A loud knock at the back door the next afternoon startled Nora awake. She studied the clock on the bureau through blurry eyes. It was already five minutes after five. After a busy day cleaning and weeding the overgrown garden, she’d stretched out on her bed, intent on a short nap. Instead she’d slept for two hours. It didn’t help that sleep hadn’t come easily the night before; she missed having a dog beside the bed.
She took a moment to rearrange her hair, then she hurried downstairs to answer the door. Jack stood on the stoop, his weight bouncing from one foot to the other.
“Ready for our walk?”
“Yes.” Nora eyed the gray sky. “Let me grab my coat.” She pulled it from the peg by the door and joined him outside. Pushing her arms through the sleeves, she drew the material around her as she shivered.
“We’ll head up through the inbye to the fell.”
“The inbye?” Another word she didn’t know or recognize.
He motioned to the field ahead of them. “The fields by the farms are the inbye. And the fells are the mountains.”
“Colin told me what fell meant.”
Jack pulled his cap lower. “You sweet on him?”
“Hardly,” she managed to get out past her startled laugh.
A smile appeared on Jack’s face, though he made no comment. They entered the field through the gate and Jack shut it behind them. Nora studied the stone fence bordering the field. How many hours had it taken her ancestors to build the fence, stone by stone?
“The sheep,” she asked, “what kind are they?”
“Herdwick. The Vikings are said to have introduced them to the Lake District.” His pride was unmistakable.
Nora glanced at the mountain ahead of them. Its grassy skirt gave way to craggy rock and stubs of green higher up where the gray clouds hugged the mountain peak. Moving gray specks, which she suspected were the sheep, dotted its side.
She and Jack came to a set of small, wooden steps straddling the fence at the foot of the mountain. Before Nora could move or speak, Jack seized her hand and helped her up and over the fence. She quickly pulled her hand from his grip once her shoes were back on the ground. While she appreciated his attempt at being a gentleman, she preferred Colin’s more subtle approach.
There I go, she thought with a frown. Thinking of Colin again.
She didn’t want to think of the puzzling but kind baronet’s son. Or the way he made her laugh with his jokes. Or the way his dark eyes glowed with interest when he looked at her. These were things she’d loved about Tom, too. She was simply missing him, in this place so far from their memories. Loving someone new wasn’t an option. The potential for pain if she opened her heart all over again…Nora shuddered and drew her coat closer. Inhaling a deep breath of the damp air, she pushed aside the reminders of fear and heartache.
Her lungs and legs soon burned from the sharp ascent up the mountain, but Nora welcomed the exercise and the chance to stretch her limbs. Despite all the cleaning and weeding she’d done, she still felt a bit idle. She missed pushing herself through long, hard tasks as she’d done nearly every day on the farm back home.
After a time, Jack stopped. “Take a look. Prettiest sight in the world, if you ask me.”
Nora turned from the mountain to face the valley below. Emotion stirred deep inside her at the sight. The deep blue lake, the imposing turrets of Elmthwaite Hall, the farms and partitioned fields—all of it spread out before them like a living, breathing canvas painted by the hand of God.
She could think of no proper descriptions save one. “It’s stunning.”
Jack grinned with triumph, as if he were part creator of the grandeur, and waved her forward again. Nora hiked after him toward a sprinkling of sheep. As they drew closer, she spied the lambs among the ewes. The animals began to stir and flee at their approach, but Jack moved swiftly and caught one of the lambs before it could escape. He brought the bleating creature to Nora. “This is one of yours.”
Nora stroked the soft ears and ran her hand over the lamb’s wooly black fleece. “I never thought I’d be like Mary in the nursery rhyme.”
Jack didn’t laugh as Colin would have. “You’ve got a good group of lambs this year. The few of your ewes with twins are in our field.”
“You said the sheep will be sheared next month?” Thankfully she’d remembered something from their conversation yesterday.
Jack nodded. “End of July.”
“Do the fleeces bring in a good profit?”
He set the lamb free, and the creature bounded away to its mother. “We sheep farmers do pretty well. It’s not a rich life, but we make a decent living.” His eyes narrowed as he stared in the direction of Elmthwaite Hall. Nora recalled the opulence of the entryway and grand staircase, to say nothing of the rest of the house she hadn’t seen during her brief time inside. While lovely, she herself was living proof of how little one needed to uproot and make a new life.
Jack turned back to her, his tone boastful as he added, “I mean to get lots more sheep and have the biggest sheep farm in the Lake District.”
Nora felt a twinge of regret at hearing his dream. Bess had mentioned Jack’s hope of receiving the sheep farm from Henry. But it hadn’t been Nora’s decision, and she was grateful to her great-uncle for remembering her.
They started walking again, Jack in front. He led her along a narrow trail running across the mountain ridge, in the direction of Larksbeck. Sheep scattered ahead of them. He continued to share his plans for the future, which included a bigger farm with more cattle and pigs and a larger house.
Nora tried to focus on the one-sided conversation, but her attention kept straying to the beautiful landscape around her. Could she picture herself living here for the rest of her life? She glanced back over her shoulder for a moment at the Lewis cottage in the distance. She liked the new place, even if there was still work to be done with it, and the few people she’d met in the village yesterday had been more than kind.
Her greatest concern at present lay in the constant comparisons to her great-uncle’s daughter, Eleanor. Being alone in the world, she wanted to be her own person, not live in someone else’s shadow. I’ve been living with shadows for a year and a half now, Nora thought, folding her arms against the sudden ache in her chest. Had she traded one set for another? Only this time they were the shadows of strangers instead of those she loved dearly.
She also couldn’t shake the eerie feeling there was more to this business about Eleanor, something she alone had yet to figure out. Perhaps she could get Bess to impart some answers today.
The practical mentality Nora had cultivated since her parents’ deaths didn’t fail her now, despite her troubled thoughts. While she might have to endure being compared to Eleanor, the result wasn’t entirely bad. Because of it, she’d been accepted into the village, at least by the two shopkeepers she’d met. She’d also received an invitation to join the church choir, which meant she wouldn’t have to give up music altogether, even in the absence of her piano. Then there were the friends she’d made so far—Colin, Bess, Jack.
God was watching out for her. The realization brought a semblance of peace. It hadn’t been easy selling her childhood home to strangers or leaving her tangible connections to Tom and her parents. But she’d done it. Surely that meant she could carve out a life for herself in this valley.
A full and vibrant life? Like the one you had before losing Tom, and Mother and Father? The question pricked her heart.
“A contented one, at least,” she firmly told herself. It wasn’t safe or realistic to expect more than that.
Jack stopped to point at a cottage similar in structure to Nora’s. “We live there.” She spied sheep and cattle grazing in separate fields and flowers at the cottage windows.
Leaving the trail behind, Jack began climbing down the mountain. Nora struck out after him. They reached the field and climbed the ladder over the wall. Nora paused to catch her breath, while Jack removed his cap and wiped at his forehead with his sleeve.
“Can you teach me how to shear the sheep?” she asked, studying the thick gray coat of one of the nearby ewes.
“No need to worry about that. I’ll see to your sheep, same as ours.”
A flash of irritation tightened her lips. “I wouldn’t feel right about that. I need to learn. It’s my livelihood now.”
Jack’s frown mirrored her own. “Don’t know what the other chaps will think of you being in the way, but we’ll see.” With that, he stalked toward the field gate.
Nora forced a steadying breath through her nose. She wouldn’t push the point with him anymore this evening, but she was an independent woman who had to rely on her own two hands for her support. And she wouldn’t let anyone, including Jack, bully her out of her rightful place here.
She picked up her pace and trailed him out the gate and into the cottage. They entered through the back door onto a scene of complete chaos. Bess stood at the stove, stirring something, and calling out commands in a loud voice. Twin girls worked to set the long farm table as they talked. Their older sister brushed the coppery hair of the smallest girl, who sobbed in protest. A teenage boy, also with reddish hair, added wood to the fire, and another boy rode a wooden horse around the room, whooping.
Nora shrank back against the door. Her recollections of visiting the Campbell home, even with Tom and his six siblings, hadn’t felt quite so frenzied.
Bess glanced up as Jack approached her at the stove. “Oh, you’re both here,” she exclaimed.
The noise and movement stopped as if on signal. Eight pairs of eyes stared at Nora. She swallowed the sudden dryness in her throat, almost wishing for the loud madness instead. She didn’t like feeling like a specimen to be examined.
Bess came over and looped her arm through Nora’s. “Welcome, love.” The older woman gently tugged her toward the center of the room, oblivious to her reticence. “You’ve already met our Jack here. So we just need to be introducing you to the rest of the Tuttles.” She motioned with her free hand to the oldest daughter. “That there’s Mary. She’s the one what works up at Elmthwaite. Jon is next. Then there’s the twins, Margaret and Martha. Joseph comes after them, and finally our little Ellie.”
What if she couldn’t remember all their names? “It’s nice to meet you,” Nora said with a tentative smile.
“Come sit down.” Bess shooed her toward one of the benches drawn up next to the table.
Nora took a seat. The children crowded across from and beside her. Bess sat long enough to offer a blessing on the food, then lumbered to her feet again to ladle stew into bowls the twins passed around.
Before Nora could spoon some of the savory-smelling broth into her mouth, Mary asked, “What it’s like living in America, with all them automobiles and big houses?”
Nora gave a self-conscious shrug. “A lot like living here, I suppose. My family had a good-sized farm, but we didn’t own a car.”
Mary’s eyes clouded with momentary disappointment. “What about American fashion?” She leaned forward as she added, “I want to cut my hair and wear shorter skirts, but Mum won’t let me.”
“I heard that,” Bess scolded. She brought a bowl of stew for herself to the table and sat down again.
“What about film stars?” Margaret or Martha asked. “Have you met any?”
Nora chuckled and shook her head before tasting her stew. It was every bit as delicious as Bess’s cottage pie had been.
Everyone but Jack and Bess plied her with questions through the meal. A good portion of them she didn’t have answers for, much to the obvious displeasure of her young crowd.
“Maybe she’s not really American,” Nora heard one of the twins whisper to her identical sister.
“I did go to New York on my way here.” Maybe that would appease their curiosity.
“What’s that like?” Mary’s green gaze reflected her excitement.
Nora described the tall buildings and the crowds of people. Ellie wanted to know what it was like traveling on a boat across the ocean. By the time their inquiries ceased, the remaining stew in Nora’s bowl had grown cold. She didn’t mind, though. Her uneasiness had faded and she rather liked the lively conversation—so different from her normal silent meals, with only her thoughts and memories for company.
“I have a question for you,” she said, smiling down at Ellie seated next to her on the bench. “All your brothers’ names start with J and your sisters’ names start with M. Where does your name came from?”
“She’s named after Mum’s favorite cousin, Eleanor,” one of the twins answered. “I thought you would have known that, her being your—” Her words ended in a sudden squeal of pain. Rubbing her arm, she glared at Mary, who scowled right back. “Why’d you have to go and pinch me?”
Bess, looking very red in the face, jumped to her feet and began gathering dishes. “Time to clean up, girls,” she ordered over the clatter she was making. “Boys, see to the chores. Jack, you can walk Nora home.”
No one would meet Nora’s eyes now and the twin who’d spoken sat pouting as though in trouble. Nora scooted off the bench, uncertain what to do or say to restore the congeniality of moments ago. She wanted answers about Eleanor, but she didn’t want to upset or cause trouble for anyone. “Can I help with cleaning up?”
Bess shook her head. “No, no. You’re the guest. Jack will walk you back.”
“If you’re sure.” The chilled feeling had returned. “I am perfectly fine to walk back, though—”
“Jack doesn’t mind, do you, Jack?” Bess added dishes to the sink. Mary, Ellie, and the other twin started in on washing them.
Jack put his cap back on and grinned at Nora. “Not at all.”
Though she longed for solitude after the noisy dinner, Nora decided not to insist on walking home alone. “Thank you for the supper, Bess. It was delicious. The best I’ve had in a long time.”
Bess’s round cheeks turned pink as she waved away Nora’s compliment. “Never mind that. Glad you could come. We expect to see you regularly now, you hear? I still plan to fatten you up, you know. You’re as skinny as…” Her blush deepened and her mouth quickly closed over whatever she meant to add. “Well, go on now, love. And don’t be a stranger.”
Nora bade the rest of them good-bye. The coolness of the evening washed over her as she and Jack exited the cottage. What secrets were Bess and her family keeping from her? And why? She cut a glance at Jack, but he didn’t look the least bit uncomfortable. If anything, the smiles he kept throwing in her direction unnerved her.
They walked in silence up the road toward the cottage. At her lane, Nora stopped and faced him. “I can make it from here.” She stuck out her hand for him to shake. “I enjoyed the walk and the chance to see my sheep.”
Jack grasped her hand and held fast. “Me, too.”
“Can I come collect my sheep from your inbye field tomorrow?”
“I can take care of them for you, Nora.” He twisted her hand in his grip and ran a thumb over her skin. “You don’t have to worry your pretty head over the sheep.”
Nora inwardly cringed—both at his words and his touch. She needed to convince him to relinquish her sheep to her care, but how? The direct approach hadn’t worked. Perhaps she ought to try feminine wiles, though she wasn’t entirely sure what to do in that department. She’d never been very good at playing coy or being flirtatious.
“Please, Jack,” she tried, squeezing his hand and giving him an earnest look. “I want to fit in here, but I need my sheep to do that.”
He studied their hands, then finally lifted his gaze to her face. “Oh, all right. I’ll bring ’em by tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” she said with a genuine smile.
He eyed her lips, making Nora gulp. Did he expect a kiss in return for bringing her sheep back? Rather than step closer, though, Jack released her and tipped the edge of his cap in a farewell gesture.
Nora waved good night and climbed the hill toward the cottage. The sky overhead remained gray and cloudy. She hugged her arms to her chest against the cold, though inside she felt a measure of contentment. Despite the disturbing incident at supper, the evening had gone well and tomorrow she would have a few of her sheep to tend to. She could think of only one thing that would’ve made the day even better—seeing Perseus again.
And perhaps his owner, too.
* * *
Colin plodded up the hill to the Lewis cottage, while Perseus scouted through the tufts of grass along the stone fences ahead of him. It had been a whole week since he’d been here last, not that he hadn’t made attempts to see Nora sooner. Each time he had set out to walk this way, though, guilt ate at him until he turned around. How could he face Nora knowing he had to persuade her to leave? Of course, he’d also been patching things up with Lady Sophia, which meant enduring hours of inane conversation. His head still ached.
The earl’s daughter had dropped copious hints about riding in his aeroplane, but her father had insisted she wait for a drier day to fly. Thankfully for Colin, that day hadn’t come until after their guests had at last departed Elmthwaite Hall. Flying was his sanctuary, and he no longer liked the idea of sharing such peace and freedom with just anyone.
Had Nora wondered about his absence? When he’d found himself thinking about her too often during his time with Lady Sophia, Colin had told himself keeping his distance was a tactical move. In war, one needed to keep the enemy on its toes.
He frowned at the thought of him and Nora at war, but perhaps the line of thinking would serve him better. Then he wouldn’t be so enchanted by her red hair or soulful eyes or clever wit.
If he expected to find things the same after his week-long sabbatical, Colin was sorely disappointed. The cracked window had been repaired and the whitewashed walls of the cottage gleamed brighter. Nora must have painted them with a fresh coat. Gone were the wild plants and grass beside the door, too. The structure looked neat, tidy, and permanent. He hated the idea of seeing it torn to the ground to make way for his father’s hotel.
Please, Colin…I need you.
The words echoed in his mind, bolstering his determination to fulfill his father’s wishes and his promise to Christian. Colin knocked on the front door. When Nora failed to appear, he and Perseus headed to the back of the cottage. Several ewes and their lambs now grazed in the previously empty field beside the barn.
A loud noise, like the scraping of metal against wood, came from inside the house. What was Nora up to? Colin rapped his knuckle against the partially opened back door.
“Come in, Jack.”
Jack? Something akin to jealousy cut through Colin at Nora’s assumption. Jack had obviously been here enough, during Colin’s absence, that Nora expected him to be the only one to arrive at the back door.
Time to change that.
Colin eased the door open and stepped inside. There was no sign of Nora at the sink or the table, though the smell of something cooking in the oven attested to her presence. A movement in the corner of the room caught his attention. Nora was kneeling beside the washing machine.
“Are you hiding?” he teased.
At his voice, she scurried to her feet. A kerchief covered her head, though tufts of red hair had escaped its confinement. Flecks of dust rested on her cheeks and shoulders.
“Colin.” She jerked the cloth from her hair and used it to wipe her face. “I…um…wasn’t expecting you.”
But you were expecting Jack? He swallowed the retort. “I tried the front door.”
Her gaze flicked to his, then away. “Sorry. I didn’t hear you.”
Was she pleased or disappointed to see him again? He couldn’t tell and that annoyed him all the more. “What are you doing there?” He motioned to the washing machine, which now stood two feet from the wall.
“I can’t get the crank to turn more than a few inches. Not very convenient when you have a week’s worth of laundry to do.”
A slight burnt odor filled Colin’s nose. “What are you cooking?”
Nora gave a soft gasp. “The cottage pie. I completely forgot about it.” She hurried past him to the stove and opened the door with a dish towel. “I think this beast of an oven has something against me,” she muttered as she removed the pie, with its blackened edges, and set it on the counter. “I suppose the washing machine does, too.”
“Why don’t I take a look at the washing machine?” he volunteered. It was the perfect excuse to stay as well as a way to help ease her distress.
Her eyebrows rose and her eyes flashed with blatant skepticism. “This from the man who’d never carried groceries before last week?”
“I didn’t just fly an aeroplane in the war, Nora.” He removed his tie, jacket, and vest. After setting them on one of the chairs, he unbuttoned his shirt cuffs and rolled up his sleeves. “I learned a thing or two about how machines work as well.”
“Be my guest.” She waved in the direction of the washing machine.
Colin tried the hand crank. Sure enough, it would hardly turn. He bent over the machine and examined each of the gears. “I think rust is your problem. See?” Nora came to stand beside him. “If we clean some of it away and oil the gears, it should turn without difficulty.”
She tipped her chin up, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “By we, I’m guessing you mean me.”
He threw her a mocking glare to hide the grin that wanted to break through. “Would you mind getting me a rag and soap?”
“Of course,” she chirped a little too brightly. She returned with the needed items and Colin set about removing the rust from the gears. “I’ll see if there’s a can of oil in the barn.”
Nora disappeared out the back door. A moment later Colin overheard her exclaim at finding Perseus in the yard. A shadow of Colin’s earlier jealousy returned. He shook his head in annoyance at himself. Now he was envious of his dog. How could he get Nora to be as thrilled at seeing him as she was Jack Tuttle or Perseus?
He was still trying to figure out a solution when she returned with a can of oil and began washing dishes. Quiet filled the room, except for the gurgle of water and the rattle of plates, but the atmosphere wasn’t uncomfortable or strained. Colin actually found it peaceful.
Once he’d removed most of the rust, he generously oiled the gears. He didn’t want the machine giving Nora any more trouble. When the gears shone like new, Colin reached for the hand crank a second time and gave it a twist. This time it turned easily.
“Your washing awaits, fair lady.” He grinned in victory as Nora came over and watched him turn the crank once, twice.
“You did it,” she said with a laugh. The sweet sound wove its way straight to his heart, as did the genuine smile and dimple she offered him.
A feeling of satisfaction pumped through Colin’s veins, making him feel almost light-headed and yet powerful at the same time. It felt good to be working with his hands, doing something useful. He pushed the washing machine back into place and started to roll down his sleeves.
“Oh no. Your shirt.”
He looked down. Several oil spots marred the perfectly pressed garment. Gibson would not be happy.
“I know how to get those out.” Nora extended her hand to him.
Colin looked from her hand to her face. “You want me to take the shirt off…now?”
An attractive blush rose into her cheeks but she nodded anyway. “We don’t want the stain setting in.”
With a shrug, Colin undid the buttons and pulled off the shirt. He’d never stood bare-chested in front of a woman before, but any twinge of discomfort was fleeting. Especially after being a soldier and having a valet help him dress most of his life.
Nora took the shirt from him, without meeting his eye, and retreated to the cupboard, where she pulled a tin from one of the shelves. She placed his shirt on the counter next to her pie and sprinkled something over the material, all the while acting as if he weren’t there.
Clearly she was embarrassed to have him standing shirtless in her kitchen. Colin didn’t wish to make her uncomfortable. Perhaps he ought to put his vest or jacket on while he waited.
He froze in indecision until another thought entered his head. Could it be that Nora wasn’t so much nervous as she was attracted to him and fighting it? A smile lifted Colin’s mouth as he crossed the room to stand next to her, intent on finding out.
* * *
“What are you putting on the stain?”
Nora jumped at the sound of Colin’s voice near her ear. She’d been so focused on not looking at him that she hadn’t heard him come up beside her.
“It’s corn starch. I believe you call it corn flour here. It should help lift out the oil.” She scrutinized the shirt in an effort to avoid looking at Colin. Even then, she couldn’t help noticing out of the corner of her eye the firm muscles of his shoulders and chest. She mentally berated herself for offering to help with his shirt. Especially since he hadn’t bothered to come by once in the past week.
The reminder of his absence, especially after his promise to be friends, imbued Nora with renewed practicality. She would not be charmed, even by his nice-looking physique.
“Tell whoever does your wash,” she said, jabbing the shirt at his bare chest, “to rub soap into the spot as well.”
Colin curled his fingers around his shirt, capturing her hand. Something thrilling, and a little frightening, raced through Nora at his touch and the way his dark eyes deepened in color as he peered down at her. She made a poor attempt at reclaiming her hand, but he held on.
“Thank you for fixing it.”
She licked her suddenly dry lips. “It’s the least I could do…”
“Nora.” Her name sounded like both a caress and a cry. Colin glanced away and swallowed, all traces of arrogance or teasing gone. “There’s something I—”
A knock at the back door interrupted his words. Before Nora could step away from Colin, Jack entered the cottage and removed his cap. “I came to see…” His words faded into silence as he took in the sight of the two of them standing close.
Certain her face matched the color of her hair, Nora yanked her hand from Colin’s grip and stepped backward. “Jack. How are you?”
Jack looked from her to Colin and back, his brow furrowed. “I came by to see if there was anything you needed before I headed to the fell.” He frowned at Colin. “Didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”
“Everything’s right as rain here.” Colin smiled at Jack, though the merriment didn’t reach his eyes. “I fixed Nora’s washing machine, and she, in turn, fixed my shirt.” He pushed his arms through the sleeves and began doing up the buttons. Jack stood rooted to his spot.
The air in the kitchen crackled with unspoken tension. Nora moved between the two men. “I appreciate you checking on me, Jack. I’ll see you for supper at your place tomorrow night?”
Jack dipped his head, his cap strangled between his hands. “Suppose I’m off then.” He cut Colin another scowl.
“Farewell, Tuttle.” Colin unrolled his sleeves. “Nora’s in good hands.”
With a glare at both of them, Jack smashed his cap on his head and stalked from the room. He proceeded to slam the door behind him, but it hit the door frame and bounced open instead.
Nora pushed out a sigh. “You didn’t have to be rude. Jack’s been very helpful to me this past week.” Maybe a bit too much. But she didn’t voice that thought. Colin needed no further ammunition against Jack.
“I’m sure he has,” Colin muttered, his expression as dark as his eyes.
Nora pinned him with a piercing look.
“You’re right.” He finished buttoning his cuffs and slipped on his vest. “That was ungentlemanly of me.”
She ignored his reference to her joke at their first meeting as she put away the corn starch and closed the cupboard. It was easier to keep her heart firmly locked if she held on to her disapproval of Colin’s behavior. Plus it would also stop her from wondering what he’d been about to say before Jack’s arrival.
“How may I redeem myself?” he asked as he pulled on his jacket. The amusement tugging at his mouth contradicted his contrite tone.
Nora folded her arms, contemplating a suitable penance. “I think your punishment needs to be twofold.”
“Very well.” He nodded. “What is your sentence?”
“First, you must join me for choir rehearsal at the church tomorrow morning.”
The mirth drained from his face. “Nora.” His voice held a note of warning. “That is entirely—”
“Second, you and Perseus can give me a tour around the lake. I’ve already been here a week and haven’t even seen all of it.”
Colin scowled. “A walk around the lake would be acceptable. But the choir rehearsal…”
“Please, Colin.” She hazarded a step toward him, hoping he’d relent. “I sang with them last Sunday and they need more male voices.”
She had another reason for wanting him there. Everyone had been kind at rehearsal and at church the following day, but Nora still felt uncomfortable with the continued references to her likeness to Eleanor. Apparently their similarities also included their singing voices. With Colin at the rehearsals, she wouldn’t feel as awkward. She was beginning to think he was the only person in Larksbeck who hadn’t known Eleanor.
Colin’s brow knit in obvious annoyance, while Nora held her breath. Would he accept her proposal? Finally resignation settled over his countenance. “I’ll go, but only once.” He held up a single finger. “Once,” he repeated. “I make no promises after that.”
Grateful, she breached the remaining space between them and put her hand on his sleeve. “I agree to those terms.” She couldn’t hide her smile as she added, “Be careful, though, we might make a regular choir member out of you yet.”
Instead of the light laugh she expected, Colin solemnly watched her. Though he didn’t touch her, she felt as powerless to release his sleeve as if he’d detained her hand. She couldn’t step away—his nearness drew her in like the promising warmth of a fire after being out in a storm.
“You know,” he murmured, his voice low, “you are rather charming when you jest like that.”
Nora’s pulse stuttered to a stop, then sped up again like a train gaining speed. She tried to remember why she’d been angry with him, tried to remember why she couldn’t allow anything more than friendship to blossom between them. But she couldn’t concentrate on any one thought, except for the growing desire to touch the hint of dark bristles covering his jaw.
Colin studied her lips as Jack had done last week, but this moment couldn’t be more different. A part of her, one growing more insistent by the second, actually wanted Colin to kiss her. How long had it been since she’d last felt the press of masculine lips against hers?
Not since before Tom left.
The memory crashed over her with all the effect of an ocean wave. She felt suddenly ill and cold. Releasing Colin’s sleeve, she stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest for warmth.
Forgive me, Tom.
She’d done nothing wrong, but even entertaining the idea of Colin kissing her felt like a betrayal. Her heart could never belong to anyone else. And yet, in this moment, the past felt more like a burden than a boon.
“I’ll…uh…just get my sweater, then we can go on that walk.” Nora went to pull the garment off its usual peg. Her hands shook slightly as she slipped the sweater on over her blouse. “Ready?”
A flicker of emotion gleamed in Colin’s dark eyes. Was it disappointment? Frustration? Would he forgive her abruptness or understand the source of her pain? As quickly as it had come, though, the sentiment faded and Colin shot her a carefree grin. “After you, fair lady.”