“Possibly because I rarely want to speak on it.”
She gave him a gentle smile. “Forrest, the past can dictate our life course if we let it. You are safe here, as is Ella, nestled in our family. Whatever horrors you left behind—”
“Why do you believe I left horrors behind?” His heart had started thudding hard inside his chest.
“Because you never speak on it. You never so much as mention your wife or the life you lived. That suggests to us that it is something you wish to forget.”
“It was not all horror,” he conceded, trying to calm down. “My childhood was good, and my family life comfortable for the most. Also, my marriage, to begin with.”
“But?” Those eyes seemed to bore into him.
He shot Dimity a look and lowered his voice. “My wife did not recover after Ella’s birth. Will that suffice for now, Abby?”
“It is only because I love you that I worry for you. It is not good to be alone. Ella will not be a child forever, and you are an intelligent man who could live a happy life with another woman. You must know that it need not end in disaster again.”
“I will not wed again.”
“Are you discussing what we discussed, Abby?” Dimity wriggled closer, and suddenly he was between Dimity and Abby. Not completely uncomfortable, and yet he thought it was about to be.
“I am.”
“If you two, Freya, and Beth have been discussing me, then you can cease at once,” Forrest said. “Dimity, you have enough to occupy your time, as do you others.”
“We have made a list, Forrest, of women we feel...” Dimity broke off and started giggling as she looked at him and the horror that was clearly on his face. “We haven’t really, but you fell for it so easily. However, we have discussed the matter, and when you are ready, we know many suitable women that would make you a wonderful wife.”
“I will never be ready.”
He felt their eyes on him, but kept his forward, which allowed him to watch Ruby playing with Toby.
“But that’s just silly. You are a handsome man who has much to offer. Surely you want more children? Siblings for Ella,” Abby said. “Miss Knight would also make you a wonderful wife.”
“What?”
“She is not of noble birth, but clearly educated and a lady,” Dimity said.
“Are you both mad?” He looked at first one then the other. “She is my daughter’s tutor.”
“And also pretty, and intelligent. Surely, you’ve noticed?” Abby gave him a look to suggest she had indeed noted his interest in Ruby.
“No, definitely not. No to Miss Knight, or anyone. Thank you for looking out for my welfare, but I assure you there is no need. Concentrate on Zach; his need of guidance is surely greater?”
“We have the capacity to concentrate on more than one relation.” Dimity patted his hand. “There are four of us after all.”
“God save me,” he muttered, then inched back and regained his feet. “I will take Ella to feed the ducks.”
“She is happy with Adam.”
She was, and helping him draw.
“Well I’m going for a walk then, to get away from you two.”
“Bluntness is highly regarded in a future husband.” Dimity gave him a cheeky smile.
He ignored them and walked. He circled away from the water and the others. Head down, he thought about what Abby had said. He had vowed never to marry again; he could see nothing that would change that. He let the thoughts come and go, enjoying the solitude and safe in the knowledge Ella was cared for. It had not always been that way.
He’d been alone after she’d been born. Alone and terrified, because he felt ill-equipped to care for her. Forrest wasn’t sure how long he walked, but he enjoyed the solitude and eventually headed back to his family and Miss Knight and her friends.
What was that woman’s story?
