Seyton rushed forward, grabbing Asher’s arm with surprising strength. “If you love her, that is all that matters, son. It is all that will ever matter. You were separated by foolish parents trying to do the right thing. But you were brought back together and you cannot squander this second chance.”
Asher stared at him, even as his thoughts moved to Felicity. She had told him she loved him more than once in the previous few days. His reaction had always been one of abject terror, for he had always believed they couldn’t be.
Now he questioned that. Now he questioned everything.
“Think about it,” his father said gently. “And take the plate of cheese.”
Asher realized that while he had been engrossed in this conversation, his father had prepared a feast all on his own. A feast Asher knew he wouldn’t touch, despite how delectable it was.
Because the time had come to finally have it all out with Felicity. Before the night was over, he would know where he stood. What she desired.
And what his future held.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Felicity slipped from the cottage and took a moment to let her eyes adjust to the darkness outside. By the light of the moon, she saw a figure at the end of the cliffs, staring down at the ocean below.
She smiled as she tugged her shawl closer and moved toward him.
“Hello, Asher,” she said softly, stopped beside him to look down at the light reflecting over the water. “My, it is beautiful.”
“You are.”
She turned to find him looking at her, an odd expression on his face. “Thank you. I’m surprised you aren’t inside,” she said.
He shrugged. “My sisters need time with our father,” he said, then shook his head with a laugh. “Mysisters.”
She edged closer, feeling his warmth as she asked, “Are you happy?”
He looked at her, and his grin was wide and true. “Shocked. Stunned. And so happy.” He tilted his head. “This is because of you, you know.”
“Me?” she repeated in surprise. “I did nothing, Asher.”
“Not true,” he insisted. “Had your brothers not called on me to help you, I wouldn’t have ever known.”
She pondered that a moment. “I admit, it’s difficult for me to look at my situation, at what forced this set of actions to take place, and see anything positive in it.”
“But there is more than pain,” he said, reaching out to take her hand. As his fingers slid into hers, she caught her breath and looked up at him. “I hope you can see some goodness in it.”
“I can,” she whispered.
He smiled slightly and tugged her hand gently. “Walk with me.”
They set out on the path, the moon their only light, but it was a full moon and it shone perfectly to guide their way. The sea boiled below, but from so high up the sound of it was gentle and soothing, a balm on Felicity’s heart just as Asher was a balm on her soul. When she was with him, it was more than enough for her. Only she wasn’t certain it could last. That uncertainty made all the other beauty a little less wonderful.
“You and I have been trying to have a conversation for several days now,” Asher said at last as he stopped at a bench that overlooked the ocean. She took a place on it and he did the same. Their legs touched and it set her body on fire.
“We have,” she gasped as she looked up into his face. “Are you saying you wish to continue it now?”
He nodded. “While we were preparing supper, my father and I had an interesting discussion.”
“About what?” she asked, tensing, for she knew Seyton had once been a driving force in keeping them apart.
“About deserving things. About our place,” he said.
Her heart sank. She was right, then, that Seyton had once again discouraged Asher from following his heart. A part of her wanted to just get up and walk away. To accept rather than fight.
But a stronger part of her, a larger part, wanted something else. It wanted him. And she was no longer willing to settle for anything less.
