much these past three years, but she’d be the first to tell me to continue to live my life.” He stared off toward a hammock of trees growing beside a small creek. “Shall we ride in that direction and walk alongside the stream?”
He was going to ask her. He’d surprised her when he talked about his wife and revealed the close relationship they’d had. He had depth of character and caring. She’d totally misjudged him and found she had begun to like him. Like, not love. A world of difference and yet she thought they’d be pleasantly happy if not for those two obstacles.
She directed her mare toward the river, and he followed. Under a shady tree, he dismounted, tied their horses, and helped her down.
“Shall we walk?” he asked. He didn’t wait for her answer but took her arm, and they strolled along the grassy edge. “You must know I’m attracted to you and have been wanting to ask you a question for some time.”
“Yes, my lord, I have sensed your interest but,—”
He stopped her. “Let me speak first, and then you can answer me knowing my expectations and hopes for us.”
She raised her head and looked into his warm, brown eyes. “Fair enough.”
“I suspect I’m not the dashing young man of your dreams. My mirror does not lie.” He smiled and patted her hand. “There is no need to deny my statement. I am neither sad, nor have illusions. But I do know I was a good husband and love grew between my wife and me. I liked being married and longed for children, not just an heir. So, what I have to offer is a—I hope—a pleasant life filled with good times and support for the times that are not so good. I’d be honored if you’d consider marrying me.” He stopped their progress along the creek’s edge. In the silence, the rush of water over several large rocks sounded uncommonly loud. “I don’t expect an answer today. Take your time to consider my offer.”
“You are too kind, my lord.” Ellie glanced down at the ground. Now was the time to tell him. She started to open her mouth when she heard a rider. Both she and Lord Turner looked around and saw a man riding toward them. Ellie’s heart sped up.
Rafe pulled up his stallion and swung down. “Miss Upton and Lord Turner,” he said and bowed. “I do hope I’m not interrupting, but I was on my way to the Upton ’s when I happened to see horses and decided to check. There have been rumors of mischief in the area of late.”
“How nice to see you, Your Grace. I had thought you were at your estate,” Lord Turner said.
“I have been, but I enjoy spending time at my hunting lodge and needed the quiet and privacy.”
“That’s understandable.” Lord Turner turned back to Ellie. “I must be on my way. Perhaps, we might ride back and I will take my leave.”
“Please don’t let me rush you off, Turner. I can visit another day.”
“Not at all, Your Grace. I have a good distance to make to reach home tonight.”
The ride home seemed to take less time. Lord Turner told her mother good-bye. “If you and the duke will excuse me, I’d like to speak privately with Miss Upton before I leave.”
Ellie took his arm. “I’ll walk you outside, my lord.”
“Thank you.” He patted her hand as they walked through the foyer. They started down the steps to where his horse waited. “It was pleasant to see the duke, but I am sorry we were interrupted.”
Lord Turner squeezed her hand then stepped away and swung up into his saddle. “You will think about my offer?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Then with your permission, I will visit again in a fortnight. If you do not wish me to visit, please send me word.”
“Whatever my decision, my lord, you have honored me with your proposal. You are a good man.”
“A good man.” He shook his head. “I fear you have dashed my hopes,” he said, but there was a twinkle in his eye as he rode away.
Ellie found her mother and Rafe talking quietly. The conversation abruptly stopped when she
He was going to ask her. He’d surprised her when he talked about his wife and revealed the close relationship they’d had. He had depth of character and caring. She’d totally misjudged him and found she had begun to like him. Like, not love. A world of difference and yet she thought they’d be pleasantly happy if not for those two obstacles.
She directed her mare toward the river, and he followed. Under a shady tree, he dismounted, tied their horses, and helped her down.
“Shall we walk?” he asked. He didn’t wait for her answer but took her arm, and they strolled along the grassy edge. “You must know I’m attracted to you and have been wanting to ask you a question for some time.”
“Yes, my lord, I have sensed your interest but,—”
He stopped her. “Let me speak first, and then you can answer me knowing my expectations and hopes for us.”
She raised her head and looked into his warm, brown eyes. “Fair enough.”
“I suspect I’m not the dashing young man of your dreams. My mirror does not lie.” He smiled and patted her hand. “There is no need to deny my statement. I am neither sad, nor have illusions. But I do know I was a good husband and love grew between my wife and me. I liked being married and longed for children, not just an heir. So, what I have to offer is a—I hope—a pleasant life filled with good times and support for the times that are not so good. I’d be honored if you’d consider marrying me.” He stopped their progress along the creek’s edge. In the silence, the rush of water over several large rocks sounded uncommonly loud. “I don’t expect an answer today. Take your time to consider my offer.”
“You are too kind, my lord.” Ellie glanced down at the ground. Now was the time to tell him. She started to open her mouth when she heard a rider. Both she and Lord Turner looked around and saw a man riding toward them. Ellie’s heart sped up.
Rafe pulled up his stallion and swung down. “Miss Upton and Lord Turner,” he said and bowed. “I do hope I’m not interrupting, but I was on my way to the Upton ’s when I happened to see horses and decided to check. There have been rumors of mischief in the area of late.”
“How nice to see you, Your Grace. I had thought you were at your estate,” Lord Turner said.
“I have been, but I enjoy spending time at my hunting lodge and needed the quiet and privacy.”
“That’s understandable.” Lord Turner turned back to Ellie. “I must be on my way. Perhaps, we might ride back and I will take my leave.”
“Please don’t let me rush you off, Turner. I can visit another day.”
“Not at all, Your Grace. I have a good distance to make to reach home tonight.”
The ride home seemed to take less time. Lord Turner told her mother good-bye. “If you and the duke will excuse me, I’d like to speak privately with Miss Upton before I leave.”
Ellie took his arm. “I’ll walk you outside, my lord.”
“Thank you.” He patted her hand as they walked through the foyer. They started down the steps to where his horse waited. “It was pleasant to see the duke, but I am sorry we were interrupted.”
Lord Turner squeezed her hand then stepped away and swung up into his saddle. “You will think about my offer?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Then with your permission, I will visit again in a fortnight. If you do not wish me to visit, please send me word.”
“Whatever my decision, my lord, you have honored me with your proposal. You are a good man.”
“A good man.” He shook his head. “I fear you have dashed my hopes,” he said, but there was a twinkle in his eye as he rode away.
Ellie found her mother and Rafe talking quietly. The conversation abruptly stopped when she
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