“Menace?”
“Banker Dalton.” She informed.
He readjusted his hat and tapped the reins.
She smiled. The man was in a hurry to get back to his home in London. She was sure, handsome as he was, he had a woman waiting in every port.
“Anxious to get home?” She made light talk.
“Why?”
“Oh, no reason. Just wondered.” She shrugged. He sure was touchy.
Soon she saw her place from far off, gasped and lifted her bottom off the seat half standing.
“Sit down. You want to fall out and break every bone in your body.” He stuck out his arm like a fence in front of her.
She sat but could not contain the smile that came across her face. She was home and she was not…not going back across the Atlantic and said so.
He gave her a side glance. “I don’t blame you. You are one of the most sickly women I’ve met.”
She saw his cheeks working. Did he have a bit of fun in him, then?
“You, are right.” But I’ll bet you can’t run like the wind.”
“Run?”
“Yes, run. I imagine that if I challenged you to a run across the hills you’d decline.”
“I would not. Since when could a woman, especially one as small as you, beat a man running?”
“Well, why don’t we just see? My legs are so anxious to be running, I can hardly contain myself another minute.” She said knowingly.
“As soon as we unload your things, I will accept your challenge.”
Rose just smiled. Little did he know she was the best runner of all the children on the playground, boys or girls. First level or eighth level. Not one boy could beat her.
“You never said anything about running before.” He pulled the wagon to a stop.
“Why ever would I have needed to?” She did not wait for him, but lifted her skirts and let herself down, picked up her puppy, box and all, and started for the door.
“I’ll get your trunk.”
Rose ran ahead and opened the door and took a good look. She put the puppy down and set his box nearby. “Welcome home Nibbles.” Her eyes roamed the room, happy to be home to her own cottage.
Then she saw it on her bed. Carolina Jane’s little doll Elsa had made.
She couldn’t look at that doll right this minute and shut the door. “Are you ready?” she challenged him without a smile. What she needed was a good run. One that would pound out all the pain she would have without Carolina Jane in that house.
“I’m ready. Say the word.” He lined up with her.
Rose took a deep breath said a private prayer, Lord help me to run like the wind and with it carry away the pain that I feel.
“Keep your eyes straight ahead.” She watched him hawk-eyed as she tucked her skirts up. “See that lone tree over there?” She pointed.
He followed her finger and nodded.
“First one there is the winner.” She pulled in a breath.
“Go!”
She started running purposefully holding herself back. Let him think he was going to beat her hands-down. Then when he began looking over his shoulder with a smirk, she picked up her pace caught up with him, stayed just behind him so he would think she was never going to pass, and then at the perfect time she let loose and sailed past him and to the tree.
“How did you do that?” He came sputtering.
“I may be the worst seaworthy passenger you’ve ever had, but I can beat you running.” She said barely breathless.
“Indeed you can.” He laughed.
Rose looked up at his face. “You’re laughing.”
He looked away and back again. She saw his eyes darken and something in his look changed. Before she could read it, he closed off and started back, walking big strides again. Would the man ever stand still? She caught up with him but wisely said nothing.
“Are you hungry? I am starved.” She said as he followed her in, ducking under the doorway.
“Yes.” He said evenly and put his hat on the nail by the door. “I am. Have you got anything to eat around here?”
“I’ll look. Not likely too much. We could go down to Haw and Elsa’s and ask for some bread and cheese.”
He grabbed his hat and went for the wagon. “I’ll brush the horses. You have any feed?”
“Just on the side in the small shed.”
He fed his horses and she saw him carrying a bucket with rainwater from her barrel. She watched his movement as his big hands brushed then smoothed the horseflesh and saw a gentle man.
She pulled her shawl over her shoulders and got up on the wagon without assistance.
“Why are you always doing that?”
“What?”
“Getting up yourself.”
She shrugged. “No one is around. I just thought it might save time. I’m hungry.”
“Well just so you know. I don’t feel like a gentleman when a lady doesn’t act like a lady.”
Instantly she looked away. He thought her unladylike? Well if he could give it, he could take it. “Sir I hardly feel like a lady when a gentleman walks around barking out orders and tossing dark, menacing looks at her.”
He snapped the reins and they rode in silence.
Rose wondered what happened.
Chapter 78
Haw and Elsa shared their dinner with them insisting they stay and eat. But it was awful quiet at the table.
Elsa sent several slices of buttered bread, some cheese and enough meat for the next day. Haw pointedly told Captain Wyatt he could sleep at their cottage that night. They pulled out.
Rose felt like crying. The stars were out. She was happy to be home and now they were angry at each other and she didn’t know why.
“I’ll get your trunk situated where you want it. Unless you think you can move it all by yourself.”
That statement wounded. Was he mad because she beat him at running?
“Of course I can’t lift it by myself. Just because I can run doesn’t mean I can lift something three times my weight.”
She got down herself and with firm steps let herself in and lit the gas lanterns.
“I’ll get wood.” He said from outside.
He came in and put a few small logs in the fireplace and lit it with the candle she handed him. Then he muscled the trunk to a low side table. She lifted the lid and began unpacking things, wondering when he was going to shoot out the door without another word, stay at Haw’s and Elsa’s and go back to London.
She worked carrying things and dropped something to the floor. He reached down to pick up . . . oh no . . . the blue envelopes.
Rose tried to scoop them up, but he had already seen them.
“Where did you get these?”
His voice was low. She knew enough to recognize when he was forcing himself to be reasonable. And this was one of those moments.
“Up in the attic. At my house.” She held her hand out but could not look him in the eye.
“These are not yours. You had no right to read them.”
“They were dated so long ago…I thought…I…” she couldn’t finish.
He looked down at them and picked up a stray one and stacked them together and put them in his coat pocket.
“Did you enjoy reading about my private affairs.”
He spoke too calmly and Rose knew to step lightly.
“I … I did read them. And I found them to be…” she hesitated “very lovely.”
“Lovely?” He looked at her hard.
“I read them and I . . .” she started to tear up. “But I had no idea it was you. They were all signed by W. I didn’t know it was you until Darby, came by the table that afternoon.” She gave him her back.
He grabbed her elbow and swung her back to face him. His dark eyes were accusing.
“All right, if you must know, I fell in love with the man who wrote these.” She cried, jerked her elbow free, put her hands over her face. “I couldn’t help it.” She blubbered backing away
.
“Don’t go.”
She felt strong hands at the tops of her arms pulling her back. Rose could not look at him. Whatever possessed her to say those words, she had no idea. No idea that she had fallen in love with the man who wrote those notes. But these two men were not the same. How would she explain that?
A finger lifted her chin. She dropped her hands clumsily and their hands entangled. He took hers firmly into his and pulled her closer. “Look at me, Rose.”
Her heart went banging again. Her name on his lips did something to her. She forced herself to look at him. His eyes were soft, hurt.
“I fell in love with this woman.” He pulled the letters from his pocket and waved them in the air, but it wasn’t her I was in love with it was you.”
Rose thought he had lost his mind. But the look in his eye told her differently. When had he loved her? She’d never seen it. He’d protected her. Done his duty to Captain Lovell…when had he loved her?
“But I thought…your duty to my husband…when did you love me?” she looked him in the eye and waited. She would see the truth.
“The moment I walked in the first time and saw you standing there in the night, waiting for news of your husband…you were so young, so beautiful in the candlelight. But your features were so much like hers…that I couldn’t separate the two of you. Not at first. And my anger was so deep for so long. When I saw her at the restaurant I knew it was over. My hatred for what she’d done melted away. Not at first but later that night.” He stopped. Then continued.
“I was glad that she had not come out that night--that we hadn’t run away. Glad that I wasn’t the son-in-law of Mr. Dalton. I could see clearly for the first time you were nothing like her.“
Ireland Rose stood still for fear the spell would break. Had her ears heard right? He had loved her from the first day. She must be too tired, for she couldn’t seem to put all of that altogether.
“Why didn’t I see it?”
“Because I shut you out. I closed the door so fast that night. I went to the bar after I had promised your husband I would stay away from liquor. And I hated myself for it.”
She processed his words. “I see.”
“You are not convinced are you?”
“Not totally.” She said honestly.
“Well then I’ll show you Ireland Rose…” she watched as his dark bearded face came toward hers and felt her eyes close slowly. He kissed her tenderly at first and then his arms tightened around her and he kissed her breathless.
She pushed with both hands on his chest. “I can’t breathe.” She heard herself say.
“Rose, I’ve waited so long. Promised myself I would not push you so soon after your husband’s death.”
His soft gaze made her realize he was telling the truth. Not to mention that kiss. Her first kiss.
“Is that why you were so grumpy?”
He laughed aloud. “Yes.”
“Hmmm…..” Rose didn’t know what to do. Should she stand back. It wasn’t decent, the two of them alone in her cottage. And heaven knows she wanted him to kiss her again. Was that proper? She decided it was not.
“I think you’d better go to Haw’s place.”
She saw he hesitated, but stood back and without his gaze leaving her eyes, he picked her up and carried her out through the door. “Not yet.”
“What are you doing?” She felt fear at first and then laid her head on his shoulder instead of squirming. She trusted this man.
“I want you to remember this night. He dropped her down and pulled her tight to him, his hand at her waist. Look up.”
She did. “See those stars and the moon.”
“Hmmmm….” She mused feeling safe in his embrace.
“Ireland Rose Lovell, I want you to be my wife. Will you?”
She pulled away slightly and in the moonlight made sure he meant what he said…that she wasn’t dreaming.
“I believe I will.” She said.
“So serious.” He laughed and threw his arms around her middle and swung her until her skirts billowed out like the sails on his ship.
Rose laughed. Exquisite joy like she’d never known filled her. When he stopped swinging she pulled his head down to her lips and kissed him lightly and said, “And that’s the last time I kiss a Captain.”
“I thought you said this was your first kiss.”
“It was.”
“Captain Lovell loved you didn’t he?”
Rose knew what he was asking. “He married me out of duty. But we never … I’ve never…been kissed or made love to…”
William Ashton Wyatt was now the one who was shocked. She could see it.
“You’ve never been loved have you Rose?”
“No. I just told you Captain Wyatt.”
“Call me Ashton…I’m William Ashton Wyatt.” He said without taking his eyes from hers.
Rose knew he was going to kiss her again. And she didn’t mind one bit.
After a long, sweet kiss in his arms, she murmured, “No wonder God made me wait. It was worth it.” She lay her head on the tall man’s shoulder wondering why it could have possibly taken so long for her to see what was right there all the time. His chin rested on top of her head.
Chapter 79
Captain William Ashton Wyatt went reluctantly down to Hawthorn McKensie’s house and spent the night. But early the next morning he was banging on Rose’s door. He had to be sure that last evening had really happened.
When she opened the door, dressed, hair up, and smelling like lavender, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“Breakfast?” She asked and turned. Rose heard him growl and grab her again, swinging her round and round. “I’ve been dizzy enough lately.” She laughed.
“Not near enough.” His deep voice at her ear.
Rose pulled away, wondering how long they had to wait for a marriage certificate.
He, on the other hand, was wondering where they would live. Did she want to move to London -- to be in the city. Did she want to stay here? He voiced his questions.
Rose tipped her head and thought about it. She saw Carolina Jane’s little doll. “I want to stay here. I want my children to grow up here. In Ireland. In this cottage.”
His dark eyes roved over her face. “How many?”
“How many what?” she felt him close in on her.
“Children.”
“Oh dear.” She whispered.
Rose forced herself to get away from him. Her mind could barely process the fact that he had kissed her. Twice. Something inside her wanted to run into his arms and never look back, but her practical nature needed to make sure this was real and true. He had a past she knew nothing about. She needed to hear his story.
“Come. I have breakfast.” She couldn’t help the smile that lingered on her lips. “We can talk.”
She saw immediately Captain Wyatt, William Ashton Wyatt, she remembered him giving her his full name, was going to be a handful. Slipping away, she placed herself on the other side of the table and waited for him to sit, meanwhile she noted he hadn’t taken his eyes off her. She must be wise.
“Sir, you sit there.” She pointed and made her way past him and set the food out. This was not going to be easy.
“You address me so formally. Call me Will.”
Rose nodded, “All right. Will.”
“You will be the only one who calls me Will.” He said firmly and sat down.
She looked up and caught those dark eyes looking at her, his mouth lifted at the corners. “You mock me?”
Instead of answering he just gazed at her, making her nerves titter all up and down her arms. She picked up a spoon and stirred sugar in her tea, the noise loud in the silent room.
“Say the prayer.” He said his eyes never leaving hers.
She did, hardly remembering a word, and prayed a silent one that God would help her keep her senses. The goal this morning was to make sure this man was the right one. She could ill afford to make an error.
When he picked up his fork to eat, she looked down at her food and wondered how she would swallow, him sitting so close. And the kisses he gave her were downright unexpected last evening. She had never thought Captain Wyatt had a romantic bone in his body.
This man, whom she’d thought of as a grump, was sitting there eating, knowing she was at all odds. Confused, she picked up her teacup and sipped, but could not bring herself to eat a bite.
“You’re not hungry?” He said, that beguiling smile resting on his lips.
She shrugged.
He put his fork down and gave her a look. “Go ahead, ask the questions you need answers to.”
How did he know?
“I’ll answer anything you want to know. Nothing will come between us Ireland Rose. Nothing. I won’t live like that. There’s been enough secrets and we will be honest and forthright in this marriage.”
Her shoulders straightened. “I have not said yes to your proposal, sir.”
Actually she had said yes. Last evening. He remembered the words. Yes I believe I will, making him the happiest of men. But he knew she was leery of his past. And she was weary of proposals that were made out of convenience. In total, she was unaware of her ability to make a man crazy in love with her.
“You need time don’t you?” He saw her need.
“How is it you know that Captain Wyatt?” She felt her chin lift.
“Because you wear your feelings on your face.”
Rose looked away and grabbed her cup again. She knew she was unable to hide her feelings, but did he have to announce it. Especially not now when their relationship had turned so quickly. Perhaps a bit too quickly. She stood and brought the teapot to the table.
“Perhaps you should make your trip over and we should talk about this when you come back.” She suggested.
“You are refusing me, then?”
He still wore the smirk.
“I did not say that.”
He could play along.
“Then I shall be on my way.” He put his fork down. “Thank you for breakfast Mrs. Lovell. I will call on you for your answer when I return.”
Rose watched as he scooted his chair back, picked up his hat on the way and walked out the door. The same way he always did. Without another word.
When she heard the horse’s hooves, she couldn’t believe her ears. He was gone. Just like that. Burning tears popped into her eyes. She was alone. Again. CJ was gone and now she’d let this man, the man with whom she shared her first kiss, walk out the door. He had kissed her hadn’t he? And proposed marriage for love, not convenience hadn’t he? Why had she been so proud? She wanted to run after him, but it was too late. Captain Wyatt was not a patient man.