Henley’s answering grin was the perfect blend of bashful and adoring.
“Good Lord, how did I miss this?I really must be going blind.”Pere’s words broke into Anna’s private moment with Henley.
“Truly.If sparks could set fire, we’d have a problem with all the trees around us at the moment.”Pere sighed.
Henley’s answering chuckle warmed Anna further as she glanced from him to Pere’s cheerfully irritated expression.
“I’m a little more… transparent than I have been.”Henley offered his sister a guilty smile.“At least with you around.”
“Yes, I heard how… transparent… you have been with my best friend.Darkened hallways and the like.”
Henley gave a quick grin to Anna and then returned to Pere.“I make no apologies.”
“Hey, I wouldn’t either.Clearly, it worked for you.”Pere gestured between the two of them.
“He’s not without charm,” Anna teased, grinning at Henley.
“I’m just selective of who I use it on.”
“I’ve never seen the charm.Clearly, I’m not in that select few that experience it.”Pere smacked her brother’s arm playfully.
“It would be lost on you, I guarantee it, the hazards of being a brother,” Henley replied teasingly.
“Probably.”
Anna sighed contentedly, her shoulders dropped slightly as she relaxed, not fully realizing just how the tension had been consuming her earlier.The light filtered through the pine trees, creating patterns on the path ahead, and she slowly soaked up the world around her, and the man walking beside her.His strong and steady voice as he continued to tease his sister gave her a deeply rooted peace that was both comforting and enticing.She craved his presence, and the thought brought to the forefront of her mind the need to move forward, because she’d already spoken to her parents.
“Are you quiet because you’re at peace, or are you thinking of a million things you wish to say, but can’t figure out where to start?”Henley’s voice interrupted her musings, and she gave him a guilty smile.
“Ah, the latter, then.”
When had he grown to know her so well?It was another lovely layer to falling for him, though she hadn’t exactly known when it started because she was already in too deep before she understood what was transpiring.She wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Why don’t we start with the most important.”Henley nodded, as if answering his own unvoiced question.“Pere said you spoke with your parents?”
Anna nodded.“Yes, and—”
“Now that was a conversation I wish I could have been privy to!Oh, sorry.”Pere touched her lips to silence her words, giving a guilty smile.
“Yes, it was interesting.I…” Anna thought back to the conversation.
Her parents had been in their private suite parlor drinking tea when she’d approached them.The expectation on their faces quickly shifted to shock but not disapproval, just confusion.Until Anna explained her heart, and then that confusion melted into understanding.
“They accepted my news with some surprise.”Anna hedged.“But not displeasure.However, I do believe that the sooner that you speak with them, the better.I did explain that my rejection of Edwin’s attentions was due to the fact that my heart was elsewhere, which you can imagine led to quite a few questions.”Anna laughed softly, remembering especially her mother’s rapid-fire questions, all in delighted curiosity.“Regardless, I assured them that you’d speak with them soon.”
Anna watched as Henley’s brows rose, and a rather astonished smile teased his expression.“So, they are expecting…”
“For you to speak with them about me.”Anna frowned slightly.Was it that confusing?Had she not been clear?“Regarding your affections for me.”At Henley’s direct nod and widening smile, she continued.“The picnic would be far too public, but I can make arrangements for you to speak when we return, I’m sure Pere can help—” Anna stopped short at the bewildered and far too amused expression on her friend’s face.“What’s so amusing?”Anna asked her friend.
Pere waved her off and appeared to put great effort into hiding her smile.“So, you told your parents that you rejected Edwin for Henley?”
“Did I not mention that?”Anna frowned, then turned to Henley and blinked as she thought back over her words.
“No, that’s what I thought you said.”Pere waved her hand, and then paused, narrowing her eyes at Anna with a teasing grin on her lips and dancing in her expression.
“So, because you’re missing what I’m clearly seeing… I believe congratulations are in order, brother.”Pere smacked her brother on the back, and Henley coughed as he poorly attempted to cover a delighted laugh.
“Oh, dear Lord.”Anna froze, the odd conversation all now sparking with clarity as she realized just what she’d done.
