Just then Papa and Rowan entered the room, and my heart danced like rain on a windowsill. I couldn’t remember ever feeling this happy. Not even with all my wild imaginings could I have understood what genuine love felt like until now. Rowan had shown it to me. It was selfless, like when he’d given up Shakespeare’s quarto for me. It was resilient, like when he’d pursued me, despite my every effort to thwart him. It was brave, like how he’d chosen to support my writing, despite how I’d held it over his head all these years. It was humble, like when he’d apologized again and again for his mistakes.
I had a lot to learn to deserve him.
Rowan’s gaze found mine on the sofa, and like a current in a river, I was pulled to his side. He extended his hand, and I took it as if I had been doing just that for a thousand years.
Tabitha gasped, and Mama looked as if she might cry tears of joy. Elizabeth’s smile was quiet and knowing, like she already knew what we were going to say.
Rowan spoke first. “The Delafield family has been dear friends to the Ashworths for many years. I know many of you were wondering if Arabella and I would ever get along long enough to marry, but we are here to assure you that the impossible has happened. We have decided that we cannot live without each other and hope to have the banns read straightaway.”
“About time!” Papa said with a laugh. He was the first to clap, and everyone joined him. John whistled and Tabitha yelled, “Hip hip huzzah!” They lined up to shake our hands and embrace us.
After Elizabeth hugged us, she pulled back and said, “The next time you’re in a bookshop, maybe you could find a gentleman to suit me.”
Rowan slipped his arm around me. “We won’t simply search in the bookshops. I have a few unattached friends you might take a liking to. What do you think of the names Leonard Stanton or Ambrose Hartley?”
Elizabeth laughed. “As if I could fall in love with a name. However, if you think we are a good match, I would not be averse to an introduction.”
She moved aside for Tabitha and John who were eager to congratulate us.
Tabitha threw her arms around me. “I am so happy for you!”
“Then you aren’t sorry that I will not be living close?”
“Sorry is not the half of it,” she said, squeezing tighter. “But I am glad you aren’t going to marry Mr. Clodwick. He never made you smile like Mr. Ashworth does.”
It was Mama’s turn next. She managed to hug Rowan and me both at the same time. “You two are just as sweet together as you were as children.”
I cast a look at Rowan, who choked down his laugh. Sweet was not exactly the description either of us would have used.
Then Mama took Rowan’s face in her hands. “Your mother would be so proud of the man you have become. And now you will be my son too, which makes me just as proud.”
Rowan’s eyes shone. “Thank you, Mrs. Delafield.”
Papa slapped Rowan on the back and kissed my forehead. “It’s a treasured feeling, knowing you will have each other forever and always. Remember how you feel right now, and may it comfort you and help you persevere through hard times.”
“Wise words, Papa.”
“We will do our best to remember,” Rowan said.
“Excellent, now you two deserve some time to talk through your plans. It’s a pleasant enough day for a walk about the gardens, don’t you think?”
“A walk would be nice.” I looked at Rowan with eager anticipation. Being engaged had its advantages.
Rowan grinned and held out his arm.
While we walked, we talked about the events of the past few weeks. I had been quite the fool, and I wasn’t too proud to admit it.
“I was wrong about you, Rowan.”
“Oh? I am not the villain you thought I was?”
“No. You’re too sweet to be a villain.” I now understood that when he’d been mean, he’d acted that way to appear stronger than he was.The boy I thought to be tough was actually a grieving, lost child. He had hurt me, true enough, but his insults—carelessly cast with shallow aim—had entrenched themselves far deeper than he had ever intended. It was my fault for becoming bitter, and I would try hard never to repeat my mistake.
“I never thought I would hear you call me sweet. I thought you’d never forgive me for how rude I was that first night in the library. After I wrote that apology letter, you seemed intent on ignoring me forever.”
“What apology letter?”
“The one I awkwardly shoved between your arms.”
