And she wanted to believe in that, too.
Chapter 19
“The two of you seem quite content,” Philip’s mother noted at breakfast.
Philip was simply grateful that they were the only two in the room, for he was quite sure that she would have said it no matter who was in attendance.
“There is contentment on my part, to be sure,” he nodded.
“And hers. The two of you have been getting along beautifully of late, and there is no denying that there is something growing between you.”
“In which case I shall not deny it,” he smirked. “She is a good lady, Mother, and I’m starting to believe that she and I…”
He did not know how to say it in a way that would not have her setting a wedding date.
“You are falling for her, Dearest, aren’t you?”
“Hopelessly,” he sighed. “I cannot help myself. She is kind, and understanding, and never once has she shirked or shunned me for what I look like. Did you know that she did not know whathappened to me at all? She never participated in the gossip surrounding it.
“You certainly seem to have stumbled upon a gem. You mustn’t let her slip away.”
He wanted to tell her that he would not, and that it was the last thing that he wanted to do, but at that moment Jackie and Elizabeth entered with their father, and nothing further was said.
That afternoon, he found Jackie painting outside. She was good, far better than she had suggested she was, and he couldn’t help but admire her work. He wondered if she had always spoken down on herself while making her sister seem to be the better sibling, and he knew there had to be some truth to it.
It had been two months since her family’s arrival, and it had quickly become a new normal for them. They were a part of the household, even her father, which he had not expected at all. Her family also seemed to be better with one another, and with one month to go Philip felt quite uncertain.
Not about Jackie, of course. There was another month before any final decisions had to be made, but he knew what he wanted. Nothing had ever been clearer to him; he wanted to marry her. Frankly, he was quite aware that he was in the midst of falling in love with her, and he couldn’t bear the thought of letting her slip away.
“I can sense you there,” she said suddenly, and he snapped to attention.
She had not turned away from her painting, but he could hear in her voice that she was smiling.
“I do apologize. I did not mean to intrude, but this is clearly a talent of yours.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she replied, turning around at last.
The sunlight reflected in her dark curls perfectly, and he had to force himself not to reach out and run his fingers through them.
“Do you always make yourself sound mediocre with things?” He asked. “Because you so often speak of yourself as though you are no good at most things, when here you are, making a beautiful landscape.”
“I prefer to let my actions speak for themselves. Besides, if I told you I was a brilliant painter, you would have all sorts of expectations.”
“And you would meet them, I assure you.”
She laughed gently at him.
“You know,” she said tentatively. “I have been told that there is to be a ball in October. An autumn masquerade ball, to be specific. I haven’t been to one since my first season. It feels like a lifetime ago.”
“I have been to a few. It was the only event that my mother could insist on my attendance at, as nobody would see me. It sort of ruined my argument when she said that.”
“Do you not miss such events?”
“I have come to see them as things that I attended, but not necessarily enjoyed. There is no harm in it, they are simply not for me.”
He noticed that she looked quite defeated at that, and panic rose in him.
“However,” he continued quickly. “That isn’t to say that I will never attend another. In fact, it would be quite an honor if you would join me there.”
