4

Jed Hawkins didn’t come right away to Siana’s summons. He left her waiting for half an hour.

‘Why didn’t you come sooner?’ she said crossly.

He stood perfectly still, balanced on legs slightly apart, gazing down upon her. His eyes were dark and expressionless, making her feel at a disadvantage. ‘I’ve been working in the the fields since dawn. I’m going into Poole after breakfast and needed to wash and tidy myself.’

How hard he worked for his wage, and how useless he made her feel. In fact, his whole stance seemed to challenge her. It crossed her mind that he might have resented her taking over the estate. She dismissed the thought, Jed had never been less than kind or protective of her, and he’d always been taciturn. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were Edward’s brother?’

‘Ah, so that’s what’s so damned important to you.’ His expression didn’t change as he considered her question, then slowly, he said, ‘I didn’t think it was any of your business.’

‘Oh . . . I see.’ She recovered rapidly from the set-down. ‘You look older than Edward.’

He hummed slightly in his throat. ‘That could be a fact, it could indeed. ’Tis in the eye of the beholder, though, for I be five years younger.’

‘You’re infuriating, Jed Hawkins.’

The corners of his mouth twitched. ‘Only because you allow yourself to be infuriated. Is there anything else, or can I help myself to breakfast now? There’s nothing like a bit of hard labour to put an edge on a man’s appetite.’

‘Don’t stand on ceremony on my account.’ Head slanted to one side, she scrutinized his face. ‘You look like him, you know. Why didn’t I notice it before?’

He chuckled. ‘Could be you were plain dazzled when Edward was alive. He had that effect on people.’

‘Tell me about your relationship with him.’

‘Don’t see any point, since it was private between us. Besides, some things are best left undisturbed.’

Jed was clad in the suit he wore to church on Sundays. He had recently shaved and his hair had been trimmed. A tiny suspicion lodged in her mind.

‘You look as if you’re off a-courting.’

His cheeks hollowed as he sucked in a breath, his eyes slid her a narrowed glance. His skin adopted a slight rosiness. ‘There might be some truth in that. Then again, there might not.’

She sighed. ‘You’re not going to tell me, are you?’

Amusement filled his eyes. ‘You always did allow your curiosity to get the better of you.’

Frustrated by his answer, she spat out, ‘Damn you, then, Jed Hawkins!’

‘And you, Lady Forbes.’

‘You only call me that when you try to put me in my place.’

‘Which is anywhere where you can’t meddle in a man’s business.’ He heaped a plate with eggs, ham and several slices of bread, then seated himself at the table.

Taking a plate of lesser proportions, she slid into the seat opposite him. ‘I’ll find out, you know.’

‘I daresay. Mind your nose don’t get stuck where it don’t rightly belong though.’

‘Ooh, men!’ she fumed.

He chuckled.

Then she realized Jed was uncle to her son. The management of the estate couldn’t be in better hands. She grinned widely. ‘Enjoy your breakfast, Uncle Jed.’

His eyes came up to hers and he began to laugh. ‘I’ll be glad when you’re wed, that I will. The good doctor might be able to stop you from making mischief for others.’

Siana’s wedding day arrived, sparkling with sunshine. For the second time, Josh escorted his sister to the square-towered Cheverton church where she was to exchange her vows with Francis. This time he was much more self-assured.

Siana had gowned herself in yellow to marry Francis – not a colour as bright as the daffodils that danced in spring amongst spiked leaves over every piece of open ground, but a softly glowing shimmer of pastel satin. Her wide-brimmed hat was a confection of peachy silk roses.

Daisy and Goldie were dressed in the merest blush of peach to match the roses. In the charge of Francis’s two daughters, who were clad in a tint of green, the effect was a celebration of summer. All four girls tried not to let their inner excitement show as they proceeded down the aisle under the scrutiny of the guests, dividing to sit in the pews either side.

When Francis caught Siana’s glance his heart leaped. How deep and glowing her eyes were today. His mother had possessed a rare and highly prized gemstone called an Alexandrite which, depending on the light source, changed colour. Today, Siana’s eyes were the same green as the gem exposed to natural light. He almost disintegrated under the loving look she gave him. She was seductive, this woman of his with the pagan heart.

He remembered his heart breaking into a thousand shards when she’d married Edward Forbes in this very same church just a few years before. Now a miracle had occurred and she was about to become his.

Then she was standing next to him. Francis couldn’t help himself. He took her face in his hands and gently kissed the lush ripeness of her mouth. A ripple of amusement went through the guests. He grinned selfconsciously, just as astonished that he’d made a public declaration of his affection for her.

She was laughing at his display, her mouth a delicious and wanton curve, her eyes full of mischief as they flirted with his, until the solemnity of the vows they exchanged sobered them both.

Then the ceremony was over. There was a dash to the carriage and they were being conveyed back to Cheverton Manor, there to greet their guests as they arrived for the feasting.

‘I love you, Mrs Matheson,’ Francis told her as the carriage wheels measured the short distance to the manor.

When he leaned forward to steal a kiss she slid her arms around his neck and, afterwards, hugged him tight. ‘I’m so happy, Francis.’

He freed himself from her grip. ‘You’ll crush your gown, and we have yet to greet our guests.’

‘Were I to appear crushed, your brothers would applaud you and the women would envy me.’

‘Then, crush you I shall.’ He pulled her across the carriage on to his lap and proceeded to kiss the sense from her.

‘Hah!’ she said, revelling in this playfulness and laughing down at him as they turned in through the manor gates. ‘You’d better compose yourself, husband, for we haven’t the time to finish what we started satisfactorily.’

‘Exactly what I feared when we started. If you must torture me, Siana, chose a more appropriate place, in future.’ He chuckled when she made a face at him.

Soon, they were standing together inside the hall, her fingertips caressing the palm of his hand as they greeted their guests.

Daniel appeared, to bow over her hand. The fleshy contours of his face had matured into manhood. Although he resembled his father enough to still jolt her, he lacked Edward’s charisma, for his mouth had a slightly sullen tilt to it and, when he smiled, his eyes no longer lit up. She couldn’t imagine how she’d once thought herself in love with him.

Daniel’s wife, Esmé, appeared older than Siana had imagined she would be, for she remembered reading a letter Daniel had sent to his father, describing her as girlish. She was thin featured and her mouth drooped at the corners a little, as if she didn’t laugh much. She had pretty blue eyes and was pleasant enough, however.

Elizabeth had been given permission to take Daniel to the nursery to visit Susannah and Ashley before dinner was served. Although Susannah was Elizabeth’s daughter, she was a guest until she left in the morning and Siana didn’t like the routine of the nursery maids, or that of her children, disrupted unnecessarily.

Daniel caught her eye. He nodded, smiling his thanks when they came back down.

With the help of the borrowed chef and an army of footmen, the manor servants had produced a feast fit for a king. Enjoying a merry evening on this, the second occasion of marriage, Siana was better able to cope with the company she found herself in.

Throughout the evening Francis frequently engaged her glance, smiling in an altogether intimate manner which made her blush. He was teasing her for the incident in the carriage, and his brothers roared with laughter and slapped him on the back.

There were five of them present. In order of age, Ryder the Earl of Kylchester, with his countess, Prudence, dressed becomingly in pale blue. They were accompanied by their litter of sons. Siana was glad to meet the Matheson cousins at last, after hearing Pansy and Maryse prattle about their manly virtues. And a dashing lot they were.

Augustus was next, resplendent in his admiral’s uniform. He considered himself lucky to be in port at the time of the wedding. ‘Very lucky, for otherwise I would have missed meeting this exquisite creature.’ His eyes twinkling, he elbowed Francis out of the way and looked into Siana’s eyes. Then he swept her hand to his lips and placed a kiss in the palm. ‘You should have wed me. I’m in need of a wife.’

‘As long as it’s another man’s wife,’ Francis said with a laugh.

Then came Beckwith, the tallest of the brothers, who was long faced and solemn and made his living practising the law. He scrutinized her intently, then nodded his approval at Francis. His wife was round, jolly and had a fussy manner.

Raoul came next. He was a widower with a sardonic manner, who was – Prudence had told her – involved in all manner of schemes.

‘I’m an opportunist, I buy and sell items for profit,’ he explained when she asked him. ‘When Francis told me the colour of your eyes I had this Alexandrine set in gold for you.’ Taking a ring from his pocket he slid it upon her finger.

‘Thank you, it’s a most beautiful ring, Raoul. I don’t deserve it.’

His lips hardly moved, but they became a smile. ‘If Francis loves you as much as he appears to, I’m quite sure you do.’

‘Is that the stone that belonged to our mother?’ Francis asked, coming up behind them and thinking it an odd coincidence that he’d remembered the stone earlier in the church.

‘She gave it to Bethany on our wedding day. Perhaps you and Siana will have a daughter to pass it on to one day.’

As Elizabeth had guessed, William, the former army officer, now resident in Van Diemen’s Land, was absent.

Siana had never seen Francis looking so happy, or dressed so handsomely. His slim-fitting trousers, topped by an embroidered waistcoat and a dark grey cutaway jacket with winged collar, were of good cut and quality. Her heart melted every time their eyes met.

Maryse and Pansy were allowed to stay up late and dance with their cousins. At eleven they were packed off to the adjoining bedrooms Siana had had prepared for them. She blew them a kiss as they left. She was fond of the two girls, and hoped she’d prove to be a good stepmother to them.

In the past, that role had been taken by their aunt, Prudence, who was loath to relinquish it and let everyone know of her input into her nieces’ upbringing. She insisted they must have a season in London in a year or two, to launch them into society. This was an endeavour to find them suitable husbands.

‘It will not do them any good to marry beneath them,’ Prudence brayed after they left the room, completely forgetting that their father had done just that.

As if by some unspoken agreement, the festivities finally came to an end. The guests departed in a flurry of good wishes, their carriages rolling off down the drive in convoy, their lamps gleaming in the darkness, their coachmen and outriders fully armed, in case of trouble.

Siana and Francis stood in the doorway, watching them go. Above them, ragged clouds sailed across the moon. The breeze raised goosebumps along her arms. Francis put his arm around her when she shivered, pulling her close.

There was a moment of awkwardness, dispelled when Francis smiled at her. Hefting her up into his arms, he headed up the curving staircase, whispering against her ear, ‘Where do we sleep, Mrs Matheson?’

If she had her way there would be precious little sleep – and she would have her way. She grinned at the thought. ‘Take a left turn at the top of the stairs and go to the end of the corridor.’

Francis nodded to Rosie, who hovered on the landing outside their two adjoining rooms. ‘I doubt if your services will be required, Rosie. Off to bed with you.’

Siana chuckled when Rosie scuttled off, grinning to herself. ‘I hope you’re good at unlacing me, then.’

‘I’m a physician. I’ve unlaced every garment you can name.’

‘Yours is the room next door,’ she said, when he shoved the door ajar with his foot.

He gazed down at her, eyes amused as he heeled the door shut behind them. ‘Not tonight.’ Setting her gently on the bed he plucked the pins and ornaments from her hair and watched it tumble down her back in a ripple of perfumed darkness. ‘I’ve always wanted to do that.’

She smiled at this small secret yearning he’d revealed. ‘Disrobe me, Francis.’

He hesitated for just a moment, then bunched her frothy petticoats in his hands, carefully sliding them up to her knees. Up and up his hands went, his thumb brushing against her dark core and sliding over silk and lace. He hesitated when he encountered her lacy demi-corset, sucking in a deep, shuddering breath.

‘I was wrong. I’ve never unlaced garments such as these.’

Taking his face between her hands, she kissed him, her mouth a soft caress against his as she said. ‘I hope the way I dress pleases you. Start with my bodice and skirt. Imagine I’m a gift you’ve just been given.’

She stood, presenting him with easy access to fastenings and strings. There was pleasure in his eyes as he gradually unwrapped her, until the only garments between him and her naked body were a tease of filmy chemise and a lacy demi-corset. When she moved slightly, the chemise slid over one shoulder, revealing the rise of one breast without exposing the nipple.

He gave a faintly bemused smile. ‘The last time I examined you a maid uncovered a portion at a time.’

Her eyes widened. ‘You remember that?’

‘For a moment I forgot I was a doctor.’

‘Tonight you’ll forget it completely, I promise,’ she purred, ‘for it’s my turn now.’ Carefully she unwound his stock, then removed jacket, waistcoat and shirt. His chest was broad and muscular, lightly furred. She kissed the spot beating above his heart and felt its pace increase beneath her mouth. When her fingers went to the fastenings of his trousers, his hands covered hers, stilling them.

He kissed her mouth, her shoulders and the hollow of her throat whilst his fingers wrestled with the intricacies of her lacing. She gave a low gurgle of laughter when he cursed. He grinned when he won the fight, tossing the garment aside. The silk chemise followed it.

He gazed at her, standing in nothing but her stockings, and growled deep in his throat. Hopping from one leg to the other he kicked off his shoes, peeled off his trousers then reached out for her.

‘Oh,’ she whispered against his ear when their flesh came warmly together, deliberately provocative, ‘can that all be you, my love?’

‘You know you’ve made a stallion out of me.’

Her arms came up around his neck and his hands slid one under each of her buttocks as he lifted her and bore her down on to the bed. There had been no foreplay. Francis just slid deeply into her. Her disappointment at this was short-lived, though. He stayed there for a few moments, feeding her moistness with his presence, growing thick and hard to fill her, so she adjusted to the accommodation of him. Then, very slowly, he withdrew from his warm nest.

She whimpered when he touched his mouth against one of her breasts, gave a little cry of encouragement when it swelled against his tongue in joyous union. Too soon, everything came together in a sensuous feast of loving, until her wanting built to a fever pitch of hot, writhing flesh. She trapped him above her, her legs circled around his waist, her pelvis tilting towards him.

‘Now, Francis. Now!’

His restraint crumbled and he drove into her with a hard, bruising urgency. She’d not expected such strength and clung to him, helpless under the thrusting power of his passionate attack. Between them grew a concentration so intense, she felt his heat drive up into her, felt her muscles contract to grip and close around him.

Her gasp of delight coincided with his own triumphant grunt as he lost control, and plunged into his final possession of her. He drove the breath from her splayed body with each swift thrust, she pulling him back each time he retreated, so he could probe the very reaches of her, to finally explode in a rush of molten lust together.

Breathing harshly, he collapsed against her, she taking his weight and gentling his hair with her fingers. After a moment or two he said softly, ‘I’ll be damned. I thought I’d forgotten how.’ He propped himself up on one elbow, to gaze down at her and delight in her dishevelment. His smile came, wonderingly at first, then he laughed in a most self-satisfied way.

‘Stop looking so smug,’ she said, not bothering to hide her laughter.

One of his fingers delicately traced around the contours of her face. ‘I feel smug, especially since that was a delicious taste of what’s to come.’

Everything in her tingled with expectation. ‘There’s more?’

‘Of course there’s more. I’ve waited too long for you to set you aside so soon.’ His finger left her face to follow a shivering path down her neck and over her shoulders, to explore each swollen breast. Then he kissed her mouth, plundering it until it was soft and receptive to the ever-demanding advances of his tongue.

Inside of her, she felt a stealthy movement. Her eyes narrowed. Feeling like a great, lazy cat, she stretched seductively beneath him.

Although Francis remained conventional on the outside, it became evident to Siana that inside the bedroom, he was exactly the opposite.

Unlike Edward, he was possessed of great vigour and stamina, and was not averse to a little experimentation of his own, a trait she intended to encourage. Kept satisfied by his attention, Siana felt secure in his love – her only regret was that she didn’t become pregnant during those first few weeks.

Despite having a new partner in the medical practice, Francis was called out to urgent cases often, or made himself available for consultation in the patient rooms opened at his premises.

With the children being tutored Siana had time on her hands. Due to the simple fact that she’d been born a female, Jed Hawkins didn’t appreciate her help in running an estate he’d more or less controlled for most of his adult life. Jed could go to places where doors were closed to her, and do the things she was barred from doing because of her gender. She could not attend farmers’ meetings, the corn exchange, or deal with the labourers.

She was aware that the pay rise she’d argued with Jed for the labourers still wasn’t enough – was aware that there was trouble in the district, a direct result of the poverty. But in the first happy weeks of her marriage she lived only for Francis. The outside world was hardly allowed to intrude on that. After all, the muck was still spread on the fields, the earth was still tilled and the produce for market still grew.

Siana spent hours in the nursery playing with the son she adored. Goldie followed her around like a quiet little shadow, the girl grateful for any small attention paid to her. Daisy had attached herself to the Matheson girls. As a result, Daisy’s manners had improved, though to Siana’s mind, her young sister was beginning to think too much of herself.

That summer had a timeless quality about it. Deeply contented and steadied by her husband’s influence, Siana used the time wisely, improving herself, educating herself and getting to know Maryse and Pansy a little better.

Nothing, she thought, could spoil the bounty life had brought her – not even the fact that she hadn’t yet ferreted out who Jed Hawkins was courting.

Jed ran a finger under his stock to loosen it. A man of the land, he felt like a bumpkin aping his betters in his new suit of clothes. As clothes went, they were conservative. Donkey brown trousers were topped by a fawn jacket over a checked waistcoat. His riding boots were old and comfortable, but the leather was polished to a high gloss. On his head he wore a floppy country hat that had seen better days. He promised himself he’d discard it when he reached his destination.

Mounting the great black horse he rode, he headed out, his forehead unclouded by worry. He touched his finger to his hat when he passed Siana, who was picnicking on the grass surrounded by the children and several servants.

Goldie leaned against Siana’s side, whilst the young squire lurched across the grass as fast as his legs could carry him. Pansy Matheson, Daisy Skinner and his nurse were in hot pursuit. Jed grinned to himself. Damned if that Ashley wasn’t the image of his sire, and already the women were dancing attendance on him.

His fine attire drew a roll of the eyes from Siana. He returned her enquiring grin with a mocking shake of his head. She’d know when he knew, and not a moment before.

He turned his face up to the sun for a moment. It had been a good year, for the seasons, the weather and the earth had worked together to yield a fine harvest. The usual supper would be laid on for the labourers, their bellies would be filled with as much food and ale as they could stand, and a fiddler or two would be hired for the dancing.

He’d also decided to pay a bonus for the farm workers this year, ten shillings for the overseers, five for field workers and labourers, and three for the women and those aged seventeen and under. He’d have to discuss it with the lady of the house, of course, but he knew she’d be delighted, for, whatever her wealth now, she would never be able to forget her humble beginnings.

Siana was a rare woman, with strength of purpose and honesty. Jed held the greatest respect for her. She had grown up in abject poverty, yet the need to put her loved ones above all others would prevent her heart from totally ruling her head.

Not that he would recommend the bonus from the goodness of his heart, either. The labourers were a dissatisfied lot, and Jed knew he’d get more work out of them next year if they thought they had something extra at harvest time to work towards.

He would suggest a raise in wages for himself, too. He deserved it, since he’d been forced to assume full responsibility of the estate. Although Siana Matheson was perfectly capable of running it, the mere fact that she was a woman meant she would be unable to enforce her authority if called upon to do so.

As for the doctor, he’d been brought up as gentry. Although Francis Matheson was a good, hard-working and well-meaning man, he’d never experienced poverty. The doctor had no idea of how the thought of the next meal kept a man working for a pittance, whilst he and his class lived off the profits.

To rise off the bottom level was hard, but once a toehold was made, a person with only half a brain would cling to it like ivy to a wall. As Siana had done – and himself come to that.

Now he was ready to advance further. If all went well and he’d read the signs correctly, come winter he’d have a wife and family to care for. He’d admired Elizabeth Skinner from afar and for a long time. Whilst Edward had still been alive Jed could not contemplate courting her, for his brother’s prior claim on her was absolute. However, Edward’s death had freed him from that obligation, and Jed now saw his way clear to offer for her.

Would Elizabeth have him, he wondered.

Elizabeth was gazing from an upstairs window when she saw the steward coming. He stopped behind a shrub, dismounted and removed his hat. She smiled when he shoved it inside his waistcoat and nervously smoothed his thatch of grey hair with his palms.

She’d known Jed Hawkins for a long time. A taciturn man, he’d always treated her with the utmost respect, despite her unconventional relationship over the years with Edward. She’d never understood his devotion to Edward until he’d explained it to her recently – in the longest speech she’d ever heard him make.

‘When I was a youth, Edward came looking for me. He told me we shared the same father, and because of that he would offer me employment. Our kinship was never to be acknowledged, he said. It was not of his making, but by chance.’

‘You must have been very young, then,’ she’d said.

He gave a small smile. ‘Only in years. Edward craved adventure, so we served in the army together, he as an officer and myself as his servant. He was very dashing and brave, and he put himself in danger to save my life when we were part of Lord Cathcart’s assault on Copenhagen. That was back in 1807. He told me he’d had no choice, for I was valuable to him, the only man he could trust completely. I was proud to fill that need in his life, and have been loyal to him ever since.’

Elizabeth had known at once that Edward had used Jed in the same way he’d used herself and Siana, holding them all hostage and manipulating them to serve him. Now his death had set them free and they would learn to live life without the need to consult him.

Elizabeth noted Jed’s best suit of clothes, and watched him stoop to pick a posy of flowers from the garden bed, inhaling their scent for a brief moment. He resembled Edward a good deal, she thought, except a life spent mostly in the outdoors had given him a weathered look.

Jed had been a regular visitor of late, using the house she rented from Siana as an excuse to fix a slate here or there, or loosen a sticking window or inspect the pump. At her invitation he’d taken tea with her, awkward in the drawing room, his large hands cradling a delicate cup and saucer. Big as he was, there was an innate gentleness about Jed Hawkins. It was displayed in the way he held Susannah on his knee, or cradled the purring cat against his chest as he unconsciously stroked a finger under its chin.

She suspected that Jed was about to propose marriage to her, offering her the respectability Edward had never considered due to her.

She watched him proceed up the drive on foot, his horse following after him like a dog with its master. It was Edward’s big, black old horse, the one which had carried him home so he could die in Siana’s arms. Jed had always lived in his brother’s shadow.

Mind made up, she turned to check her appearance in the mirror. She was dressed in serviceable dark blue taffeta. Her hair was not elaborately dressed, but tied with a ribbon at the nape of her neck. She thought of pulling it up under a cap, then shrugged. Jed would not be shocked by seeing her with her hair down.

He wasn’t, but he noticed it, for his glance lingered on it for a moment and he smiled. He handed her the posy of flowers, but refused her offer of refreshment. ‘Will you take a turn around the garden, Mrs Skinner? There is something I wish to say to you.’

‘I thought I asked you to call me Elizabeth.’

‘Aye, you did.’ He didn’t offer her his arm. Hands behind his back he ambled after her, saying nothing until they reached the garden seat.

‘Would you oblige me by seating yourself?’

When she’d settled her skirts to her satisfaction, she glanced up at him. ‘What do you wish to say to me, Jed?’

He drew a sheaf of papers from his pocket and ran a finger under his stock. Perspiration pearled his brow. ‘I was wondering, with you being a widow with a young un to raise, and all, whether you would honour me by becoming my wife.’

The dear man had ignored her past relationship with Edward, mentioning only her widowhood. ‘Yes, I would be honoured to accept.’

He stared at her for a moment, a puzzled frown concentrating between his brows, as if unprepared for such a swift answer to his proposal. He dropped the sheaf of papers into her lap. ‘Before you answer, this is the sum of my worth. Apart from that which was strictly necessary, I have not drawn on my salary over the years, so it’s accumulated somewhat.’

She handed the papers back to him, unread, tears pricking at her eyes. ‘Jed, your worth as a man has always been apparent to me.’

His breath expelled in a swift sigh. ‘Then you’ll accept me?’

‘Didn’t I just say so?’

‘I thought I’d heard you wrong. A man is prone to doing that when he’s seriously courting, for he goes around with his mind all of a pucker.’ He smiled then, bending at the knees to occupy the seat beside her. ‘I’ve always admired you, Elizabeth. I promise I’ll care for you and Susannah always. You’ll want for nothing whilst I have a breath left in my body.’

‘I know we won’t. You may kiss me if you wish, Jed.’

He stared at her for a moment, then he planted a kiss on her cheek.

She slid him a challenging glance. ‘If that’s the best you can manage I’ll be compelled to reconsider.’

He stared at her some more, then he grinned. His eyes crinkled at the corners and the grin became a chuckle. Taking her face in his work-roughened hands, he gazed into her eyes for a moment. Then he kissed her mouth. It was a seductive, lingering kiss that promised much.

The look she gave him afterwards was assessing. ‘You’re not as innocent with women as you would have me believe, Jed Hawkins.’

One eyebrow lifted, and he shrugged as he said gruffly, ‘I’ve known one or two over the years, but I’ve never proposed marriage to a lady before, and I wasn’t sure how to approach it. I’m not a fancy man, so thought I’d ask straight out rather than go down on one knee and make a damned fool of myself.’

‘You managed perfectly.’

‘I guess I did at that. You accepted me.’

They gazed at each other and laughed.

‘Will you tell Siana, or shall I?’ she said.

He chuckled, as if the thought amused him. ‘You’ll be at the harvest supper next month. We’ll tell her together, then. It’s likely the little lady will give my ear the pointed end of her tongue, though, for she considers my business to be her business, and has been as curious as a cat with all my comings and goings.’

‘And you’ve closed up like a clam, no doubt.’

His eyes went to her hair and he grinned. ‘Your hair’s like a tail of a fox in the sun. Can’t say I noticed what a pretty colour it was, before.’

‘Don’t you dare play games with me, Jed.’ Grabbing his hat from its hiding place she triumphantly dangled it from the end of her finger. ‘What’s this misshapen object?’

He gazed at it, his face a study of seriousness. ‘Can’t rightly say. Could be my hat, I suppose. It certainly looks like one I used to wear – until today.’

‘You’re a deep one, Jed Hawkins.’

He took her hand in his and said simply. ‘I love you, Elizabeth. I always have.’

‘Despite Edward?’

‘I loved him too.’

‘I know.’ Her fingers entwined with his and she gazed up at him, wondering at her own depth of emotion and the easiness she felt in his company. ‘You’ve always been twice the man Edward was, Jed. I’ll be a good wife to you, I promise.’

She’d been too long without a man, and it wouldn’t take much for her to fall in love with Jed Hawkins, for she was halfway there already.

She laughed with the joy of knowing it, because for the first time in her life she felt she’d been given the freedom to love another.