Page 67 of Marrying a Reluctant Lady
“What news?”
“Your steward, Barrow. He was caught boarding a boat toAmerica.”
“He was?” Owen swallowed hard. He didn’t want to know. Barrow had brought him more than enough misery as it was. He didn’t want to think about the fellow any further.
“He’ll be lucky if they don’t send him out there—in fact, I think that’s what they will do.”
“I don’t care what they do to him,” Owen said truly. “I just don’t want to have to see him again.”
“Well, the damage that he did to the estate can’t be undone, sadly,” his aunt agreed.
“No. But, as you say, it might be that we can build it even better.”
“I believe.”
Owen nodded slowly. The old house had been ruinous in places, and he had wanted to repair it. Now, there was room to build it all anew, and that was what he wanted to do. He would have to meet with his solicitor and discuss how they would best go about paying for the rebuilding. Given the fact that the estate income was much larger than he’d believed, it didn’t seem such an impossible dream after all.
His aunt and Lady Alice sat and talked with them for an hour or two, and Ophelia looked so happy that Owen thanked them extra-gratefully at the door.
“It was a pleasure, Owen, truly,” Aunt Julia said warmly. “I am always glad to see you, nephew.”
“As I am to see you,” Owen replied.
They waved to the coach, Ophelia waving madly at Alice, who waved through the window at them. Leonard was waving back, and Owen tried not to grin. It was grand to see his friend so delighted.
“So,” he said to Ophelia when they had a moment in the drawing room. “I suppose you’ll help me plan the new building, then.”
“You mean...you’d want me to?”
“Of course,” Owen said at once. “I want to know what you want to build on. Of course, we’ll have a reading room, that isn’t up to question. And I suppose you’d like a study of your own? And a place where we could hold a salon one day. Where you could read your poetry and invite other poets to, also.”
“What?” Ophelia clapped her hand to her lips. “No! Owen! You don’t mean...”
“Of course.”
She threw her arms around him, and he laughed, then leaned forward and kissed her when he saw that tears ran down her cheeks. She was crying, but she smiled at him warmly, nonetheless.
“Sweetling. Are you all right?”
“Owen! I’m...I’m so happy.” She was crying and laughing, and he laughed too, and they embraced.
Owen shut his eyes, his heart full of joy. His world was so much bigger and fuller than he had ever imagined it to be. He held Ophelia close and breathed in the scent of her and imagined what it would be like to rebuild the house with her, to rebuild something that would bring them both joy.
He could not wait for it to be constructed.
Chapter 24
The grass moved gently in the breeze. Ophelia watched it, feeling peace settle in her soul, and in her mind, verses wove with its moving strands, telling stories of springtime and the wonder of Nature. She breathed deeply, no pain twisting her heart, because she knew she’d have plenty of time. She could write them down now if she wished, or later, when she got back to Lady Haredale’s manor.
“Are you planning to go back?” she called.
Owen, who was riding Shadow towards her, nodded. “Let’s go,” he agreed.
Ophelia turned and went to mount Cherryred, who stood behind her. She had ridden a lot recently, and she swung up neatly into the saddle without making a real effort. Owen waited for her to turn and then they rode down the path towards the fields.
Ophelia watched the countryside as they moved. The larks flew overhead. The wheat in the distant fields was golden, the spring progressed to summer. They rode past fields of wheat, the ears just beginning to ripen, and fields of green grass, where sheep chewed on grass-stalks, unruffled.
“We’ll be back in time for lunch,” Owen commented as he drew up beside her. Ophelia felt her heart thud in her chest. He was smiling, his forehead damp from the ride and the heat, and she felt heat flood through her at the sight. He was so very handsome. His grin was bright and sudden, and her heart almost stopped as he directed it at her.
