“What are you trying to say to me, Ash?”
“I’m not completely sure, but I know that you make me feel things I’ve never felt before.”
The shock of his words had her mouth falling open. He reached over to shut it gently with a long finger.
“I don’t know what to say?”
“I care about you,” he whispered.
“Look, Aunt Dorrie, a cannon!”
“We will talk more later,” he whispered.
Dorrie tried to focus on the show but her head was all over the place. Ash laughed and clapped and seemed to enjoy the performance as much as the rest of them.
I care about you.
Was it possible that he would be her Raven after all? Dorrie didn’t know what had happened to him or why he’d said what he had, but she could do nothing to force down the bubble of joy his words had made her feel.
He touched her hand when he moved. Stroked her arm, or whispered something in her ear.
“Will you walk with me?” he said as the circus stopped for an intermission.
“Of course.”
Her family watched them leave; she felt their eyes. And then they were walking with the other patrons.
“I took Gus to theFreedom, Dorrie. If Radcliff had men watching, he would know this.”
“And this worries you?”
“Of course, but I have realized that I want to be part of this family. I’m not sure why now, or how it happened, but I was sitting in my cousin’s study and felt it, the need to accept them and their help in dealing with Radcliff.”
“I am so pleased for you, Ash.”
“But it was ultimately you that changed me.” His hand gripped her fingers. “Gus told me Somer believed you were sad, and that if I cared for you I must tell you.”
Her heart started thudding hard inside her chest.
“Are you sad, Dorrie?”
“You made me no promises,” she said.
“That doesn’t answer my question, but let me instead say that when my brother asked me if I cared for you, I said yes.”
The bubble of excitement inside her rose so fast, it nearly choked her.
“Do you care about me, Dorrie?”
“Of course I do! I would not have done what we did if I didn’t,” she snapped.
He laughed. “Excellent.”
“I love you,” she added softly.
He stopped walking and turned her to face him.
“What did you say?” His face was serious, desperate.
