Without a second of hesitation she nodded.
‘I hope you were able to sleep.’
‘I was, thank you. Is everything all right?’
She sat up as he strode up and down before the window, not speaking until it seemed he had gathered his thoughts. But he did not look pleased at all.
‘I have had time to think about your words today, the ones where you said you would not be a burden on anyone and about forging your own pathway.’
She stayed quiet.
‘You see, the thing is, Wilhelmina, you have left me no room to state my case as to how I feel about this and I have been hesitant to do so because of your ill-health.’
‘I don’t expect pity.’
‘You have told me that.’
‘Or charity.’
‘That too.’
‘But I think we came into our relationship from the wrong angle. We wanted delight and we got it, but we also created a distance that left nothing else available.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘I want to court you properly. I want us to get to know each other in ways different than we have. I want to find out if our compatibility is as good out of bed as it is in it.’
She bit her lip and looked at him. ‘I am a poor choice for anything permanent. I have no dowry, no lineage and a ruined reputation which can only harm yours.’
‘And I have told you that I need neither money, lineage, reputation nor protection.’
‘What is it you do need, then?’
‘I need a chance.’ This time she smiled. ‘I will take you out on day trips. I could make arrangements for a meal or a visit to friends. I would kiss your hand at the end of the day and say goodnight. I would not tumble you into my bed and promise nothing save sex as I did before.’
‘That is a large honesty.’
‘I think that we need it.’
‘I do, too.’
A great bunch of summer flowers was brought to her room the next morning and the card attached had Phillip’s name on it. When Willa was bathed and dressed he came to her door and asked if she would like to see the ballroom at Elmsworth.
‘You have one here?’
‘My great-grandfather had it added towards the back of the house because his wife loved to dance.’
‘A thoughtful husband, then.’
Without hesitating further they began down the stairs. Surprisingly it was easy and it was not long until they walked through double doors into a huge room with polished wooden floorboards and high ceilings. Light streamed in through windows down one entire and long side.
‘Did you have balls here when you were young?’
‘No. I never remember it being used even once, but then, my mother was not a woman who enjoyed frivolity or crowds.’
‘And Gretel…did she not wish to make Elmsworth come alive with the joy of it all?’
‘She didn’t. This is the first time I have been inside here for at least a decade.’
