Page 42 of Meet A Rogue At Midnight
“I always thought she was allowed too much freedom.” The Captain chuckled, settling in the chair. “A continental mother…what else can one expect?”
“Mrs. Halsey is a fine woman with a kind heart.” Jonas picked up the empty leather pouch that once held the watch. “So is Livvy.”
“Indeed. But one can only assume the disaster that comes from letting a girl have that much independence and book learning. Not to mention all that digging in the dirt she did with her father.” The Captain shivered visibly. “Disastrous.”
Jonas tucked the leather back in the sea chest. “Or it makes for a fascinating woman.”
“She’s a woman who wants her way.”
“Because she’s certain aboutwhatshe wants. It’s refreshing.” His shoulders squared with a sense of purpose. Yes, Livvy knew what she wanted and she was not going to settle for anything less.
And she wanted his heart. Bared to him. Open. Honest. Ready to give and receive.
“Didn’t seem refreshing when you stormed in an hour ago,” the Captain said sagely.
He shut the sea chest. “Because I was angry.”
“And you solved your anger by stomping off?”
“No, she did.”
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned,” the Captain said, raising a bony finger to the ceiling. “With women, a man must try and try again until he gets it right.”
“What is theitin your wisdom, sir?”
The old man shrugged. “Understanding mystery of a woman. The right woman, the kind who makes a man move heaven and earth to have her because he will be miserable for the rest of his days if she is not by his side. That’s theitI mean.”
Jonas removed his earring and stared at the gold piece in his palm. He had crossed oceans, thinking of Livvy. He would cross them again if it meant reaching this ephemeral understanding. Slipping the gold onto his finger, it went past the first knuckle. Perhaps it wasn’t all that difficult. He didn’t have to cross an ocean. He had to cross a meadow and this time give Livvy what she wanted.
It was him. All of him. Even the parts he was scared to show.
“What are you going to do m’boy?”
“I’m going to try again. This time, I’ll get it right.” Jonas exited the room. From the corner of his eye, he caught the Captain’s fists clenched high in victory.
*
“The carving isamazingly intact,” Mr. Kendall said in awe.
Livvy wrapped her shawl tightly about, her breath fogging the tower window. True to form, Mr. Kendall insisted on seeing all items to be catalogued in the marital contract, especially the curule chair.
The rule of not allowing others into the tower was set aside.
Livvy stared out the mullioned window as lifeless and empty as she’d been since leaving Jonas at the tower door. The world of valuations and assets could hang. Her heart was broken. Pain stole her wish for conversation, and Mr. Haggerty thoughtfully left her alone. She’d tossed the blanket high up on the tower bed, but her betrothed saw the maneuver. His eyes flashed blackly and he stalked off to examine the broken gladius and breast plate, letting her stew while her mother and Mr. Kendall haggled over earthly goods.
There were more worthy things to discuss. Love or the lack of it.
But no one brought upthatmarital asset.
Livvy traced a circle in the foggy glass. This was not an auspicious beginning to her soon-to-be marriage.
Drawing in the glass, she spied a dark figure running through the meadow. She dragged her palm over the mullioned panes. Jonas? Snow kicked up behind him. His long legs ate up the ground as if the devil nipped his heels.
She unlatched the window. “Jonas?”
“Livvy!” He ran faster to the tower, his black coat flaring like a cape behind him until he was under her window. Jonas dropped down on both knees. He took off his hat and set it over his heart. “Livvy.”
There was a commotion behind her. Heels slamming the floor, voices, but she planted both hands wide on the windowsill and blocked them out.
