“It is a beautiful day. One can hardly help but be joyful,” Eden replied, linking her arm with Alice’s as they continued along the row of stalls.
Alice cast a sly glance sideways, nudging Eden lightly with her elbow. “Admit it,” she whispered playfully, her eyes gleaming with mischief, “you were hoping he would be here today.”
Heat warmed Eden’s cheeks instantly. “You must not tease so, Alice. Gabriel is practically family, and you know my family wishes me to marry Mr. Price.”
“Like family, is he?” Alice laughed lightly. “If I had a childhood companion who returned after years abroad looking like Gabriel Langley, family would hardly be the first word to cross my mind.”
Eden shot her friend a mock glare, though her heart quickened at the mention of Gabriel’s return. Five years had passed since she’d stood behind an oak, heart pounding, listening to the fading rhythm of his horse’s hooves. In that moment, she had feared she was losing not just a childhood companion, but the piece of her heart that believed in unconditional, enduring affection. In truth, she had thought about that moment far more than she would ever admit.
“Oh, Eden, look!” Alice tugged excitedly at her arm. “Clara is waving us over.”
Lady Clara Mapleton stood across the green, her pink gown highlighting her serene beauty as she beckoned them enthusiastically. Eden smiled, grateful for the distraction from Alice’s teasing.
As they approached, Clara’s eyes twinkled knowingly. “Eden, I suppose you have heard the news?”
“I have,” Eden admitted. “It seems everyone finds Gabriel’s return far more exciting than I.”
Clara squeezed her hand reassuringly. “He has been gone such a long time. And there are so many stories of scandals and, well… it must be thrilling to see him again.”
Before Eden could reply, a sudden hush descended upon their immediate surroundings. A ripple of anticipation seemed to pass through the crowd, the cheerful din fading into a tense, expectant quiet. Eden’s heart gave an involuntary leap, a thrill of nerves prickling along her skin. For one breathless moment, hope and dread tangled together within her, leaving her frozen.
Heads turned and whispers fluttered through the gathered crowd as Gabriel emerged from the edge of the village green. He strode confidently forward, his gaze sharp and searching beneath dark brows. Eden’s stomach dropped. For one breathless instant, the world tilted, colors fading into a haze as her pulse roared in her ears, her breath catching at the sight of him.
His black hair, touched by sunlight, framed a face both rugged and refined, so familiar yet strikingly changed. The boy she had once known was gone, replaced by a man whose presence carried the weight of experience and distance. Wonder and a pang of bittersweet longing warred within her as she struggled to reconcile memory with the reality before her. His emerald eyes, vivid even from this distance, moved steadily over the gathering, passing briefly across her. Eden’s heart jolted as his gaze snapped back, recognition flaring in his expression.
A small, almost hesitant smile curved his lips as he approached. “Lady Eden Thornton,” he greeted warmly, bowing with practiced elegance. “How you have grown.”
“Lord Blackstone,” Eden murmured softly, dipping into a graceful curtsy, her pulse racing at his proximity. “Welcome home.”
He studied her openly, surprise flickering briefly in his eyes. “You look...well,” he said, as though searching for a proper word.
She tilted her head with a teasing smile. “Thank you, Lord Blackstone. You seem surprised.”
He chuckled softly, the rich sound warming her thoroughly. “Indeed. The spirited minx I recall has become quite an enchanting young woman.”
“Is that disappointment I detect?” Eden teased gently, her confidence buoyed by the teasing familiarity of their exchange.
“Not at all,” Gabriel replied swiftly, eyes sparkling with genuine humor. “Merely a sense of loss for that spirited little creature who once terrorized Thomas and me.”
Eden’s laughter bubbled forth, easy and musical. “You deserved every moment of torment, Gabriel Langley,” she said, abandoning his title.
He inclined his head slightly, amusement glinting in his eyes. “Perhaps we did.”
Alice coughed delicately, reminding Eden of her friend's presence. Eden flushed slightly, quickly introducing them.
Gabriel greeted each lady courteously before turning back to Eden, his expression softened by genuine warmth. “I trust you will grant me the honor of a stroll about the fête?”
Eden nodded, a tremor of anticipation tightening her chest as she placed her gloved hand on Gabriel’s offered arm. A shiver of awareness traveled up her arm at the contact, the strength beneath his greatcoat both thrilling and unnerving. For a heartbeat, she wondered if he could feel the tremor that betrayed her carefully composed exterior.
Her friends’ discreet smiles and amused glances followed as they stepped away. Clara leaned closer to Alice, whispering just loud enough for Eden to hear, “There will be wagers by day’s end if they continue like this.” Alice stifled a giggle behind her gloved hand, and Eden, catching the exchange, felt her cheeks grow even warmer. She pretended not to notice, though a helpless smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
“I hear you have traveled extensively,” Eden remarked softly, striving to keep her voice even. “Thomas told me you were most recently in Spain.”
“Yes,” Gabriel replied simply, guiding her along a quieter path lined with colorful stalls. As they moved away from the bustling heart of the fête, Eden caught the weight of curious stares lingering on their backs. She felt the whispers brush against her like the breeze, a subtle reminder that in Harrowsgate, few things went unnoticed.
Still, with her hand resting lightly on Gabriel’s arm and the warmth of his nearness anchoring her, Eden found she cared less about the watching eyes and more about savoring the moment. The lively noise of the fête dimmed to a pleasant murmur behind them. Beneath their feet, the gravel path gave way to packed earth bordered by tufts of clover and crushed wildflowers, releasing a faint, sweet scent into the air. A young boy chased a bright blue ribbon caught in the breeze, his laughter trailing behind him. And sunlight filtered through the canopy of chestnut trees overhead, casting shifting patterns on the ground and casting their little corner of the path in gentle shadow.
“France, Italy, Spain—there is a great deal to be seen,” Gabriel said.
