“Ye Gods, Mirrie is right about everything.”
“Mirrie?” Her voice rose. “I have not seen her since I arrived.”
“But she has spoken to Adam Hawker. And she has seen how it is between you.”
My secret is already discovered.
Esme smoothed her skirts as her cheeks pinked. “You do not disapprove?” Nerves clutched at her as she waited upon his answer.
“Why the devil should I disapprove of any man who makes you happy? And safe,” he added with a raised eyebrow.
She hesitated. “Because he has no title.” Her voice wobbled. “And he is older even than yourself and Callum.”
“Older than myself and Callum?” Tristan feigned a stagger to one side. “And the man still walks about unaided?”
“Do not mock me, brother.” She straightened her spine and tried to look severe, despite a keen gust of wind which made her skirts billow outward. “I am asking your advice, heaven help me.”
Tristan folded his arms. “Are those the qualities that you prize in a man? Youth and a title?”
“Nay.” She shook her head quickly. “They are barriers that Adam himself persists in putting forward.”
“I see.” Tristan smiled down at her. “He is right to raise these matters. But if they mean naught to you, then they mean naught to me. From what I have learned of the man, he is no fortune hunter.”
“Forsooth, I think he would prefer it if I had no fortune.” Esme was earnest.
“Then methinks him a worthy suitor of Lady Esme de Neville.” Tristan smoothed back her hair with brotherlyaffection. “You should go and speak with him. I last saw him by the lake. It seems he has some fascination for Father’s swans.”
“Is that where he is?” Esme felt a jolt of impatience. “I had hoped he would come and find me.”
“Ye Gods woman, go and find him yourself. Do we men have to do everything?” Tristan raised his eyebrows, but she could see he was only teasing her.
Impulsively, she rose up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
“For what?” He looked surprised.
“For not lecturing me.”
Tristan caught her hand. “I shall leave that duty to Father.”
She gasped. “You think he will be cross?” For a moment, she had forgotten all about Crispin and the turn of events that had brought her back to Wolvesley.
He smiled indulgently. “If he is, sister, he will not remain so for long.”
“What will he think of Adam?” Her voice was little more than a whisper.
“I learned a few years since that our father values love above all else. He desires his children to be as happy as he and Mother are. He will care only that Adam is a man who truly deserves you.”
“He does.” She nodded vigorously.
“Then go and speak to the man, for pity’s sake.” Tristan gave her a little push. “If Mirrie is right, which she always is, he will have found these last hours more daunting than those on the eve of a battle.”
*
She considered returningto the keep for more suitable footwear, but Tristan’s last words rang in her ears and she ploughed ontoward the lake, even as dampness pooled between her toes. The setting sun cast deep orange rays over the expanse of water, lighting up the woods more beautifully than a hundred flickering candles. Esme soon located Adam’s commanding figure. He stood just feet from the shoreline with his back to her; his arms were folded and his head was lowered.
She hesitated, but only for a moment. Much as she baulked at interrupting a man so clearly deep in thought, this may be the only chance they had to converse before they were both swallowed up in polite chatter at tonight’s dinner.
Heart fluttering, she took the final steps toward him and came to a halt by his side.
