks as her friend's message found its mark. "Very well, so I daydreamed a bit as a child. Oh, all right," she amended, feeling Mr. Scollard's penetrating gaze. "So I still daydream now and again. That doesn't mean I ever thought I'd actually realize my dream."
"Of course not. Because you couldn't conceive of a man interesting enough to spend your life with. A man as vital and alive as you. A man with a thirst for life and a hunger for adventure. A man like Julian Bencroft."
Silence, but for the crackling flames of the fire.
"Or is it not the idea of marriage itself that's rendered you so off balance," Mr. Scollard pressed gently, "but the idea of marriage to this man in particular?"
"Everything about Julian Bencroft renders me off balance. I don't think I've righted myself since we met."
"And that disturbs you? Odd, I thought it was tedium you found disconcerting."
"I did. I do." Aurora gave a dazed shake of her head. "Listen to me. I don't know what I'm saying, much less what I'm feeling. Please, Mr. Scollard, help me."
His vivid blue eyes shone with equally vivid memories. "Your expression … your plea … you sound much as another did not too long ago. Another whom you love very much."
A sage nod. "You're speaking of Courtney."
"Surely you recall how she grappled with her feelings for Slayde?"
"Yes, but that was different."
"Was it?"
"Definitely. Courtney and Slayde fell in love. They shared their thoughts; they understood each other … why, Courtney transformed my brother into an entirely different man."
"After being thrust unexpectedly into his life—yes, she did. As Slayde did for her. My point exactly." Mr. Scollard took a thoughtful sip of tea. "Love is an astonishing force. Stronger than all other
"Very fortifying. Stronger than usual." He indicated a platter piled high with iced cakes, three of which he placed on a plate for his guest. "I made more of your favorite cakes, too. After all, this is a celebration of sorts. Even if the path leading to this all-important threshold was strewn with your customary impatience and impulsiveness." He arched a pointed brow at Aurora, then settled himself on the settee. "I don't know what I'm going to do about that reckless nature of yours," he declared, kindling the fire to a higher blaze. "'Tis a good thing I soon won't have to contend with it alone."
"Mr. Scollard." Taking his cue, Aurora plopped down in an armchair, leaning forward and staring earnestly into his face. "Have I done the right thing? Am I making a mistake? Have I totally lost my mind? I never truly imagined I'd marry at all, much less wed Julian Bencroft. What should I do?"
"My suggestion? Drink your tea. It won't stay hot forever."
"Really?" Aurora shot him an I-know-better look. "I rather suspect it might. 'Tis your tea, after all." Dutifully she drank down the whole cup, feeling that extraordinary surge of energy Mr. Scollard's tea always produced. She then proceeded to gobble up one of the cakes she so relished. "Um. Delicious," she proclaimed between bites. "But three of them? Even I have never managed to devour more than two." Gratefully she accepted the refilled cup Mr. Scollard handed her, then bit into her second cake. "Although I am hungrier than usual this morning. Perhaps I can indulge myself just this once. Not a crumb more than three, however. I've already been measured for my wedding dress—late yesterday afternoon, in fact. The modiste will have my head if all those exquisite yards of silk and lace don't fit."
"Wedding dress?" Mr. Scollard's forehead wrinkled in concentration. "Oh, yes. That delicate silver and white gown you've envisioned since you were five; a gown you obviously never imagined wearing, given the fact that—what was it you just said?—ah, given the fact that you never truly imagined you'd marry at all."
Aurora's lashes swept her cheeks as her friend's message found its mark. "Very well, so I daydreamed a bit as a child. Oh, all right," she amended, feeling Mr. Scollard's penetrating gaze. "So I still daydream now and again. That doesn't mean I ever thought I'd actually realize my dream."
"Of course not. Because you couldn't conceive of a man interesting enough to spend your life with. A man as vital and alive as you. A man with a thirst for life and a hunger for adventure. A man like Julian Bencroft."
Silence, but for the crackling flames of the fire.
"Or is it not the idea of marriage itself that's rendered you so off balance," Mr. Scollard pressed gently, "but the idea of marriage to this man in particular?"
"Everything about Julian Bencroft renders me off balance. I don't think I've righted myself since we met."
"And that disturbs you? Odd, I thought it was tedium you found disconcerting."
"I did. I do." Aurora gave a dazed shake of her head. "Listen to me. I don't know what I'm saying, much less what I'm feeling. Please, Mr. Scollard, help me."
His vivid blue eyes shone with equally vivid memories. "Your expression … your plea … you sound much as another did not too long ago. Another whom you love very much."
A sage nod. "You're speaking of Courtney."
"Surely you recall how she grappled with her feelings for Slayde?"
"Yes, but that was different."
"Was it?"
"Definitely. Courtney and Slayde fell in love. They shared their thoughts; they understood each other … why, Courtney transformed my brother into an entirely different man."
"After being thrust unexpectedly into his life—yes, she did. As Slayde did for her. My point exactly." Mr. Scollard took a thoughtful sip of tea. "Love is an astonishing force. Stronger than all other
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