“Yes. That is all.”
“Maybe I should have bounced him around a wee bit like I was feeling inclined to do.”
His obvious outrage gave Clover some hope, but she tried not to let it grow too big. A lot of people mouthed admirable principles but balked when the time came to act on them. People were often sincere when they spoke, but reality could wreak havoc with sincerity. Since her family’s troubles had begun she had seen that proven time and time again.
At that moment Thomas and Sarah emerged from the Marsten house. Clover watched Ballard’s face harden and his eyes narrow as he watched the pair stroll by. She thought that Sarah and Thomas were being irritatingly audacious, even cruelly inconsiderate, to walk past their rejected lovers arm in arm. It was rather like rubbing salt in open wounds. The intensity of Ballard’s reaction troubled her a little.
“Did you love her?” she asked with a soft abruptness, her own audacity making her blush.
“I dinnae ken. Did ye love him?” He smiled in response to her look of surprise. “There was a hint of something in your voice when ye spoke of him thattold me ye were probably the one he had been promised to.”
“I fear I was. I was jilted only this morning. He sent me a letter. I have not had time to get beyond being very angry.”
“Aye, I reckon. I am a mite angry myself. I spent a fair bit of silver on these courting clothes.”
“You look very fine in them.”
“Thank ye, ma’am.” His lips twitched as he suppressed a smile.
“You are quite welcome,” she replied with extraordinary politeness.
He laughed softly, set down his now empty glass, and stood, his careful movements suggesting he was reluctant to leave. “I thank ye kindly for the lemonade, lass, but I really must be on my way.”
Clover felt her heart clench with panic. Their meeting was ending far too soon. She had wanted gradually to present her proposition to him. It was her plan to ease slowly into the subject of a wife and matrimony, but he was not going to give her that luxury. She frantically tried to think of what to do next, but panic made her mind go blank.
“Mr. MacGregor,” she cried when he started to move away. “Wait a moment, please.”
“Ah, ye have finally decided to ask me that question, have ye?”
“How did you know I had something I wanted to ask you?” The shock of having him guess her intentions stole some of her resolution.
“Ah, weel, ye had that air about ye, lass,” he replied as he resumed his seat by her side. “Ye are a wee bit tense, as if ye are steadying yourself for something,but when ye didnae say anything—” He shrugged. “I decided ye must have had a change of heart.”
“No, I have not changed my mind. In truth, Icannotchange my mind.”
“Weel, then ask me what ye wish. ‘Tis always best just to spit these things out.”
She felt that he was probably right, but the words were stuck firmly in her throat. Despite the speeches she had hurriedly rehearsed, she could think of nothing to say. The way Ballard sat there watching her with an amiable expression was not making it any easier. There was little doubt in her mind that, unless she presented her plan with the utmost care, he was going to think she was utterly mad, yet no clever words or phrases presented themselves.
The harder she thought, the worse her confusion became, until, in sheer desperation, she blurted out, “Will you marry me, Mr. MacGregor?”
