The first night, he had read up on new agricultural technologies. The next evening, he caught up on correspondence with distant friends with whom he had served in the war. He’d been quite productive, really, over the course of the entire week.
This last night would be no different. In fact, it was bittersweet. For the next time he returned to Edgewater Heights, he planned on bringing a wife—Lilly.
He did not know when that would be.
Would her father require a long engagement? God, Michael hoped not. They would likely travel to Portsmouth for the wedding. He also felt compelled to take Lilly to Summers Park to meet his father and brother.
Michael chuckled to himself.
He actuallyanticipatedmaking such an introduction.Smiling ruefully at his own enthusiasm, he finished off his port intending to retire for the night.
But as he lifted the candle, it flickered. And the front door squeaked. The latch was old and tended to creak. What the devil?
He closed the study door behind him and went to investigate.
He’d not imagined it. The front door was now unlatched. Testing it, Michael peered outside and, just as he was closing it again, glimpsed a flash of a white nightgown and flaxen hair, illuminated by the moonlight.
He blew out his candle, shut the door behind him, and ambled in the direction she’d disappeared. What the hell was she doing running around in the middle of the night in her nightclothes? She was barefoot as well!
But when he realized what she was doing, he nearly burst out laughing.
Obviously, Lilly experienced sleeplessness as well.
He waited, watched her roll down the hill again, and then ran effortlessly down the hill to catch her.
This time, before she stopped rolling, Michael threw himself onto the ground in her path.
At their collision, she gasped in fright. “Oh, Michael, you scared me to death!” She was breathless, and blades of grass were caught in her hair.
Her eyes shone. Michael was very close to her, their bodies touching, shoulders to toes.
“I scared you?” Michael attempted to be stern. “I look out my front door and see a ghostly apparition, resembling my most honored guest, Lilly Bridge, levitating through the grass of my front lawn, and she saysIgave her a fright?” He loved looking at her. His gaze touched all the places he’d like to taste.
Lilly stilled. She smiled at him and then grimaced. “I couldn’t sleep. It was so very hot today, and all I could thinkwas we are leaving tomorrow and I have enjoyed this visit more than anything in the entire world. Once outside, the grass felt so cool, and then I lay down. And then I realized I was on the hill and remembered how I wished I could roll down it earlier and so…” She made little swirly motions in the air with her fingers and looked at him smugly. Her eyes danced with merriment. “When guests come to stay, they can entertain themselves by rolling. It will be great fun, and everybody will want to visit us.”
He liked the sound of that.Theirguests…
So much so that…“Are you up for an adventure?” He had shown everyone the stream which meandered through the property, but they hadn’t made it to the waterfall and pond.
“Oh, yes, Michael. I could stay up all night. If I did that, then perhaps I will sleep in the coach tomorrow.”
“Come with me then.” He assisted her to her feet.
Stopping at the small groundskeeper’s house nearby, he gathered a few blankets he had stored there and then locked the door behind him. Lilly was curious but did not ask any questions. He tucked the blankets beneath one arm, took her hand with the other, and led her onto a hidden path.
Except the path was laid with crushed rocks.
And Lilly was barefoot. Taking stock of the situation, he handed her the blankets and scooped her into his arms. “Hold tight, love.”
Lilly put one arm around him, and with the blankets tucked on her lap, she reached her other hand over and placed it on his chest.
Before long, the sound of the waterfall grew louder, crescendoing when they reached the edge of the pond.
Keeping hold of her still, Michael lowered her feet to the ground.
“Up for a swim?” He grinned, anxious for her reaction.
Lily’s eyes went wide when she glanced at the pond. Even though the moon was full, the water looked dark and cold.
