We continued at a feverish pace for what felt like eternity with no carriage in sight. Had I gone the wrong direction? Had Damon left earlier than Lady Margaret thought? I did not know, but I clung to hope and pressed on.
Finally, in the distance, a carriage came into view. I could not tell whether it was the Winfields’ carriage, but I hoped.
I chased after it, and when at last I came upon it, the Winfields’ crest came into view. I nearly cried out with happiness.
“Stop!” I shouted, but the driver couldn’t hear me over the sound of the horses’ hooves beating the earth and the clamor of the carriage.
I encouraged my horse to gallop along the side of the speeding conveyance. “Stop!” I shouted again.
The driver startled when he saw me, then pulled back on the reins, slowing the pair of horses. Finally, the carriage came to a stop.
A moment later, the door swung open, and Damon leaned out. “Have we thrown a whe—” he started, but he stilled when he saw me. “Hannah.”
A footman hurried to let down the stair, and Damon stepped out and walked directly to my side.
“Is something wrong?” He searched me for injury. “Has something happened?”
“No, nothing. All is well. Help me down?”
A footman took the reins from me, and Damon helped me down. I quickly stooped to untie my skirts.
“If you are looking for Ollie—”
“No,” I interrupted. “Not Ollie.”
His eyes narrowed.
I pulled his letter out of my pocket. “I did not receive your letter until this evening after dinner, and I did not think my response should be anymore delayed.”
He swallowed hard. “What is it you want from me, Hannah?”
“Everything,” I whispered. And gathering my courage, I stepped toward him. “I want your ginger candies and to race you on horseback. I want to skip rocks with you across the river and best you at chess. I want to worry you will make me eat frog legs, and I want to dance every single quadrille and waltz with you at every single ball.” My chin quivered, and my voice caught. “I wantyou, Damon.”
“You have no idea how much I wish I could believe you. To the limits of reason, I assure you. But you have been at Ollie’s side constantly—walking in the garden, sitting next to him at dinner, riding alone with him to the ruins.” Damon dragged both hands through his hair, then gripped the back of his neck. “At every turn, I have had to watch you love him. And I cannot do it anymore.” His arms hung limply at his sides, and his chin dipped toward his chest. He looked utterly defeated.
“I do love him,” I admitted. “Butonlyas a friend, which is why I have refused him.”
His eyes flashed to mine. “But today at the ruins. I thought—” He shook his head. “You refused him?”
I nodded.
“Do you regret it?”
“No.”
Damon stepped tentatively closer. “Are you sure?”
“Are you trying to talk me into it?” I laughed lightly.
“No! But a man can never be too certain of a lady’s mind.” A slight smile tilted his lips.
“As you have told me before,” I said. “I mistook friendship and fantasy for love. But because of you, I now know the true meaning. I loveyou, Damon.”
“And I love you, Hannah,” he said, and then he gathered me into his strong arms, making mefeelloved.
We stood like that for a long while, my cheek pressed to his chest in a gentle embrace. We were standing as close as two people could stand, but it was not enough. My eyes flicked to his lips. We had waited so long for this moment; to not only be free to voice our true feelings to each other but also to indulge them.
Damon was in no rush though.
