Page 95 of The Lady and the Footballer
“How do you expect to make changes?”
“I was going to speak to you about it. Advocate for the people.”
“Would not the best way to do that be as a solicitor?”
Colin hesitated. Lord Harcourt was right. If he had the profession, he could better represent those who couldn’t speak for themselves. It was all he had ever wanted and yet?—
“Do not let your pride get in the way,” Lord Harcourt said, reading his thoughts. “We will be family soon, and family helps one another.”
Colin looked at Lily and her expectant face, reminding him that he would do anything to make her happy.
“I—I am not sure what to say,” he finally managed.
“Say thank you,” Lord Harcourt instructed. “I cannot make any promises regarding the mill. It needs to be profitable, and yet, if you have suggestions for changes that could help everyone be better off, I am open to them. But that is a discussion for another day. Now, while we are at it, I have a wedding present for you, Lily.”
“That is not necessary—” she began, but he held up a hand to stop her.
“You are my only daughter. This was always to be yours, you just never knew about it. This property has a house at the other end of the drive. It is to be a dower house, but it is yours to live in.”
“A house?” Lily said.
“Yes,” Lord Harcourt said, giving her a document, and Colin realized then that he had prepared all of this ahead of time, having already made his position clear. “Now, speak to your mother about the wedding, but do it quickly. You’ve made aspectacle of yourselves in front of half of Manchester, so it is best to have this done.”
“Of course, Father,” Lily said, practically tugging Colin from the room before he had a chance to say anything else, but he figured there was time enough to speak to Lord Harcourt again. He was in a daze over all that had occurred, so much so that he allowed Lily to lead him from the study and shut the door behind them.
Incredulity bubbled up just beneath the surface as they stared at one another, both breathless and amazed.
“Colin,” she said, her voice soft, threaded with joy. “You do not know him as well as I do, so you might not understand that was approval in there. He likes you.”
Colin let out a laugh as he and Lily walked out of the house, and he soon realized their destination was the gazebo. “I don’t want to think about what disapproval would look like. I thought he might turn me to dust on the spot.” He reached for her hand. “But you were right. He saw reason.”
She stepped closer, the warmth of her presence banishing every doubt, every fear that kept them apart for so long. “Montgomery lost. His name is on the tongue of every gossip in town. You will be playing for the championship. And?—"
"And I've found you," Colin finished, lifting her hand to his lips as they stepped onto the gazebo platform, marveling at the turn of fortune that had brought him here.
They took a seat on the bench and spoke of the future, the words flowing easily, full of promise and plans. Each one unfurled a new possibility of a life even better than they had ever imagined.
"I will never let you down," Colin vowed, holding her gaze, all the love he held for her radiating toward her. "Not ever."
Lily smiled, filling the corners of his heart. "I know," she said simply. “This is just the start of a life better than any I could imagine.”
Their lips met again, and the two worlds that had once felt so far apart came hurtling together, merging into one that wouldn’t be easy, but would be worth every moment.
Epilogue
The lavender-scented breeze stirring through the garden reminded Colin of Lily as it swirled into the sunlit room. Colin sat in his favorite place by the window, an open letter spread before him, each line a reminder of the past and a promise of the future.
We have more followers than ever,Rhys had written.We may have lost the Cup this year, but next year, it will be in our hands.
Colin could almost hear his mates ribbing one another as they ran onto the field, their resolve thick as summer air.Losing, the captain’s letter declared,was nothing more than fuel for the next match.Colin’s heart responded with a sharp longing.
It had been farewell, but only until the next season began.
The ink had smudged slightly where the captain’s enthusiasm had caused him to press too hard. His reminder of the last match was laced with regret but also some pride in how they had presented themselves.
Colin could vividly picture every moment of that game. The roar of the crowd, the pulse of the game, the mud and sweat and breathless exhilaration of it all. They had all been devastated tohave lost, but at least it was on their own merits, with no one purposefully weighing them down.
It had only been a few months since the end of the season, but already next season was looming. The reminder from Rhys awakened Colin’s own resolve to join them again. He might be busier than he had ever been, but he couldn’t think of much that would keep him away from the football pitch.
