Page 80 of A Baron's Disguised Lady
Lavinia nodded. She had no intention of holding a grudge. The example of Penelope was enough to remind her how the unexpected could occur without warning, and life be turned so easily to bitter tragedy. Lord Bath had perhaps felt the same sense of fear at learning of what had occurred by the river, and Lavinia now glanced at Archie, who seemed to have come to the same conclusion.
“Gwendolene loved you. You made her happy, and it seems she made you happy, too. For that, I can thank you,” he said, and he held out his hand to Lord Bath, who took it with a grateful expression.
“Then there won’t be a marriage?” Lavinia’s mother asked, and Lord Bath shook his head.
“No… not for me, at least,” he replied, glancing at Lavinia and smiling.
Chapter 30
At her mother’s insistence, Lavinia stayed in bed for the next two days. Mercifully, it seemed she had not caught a chill, and bed rest was all she needed to recover from her ordeal by the riverbank.
On the afternoon of the second day, she felt well enough to get up despite her mother’s cautionary words to the contrary, and taking Archie’s arm, she was glad to go out into the garden and walk slowly across the lawns to the orchard. It was a beautiful, bright, sunny day, and the warmth on her face, with the sweet scent of flowers in the air, filled Lavinia with hope for the future.
“Isn’t it beautiful out here?” she said, as the two of them walked arm in arm through the orchard, beneath the dappled shade of the trees with their promise of fruit to come.
Archie turned to her and smiled.
“I’m so glad you feel well enough to walk. You’re right, it’s a beautiful day… made even more beautiful in your company,” he said.
Lavinia smiled. He had been her constant companion in the past few days, never leaving her bedside from morning to night. It made her happy—happier than she had ever been—to have himby her side. There was no doubting her feelings for him, nor his for her.
She loved him, and he had told her every day how much he loved her, too. Now they sat down beneath one of the trees, looking back across the orchard toward the house. It was a perfect scene on a perfect day.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere else that makes me feel as Sarum Lacy does,” Lavinia said.
The house, the grounds, the landscape, it had an ethereal quality to it. It was like stepping through a mirror into another world, and Lavinia had no desire ever to leave it behind.
“It’s a remarkable house. I’ve always thought so. But it’s the gardens I love. I could sit here all day… they surround one with such beauty. It’s almost indescribable,” Archie replied.
Lavinia slipped her hand into his, and for a few moments, they sat in silence, enjoying the peace and tranquility of the gardens. A robin hopped down from one of the trees, pecking at the ground, and coming right up to them, cocking its head inquisitively.
“A robin brings a soul—that’s what I once heard someone say. When a robin appears, it’s a reminder of someone you’ve loved and lost. But the robin brings them to you as a remembrance,”Lavinia said, watching as the robin hopped about in front of them.
Archie smiled.
“Then it’s Gwendolene he brings,” he said, and Lavinia nodded.
“Will you go on visiting her grave each day?” she asked, but Archie shook his head.
“No. I don’t feel the need to. She’s at rest. And I prefer to remember her here. Is that wrong, do you think?” he asked, looking questioningly at Lavinia, who shook her head.
“I don’t think you need to visit a grave to remember someone. Gwendolene’s here, in your heart,” Lavinia said, and she placed her hand on Archie’s chest.
He smiled at her, placing his hand on hers and nodding.
“You’re right. It’s the memories that matter, and honoring her memory by living our lives as she’d have wanted us to,” he said.
Lavinia nodded. She had never met Gwendolene, and yet she counted her as an intimate—a sister, even. She was glad to know Archie had allowed himself the chance to move forward. Hewould not forget her, but neither would he live his life in the past, neglectful of his own happiness in the future.
“That’s right. She’ll never be forgotten. Not by you, and not by me, either,” she replied.
Archie smiled at her, and now he reached into his pocket, drawing something out which he clasped in his hand. Lavinia looked at him curiously, and now he bid her close her eyes, smiling he placed an object in her hand.
“I want you to have this,” he said, and Lavinia opened her eyes to reveal a beautiful pearl broach, studded with diamonds.
“Goodness… it’s beautiful,” Lavinia exclaimed.
“It belonged to Gwendolene. She’d have wanted you to have it, Lavinia. I want you to have it. I’ve fallen in love with you, Lavinia. Completely and utterly in love with you. I can’t describe how I feel. You mean everything to me. This is… but a small token of that,” he said, and Lavinia smiled, holding up the broach to the light and admiring its intricacy. It was beautiful.
