Page 48 of The Dravenhearst Brides
“I still would have chosen you,” she whispered. She hadn’t realized it until this very moment, but even this knowledge wouldn’t have driven her into Alastair’s arms.
Because when she looked at Merrick, she feltsomething. She wasn’t quite sure what, but whatever it was gave her hope. And hope was a feeling stronger than anything else. Stronger than fear. Stronger than sorrow. Stronger than any curse or haunting could ever be.
Hope was a feeling worth staying for.
“If that’s true, then you’re mad.” He snorted in disbelief.
She cocked her head, waiting for the sting of his words to hit. Surprisingly, it never did.
“I think it means I fit in here,” she reasoned, smiling.
He laughed outright this time, shooting her a sidelong glance. “You fit in fine as frog’s hair, right alongside the rest of us—the others crazy enough to stay.”
“It would be nice,” she said, trying to be brave, “to belong to a family again. To build my own family. With you.”
He shifted at her words.
“You said we could have an honest conversation—”
“I did, and I meant it. You want a family, then?” he asked. “Children?”
“Of course. Don’t you?”
The silence stretched, on and on.
“There is an expectation of course…that we would…” He gestured between them. “I mean, that’s generally how things go…when people marry.”
“You aren’t the only one who’s felt alone for a very long time,” Margot murmured, looking at her hands, folded in her lap to keep from shaking. “And just because this house—yourhouse—hasn’t been happy for a great number of years, it doesn’t mean we couldn’t make it so again. Together.” She raised her eyes to his, tentative. Hopeful.
“With children?”
With love.But she wasn’t brave enough to say that. She bit her tongue, settling instead for a quick nod.
“I mean, if we did, I would love for…I would hope…” He grasped for words. “Perhaps, in time, we may develop feelings of fondness toward one another…but I don’t expect that from you, not given our circumstances.”
Fondness.
“I would happily settle, in the interim,” he continued, “for mutual respect and friendship. I don’t know about you, but I could certainly use a friend.”
Afriend. Her heart stirred as she recalled her father’s words.Friendship is a very good place to start.
“Yes,” she said softly. “Yes, I could use a friend.”
“Well…well, good.”
“And as far as children would go,” she continued. “How, uh, might that happen?”
“Well, I imagine it would just…happen. If and when the time is right.” Was that a blush rising on his face? A hint of pink tinging his sun-kissed cheeks?
“Right.”
“Right,” he echoed.
She looked expectantly at him.
He squirmed under her gaze. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m just trying to figure out how it’s going to work, that’s all. Have you ever…before?”
