Silence settled around them for a moment, the only sounds coming from the breeze through the trees and a few birds perched somewhere nearby. The trees blocked the constant hammering and building sounds from town, Clara realized, making it feel as if they’d traveled miles away.
She looked back at Roman, curiosity scratching at her mind. “What happened?”
“It isn’t a tale for a lady,” he said, his gaze finally drifting back to her.
Clara raised her eyebrows. “That only makes me want to hear it all the more. I’m certain I’ll wholeheartedly dislike the man who caused you injury.”
He smiled at her, the scar stretching into something unnoticeable. “That fellow you were to marry back in Virginia didn’t know at all what he had.”
The compliment warmed her, even though she still yearned to hear the story. “I don’t know about that . . .”
“You do yourself a disservice, Miss Clara Brown.” Roman stood suddenly and extended a hand down to help her up.
Clara delighted in the feel of her hand in his. He held on to it, even after she was standing. She ought to put the wrappings and glasses back into the picnic basket, yet the moment she looked down with that thought, Roman reached out and took her other hand, drawing her attention back up to him.
“I can finish the house by the end of the month. Granted, it will still need some work, and it’ll have little in the way of furnishings, but it will be a solid place to live at least.”
Clara searched his face, trying to discern what he meant. “That’s good,” she said. “It will be much more restful than sleeping in the livery, I’m certain.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “I was hoping you might want to live there with me.”
She drew her brows together. Was he asking . . .?
“I’d like to marry you, Clara, if you’ll agree. We would need to wait until the house is completed, of course . . .” He trailed off, looking at her intently. “Will you?”
Joy filled every part of her. After everything, her dreams were finally coming true. ‘Yes. Yes, of course I will.”
He grinned at her, her hands still in his, until he dropped them and instead, wrapped his arms around her. Clara buried her face into his chest, uncertain when she’d ever felt so content. He smelled of straw and tobacco, and if she could, she’d never leave this spot, safely held in his arms. How had she come to be so lucky? To take a chance as wild as this one and find a man like Roman?
Roman shifted, and Clara lifted her head to look up at him. His smile evened out as he gazed at her, and Clara’s heart thumped harder. Was he to kiss her now? She wanted him to, so badly, and yet she feared she might lose all control of her senses if he did.
He lifted a hand and, ever so lightly, brushed his fingertips against her cheek. “Clara,” he whispered.
Her eyes fluttered shut. And all she could think was that it was a good thing he still held on to her so firmly, else she’d lose the ability to hold herself upright.
Roman’s breath was warm on her lips. She caught her breath, waiting—and then he was gone.
