Chapter Twenty

 

The week following the purchase of Holden’s horse was much too busy for Rose to worry about her father and who he truly was. As a matter of fact, dwelling on that mystery was futile until her mother’s return, for she would be the one person who could tell her the truth.

What had kept her occupied was Holden. He had called four days that week, and they had spoken in the drawing room, as rain made strolling through the gardens and carriage rides impossible. By the fifth day, the rain had ceased and the sun had warmed the air, so Holden recommended an outing.

Rose had come to the realization that she enjoyed Holden’s company immensely, evident by her laughter as he told her yet another story from his youth.

“It was then that I realized—right there in front of his friends, mind you—that I had donned my slippers rather than my riding boots! Father had never been more embarrassed—or angry—with me.”

Rose’s sides ached from laughter. “I cannot imagine such a thing,” she managed to gasp. “Did you not realize when you donned them that they were not what you needed? I mean, you were going hunting, after all.”

Holden shook his head. “I was so concerned with my appearance that I did not notice.” He gave her a weak smile. “I can see why you concern yourself with structure and rules, otherwise you would have someone like me embarrassing you.”

“You cannot embarrass me,” Rose said with a frown. “In fact, I find your ways appealing.”

“Do you?” he asked in clear astonishment. “How so?”

“When you are not boasting about yourself, your stories are quite entertaining.” She smiled. “I can see when they come from the heart, and therefore, I find myself utterly enthralled with them.”

The carriage slowed as it turned a corner, and Rose grasped the handle beside her to keep herself upright.

“I can easily admit that when you speak of your mother or your life in London I, too, am enthralled.” He tilted his head. “Do you find it odd that I wish to learn everything I can about you?”

The air around her seemed to dissipate and her head felt light. Please do not faint! she told herself. “No, but I like that you do,” she said aloud.

The sound of a woman screaming made them both turn to look out the window as the carriage came to a stop.

“What was that?” Rose asked, her heart in her throat.

“I do not know,” Holden replied. “But I intend to find out.” He opened the door and bounded from the carriage, and as Rose moved to alight, he placed his hands around her waist, lifted her, and placed her on the ground all in one swift movement.

“My son!” a woman shouted, her fists grasping the skirts of her simple burlap dress as tears streamed down her face. “Please, someone, help him!” She pointed toward a nearby tree, where a boy of perhaps five clung to the trunk from a seated position on a high branch. “He’s too scared to climb back down. I told ‘im not to go, but he didn’t listen.” She released her skirts and wrung her hands. “Oh, my lord! Don’ let ‘im fall! I can’t lose me only boy!”

Holden glanced at the woman. “Do not worry. I shall retrieve your son.” Then, to Rose’s surprise, he removed his coat and handed it to her.

“Holden, the child is quite high up in the tree. It will be a dangerous climb.” The thought of him falling gave her the same anguish the mother must have been feeling for her son.

“True,” he said without looking at her, “but it would be far better for me to be injured than to pass by and live with the shame that I did nothing.” He hurried over to the tree and grasped the lowest branch. “Plus, I used to do this as a child, and I was quite good at it.”

The woman turned to Rose. “Your husband’s a very brave man, my lady,” she said as she wiped tears from her eyes.

Rose laughed. “Oh, no, he is not my husband, but he is my fiancé.” A sense of pride filled her upon saying the words, although she had no time to wonder about this great change as she watched in trepidation, for Holden clamored up the tree as if it was a feat he did every day.

Please do not allow him to fall! she prayed, realizing she had nearly echoed the woman’s words.

“That’s it,” she could hear Holden saying in a soothing tone to the boy. “Do not be afraid. Put your arms around my neck. Yes, just like that.”

With the whimpering child clinging to him, Holden began the long descent. Rose held her breath, watching each foot placement, willing each branch to hold and each step to not slip.

Branch by branch, Holden moved closer to the ground, not once missing a step as the branches held their weight. It seemed an eternity by the time they reached the bottom, and the woman rushed to her son to pull him into her arms and smother him with kisses.

“Oh, thank you, my lord,” she said, giving him a quick bob of a curtsy. “Two carriages passed us by. Not one wanted to stop to help, but you did.”

“My apologies for their behavior,” Holden said. “But your son is now safe.” He turned to the boy and lightly ruffled his hair. “And you, young sir, must not climb so high next time. It is not good to give your mother such a fright.”

The boy gave an adamant shake to his head and glanced at the tree with horror. “I won’t, sir. I promise.”

“Now, come, you,” his mother said, taking the boy by the hand. “We’ve chores to complete. Thank you again, my lord.” She gave him another curtsy and led the boy away.

Rose handed the coat back to Holden. “You were quite brave,” she said. “Your kindness today was…”

“A far cry from a month ago?” he asked with a laugh. “I believe I have always wanted to help others, but for whatever reason, I made excuses not to do so.” He shrugged. “I do not know if I am following the ways of old or new, but regardless, it was the right thing to do.”

Rose could not stop the proud smile that crossed her lips. “It was,” she said. “It most certainly was.”

***

Rose giggled as the breeze pulled back a corner of the blanket as Holden attempted to kick it back into place, the tip of his tongue poking out between his teeth.

He grunted and glanced at her. “Is the wind mussing my hair?” he asked as he brushed back a misfit wave. “Or perhaps you laugh at me because my shirt is wrinkled or my cravat is askew.”

She laughed all the harder because he asked with an earnestness that told her he was not jesting. “No, your hair and clothing are fine,” she said. She reached over and placed the basket on the offending blanket corner. Then she smiled as she reached her hands out to him. “Now come. I wish to discuss something of great importance.”

He eyed her hands for a moment and then took them in his, causing a sense of security to wash over her. She stood, pulling him with her as she did so.

“We have had the most unusual times together,” she said. “You were a brash man who once boasted about his handsomeness, just as you commented on my beauty in a very…unconventional manner. Do you remember?”

“I do,” he said, glancing at the ground. “I admit I did not like how I acted toward you.”

“Do you still believe me beautiful?”

Holden looked down at her, his eyes filled with earnestness. “More than ever I know you are the loveliest of ladies,” he whispered. “However, it is much more than the beauty I see, but that which is unseen. You have a loveliness inside your heart that I have come to adore.”

“Once you said I was as rigid as an old woman,” she said. He went to speak, but she squeezed his hands to halt him. “You were right. I have always been concerned with appearances and following every rule I was taught to the smallest detail.”

“That is not always a bad thing,” he said with a smile. “In fact, I have learned that rules do have their place.”

“Oh, I do agree rules are a necessity,” Rose replied. “However, I am finding myself wanting to be daring and wishing to break one. May I?”

Holden nodded, although his features showed his confusion. If her heart was not pounding as it was now, she would have giggled.

“I find you quite handsome,” she said, and was pleased when he gave her that wide grin she had come to admire. “Even before we were locked in the wine cellar, I saw a change in you. The arrogant man I once knew was disappearing and a new man stands before me today. He is a man I admire, for he has changed his ways. However, that is not all.”

“Is it not?” he asked.

She shook her head. “He is the man to whom I find myself engaged. The man who has shown me that it is all right if a rule is not followed to the letter. In fact, one may find it a relief to break them from time to time.”

She drew in a deep breath. Admitting this came with great difficulty, for it went against a lifetime of strict upbringing.

“However,” she continued, “above all things, I have come to realize that you are the man I love, the man I wish to be my husband. I only hope that you can accept me as your wife.”

He brought his hand to her cheek. “It is true that when I first met you I thought you beautiful. Yet, I have come to see you as so much more. You have shown me that it is all right to share my heart and that by doing so it only makes me stronger, not weaker as I had thought.”

Rose nodded. “I agree. sharing does make one stronger.”

“Since you have been so open, and since sharing is a sign of strength, I will share what is on my heart, as well. I was frightened of marriage, for if I were to marry, my old life would disappear. However, I am finding I am truly not the man I believed myself to be. He was a person I developed to hide my true self, one who is deeply in love with you, Miss Skylark. Releasing the man I truly am has led me to realize how much I wish to be your husband.”

A heartbeat later, he stepped forward, lowered his head, and pressed his lips to hers. All the worries of the world disappeared as a sense of floating in the air filled her. A fire ignited in her soul and her heart seemed to join with his. Her life was forever changed in that moment.

When the kiss ended, they spoke of the future, and Rose realized that their future would be the most amazing time of their lives.