Why did I say yes? He has not even given me the time to think about all of this.Gemma thought as she freshened up despite her temper already on the rise.
Gemma marched out to tell Lothar how annoyed she was when she stopped in her tracks. Gemma blinked at the sight before her. From where Lothar’s carriage stood there were wildflowers. Gemma could not help but chuckle at how creative Lothar had been. As a creative person herself, she found the old spark she had thought she had felt when they’d met, return with interest. Lothar offered his hand, and she took it. His hands felt hardened. Being from a family who worked hard, she found it appealing.
The picked flowers were laid in a row that Lothar led her on until they came to a clearing on their family grounds. There, to her complete surprise were her family. They stood waiting at a table that had been brought out. The trees nearby blocked the slight chilly breeze and the fire that was tended with logs by servants, roared into the night sky.
Lothar noticed she seemed cold. My Lady, please, take my coat,” Lothar said as he slipped his coat from his broad shoulders and put it around hers. She immediately felt heat travel from the coat into her back and shoulders. She could smell a faint scent of sandalwood.
The combined heat and the scent of him drew her mind back to the brief kiss they had shared earlier. It had not been on the lips, it had however been in public. A declaration for all to see that they were a couple. The heat that had pooled under the coat made its way to her cheeks. Gemma looked away.
Her family smiled and looked at each other knowingly. The table had been set close to the house in order to allow her mother to walk the distance. Once Gemma had been seated, The meal was brought in. The main course of roasted pheasant with vegetables was Gemma’s favorite meal. Though she looked forward to it, she could not help feeling as though she were being placated.
“When His Grace came to see me this afternoon, I thought his idea of a family dinner was charming,” her father said before he began to eat. Her mother smiled at her and Lothar but did not speak.
That afternoon, right after they had spoken in town? The man does move quickly. He must have left just after I had,Gemma thought as she attempted to eat.
“I did not want to cause any inconvenience,” Lothar said as he moved his chair closer to the table. “I wanted to spend the evening with you, My Lady, and did not want to disrupt your family time,” Lothar said before he cut into his meat and placed a small bite onto his fork.
“This is lovely,” Gemma said, and meant it. She enjoyed spending time with her family even though they lived together and saw each other every day. This way of dining also made spending time with Lothar less intimate.
If only he was not seated so closely that his leg touched hers even so slightly. It was not more than the lightest of touches yet seemed to stoke a fire inside her more and more as the evening progressed.
Lothar seemed calm and relaxed and so did her family. It made her happy that they enjoyed having Lothar with them.
Perhaps there was hope that it could work between us.Gemma thought as she ate and joined in conversation that started from time to time as they ate. If Gemma had not known better, she would have sworn they had known the man for years!
Her family excused themselves from the table one by one until Gemma looked to Lothar after bidding her mother a good night. It was only she and Lothar who remained.
I am nothing like the baroness he preferred. She is closer to what most of society considered to be worthy of being called beautiful or even acceptable. I on the other hand am the opposite of her. It is no small wonder why he spent years pining for her. She had the tiniest waist and was nearly half as tall as I am. What she also has is Lothar. Words are easy to offer. Actions tell me the real story,Gemma thought as she took a deep breath.
“Your Grace, thank you for this evening, it was a thoughtful gesture,” Gemma said, as she could at the very least be well-mannered in return for his efforts.
“My Lady, it pleases me greatly that you have enjoyed having me at your home,” Lothar replied. Gemma looked up from her plate to see that Lothar had a tiny smudge of gravy on his cheek.
He looked comical and Gemma could not help chuckling. Lothar frowned.
“Your Grace, you have a little something here,” Gemma said, as she indicated where it was on his face by demonstrating on hers. Lothar put his hand in his pocket to retrieve a handkerchief. He dabbed at his face yet missed it. Gemma came closer to help him.
“Your Grace, you shall be at it all evening, allow me,” Gemma said, as she took his handkerchief from him and gently removed the offending gravy. Gemma looked at him with a triumphant smile that faded when she noticed the fire in his eyes. Lothar’s hand moved towards her. He stood up from his seat and turned to her as his thumb traced a line on her cheek in exactly the same spot she had touched on his face.
Gemma felt as though it was impossible to move, let alone get her lungs to take air into them. Lothar’s thumb moved to trace a fiery line from her cheek to her jaw before she felt his warm hand gently cup her face.
Gemma looked up into his warm, brown eyes. Then he moved away and offered his hand. Gemma took his hand yetfound herself disappointed. It had seemed as though he had wanted to kiss her and then had changed his mind.
If he did not even want to kiss me then how does he expect this marriage would work?Gemma thought as they walked at a relaxed pace. Gemma wondered if he would fit into her life at all. Even if he would be at ease with her being a woman with a career, it did not mean she would fit in elsewhere. The children would be a good test.
Not only do they judge character well. I will see clearly how he feels about children.Gemma thought as they enjoyed the peace of the garden.
Gemma had been meaning to visit with the children and to bring them up to the main house to visit with her mother. It would be just the right occasion for Lothar to see if they were as compatible with each other as he thought they were.
“How is your writing going, My Lady,” Lothar asked.
“Very well thank you, Your Grace,” Gemma replied. They had spoken to each other less on this walk than when he had come for tea. This time it was not as awkward as it had been then. Gemma knew that he asked to be polite. It did not diminish the fact that it felt good to speak about the things she was passionate about.
“I have actually read your short stories for a while now. I did not take note of the author until I met her,” Lothar said making light of his naivety.
“Since you seem to still read them, Your Grace, am I to understand you find them not entirely dreadful?” Gemma asked finding herself genuinely interested in his opinion of her work.
“Completely the opposite, My Lady. I find your work to be engaging, and one might even say addictive,” Lothar replied.
