Her first day as mistress of Alverleigh was a busy and challenging one, and when the long day came to an end and she and Marcus sat down to dinner Tessa was exhausted.She wanted an early night to bed, preferably with her husband.
But Marcus had other ideas.“Let’s go for a walk,” he said to her after dinner.“I need to stretch my legs after all the sitting I’ve been doing.And it’s a lovely evening.”
It was a lovely evening, she had to admit.The sky was slowly fading to a soft lilac, the air was warm with a light, fragrant breeze and she could think of no excuse to refuse.Flora had been put to bed in the beautiful nursery, with Clothilde sleeping in the adjoining room.
It was just that Tessa didn’t want to see Ferndale and what had become of it.
Which was cowardly.
And foolish as well.Most people would be glad to see the restoration of a fine old estate that for years had been neglected, overgrown and falling to ruins.She fetched a shawl, and arm in arm they stepped out into the balmy night.
“Let’s go this way,” Marcus suggested and began to lead her in the direction she least wanted to go—toward Ferndale.
“What about over here?”she suggested.“I haven’t explored the maze yet.It looks most enticing.”
“We can do that another day.It’s better in full daylight.”Marcus led her firmly onward.
Tessa swallowed.Change was inevitable in life, she told herself.She needed to face the changes at Ferndale, accept that her old home was no more, that there would be no fox cubs to visit, no otters frolicking in the pool, no badgers to watch by moonlight.They belonged to her childhood, and her childhood was well and truly gone.
He was heading straight for the forest.She bit her lip.She needed more time to prepare for this.She could have told him, insisted they go the other way—he would listen, she knew.He always did.
But she said nothing.She could not look, however, and kept her eyes on the ground in front of her, trusting in Marcus to keep her on the path.
She knew when they entered the forest: she could smell it all around her, that fragrant melange of damp earth and fallen leaves and a million green scents.So dear and familiar.
Marcus said nothing, just led her on and on, while Tessa kept her eyes on the ground and silently berated herself for her cowardice.
He stopped and she stumbled to a halt.“Look,” he said softly.
She took a deep breath and raised her gaze.And gasped.The forest—her beloved forest—was unchanged.Well, of course it wasn’t, but it hadn’t been cleared and chopped and pruned neatly back into unrecognizability.It was still the forest she’d grown up in and loved—with ferns and tangled undergrowth—and teeming with life.
Bewildered, unable to talk for the emotions flooding her, she turned to Marcus.“What?But I thought ...”
He wrapped his arm around her waist.“I should have told you this before, but I was a coward.When your brother sold Ferndale, I bought it.”
“You?”She stared.“Youbought it?”
He nodded.“I was the one who had the orchards brought back to productivity, and the gardens weeded and restocked, and the house repaired and refurbished.”
“But this ...”She gestured all around them.
“I gave orders for minimal interference here.I knew you loved it wild and untamed.”His gaze flickered, and he turned her around.“Look.”
And across the lawn they’d come from ran a fox, a fox who limped slightly.
Tessa gasped.“Is that—it can’t be —it’s Russett!But how has she survived all this time?”
“It’s not Russett,” Marcus said gently.“Foxes don’t live that long.”
Tessa nodded.“Of course.I forgot that.My Russett would have died years ago.But there are still foxes living here?”
“More than ever.When I came into my inheritance, I banned hunting on all my estates.And traps are forbidden, so I don’t know how that one hurt her leg.”He smiled ruefully.“It’s not a popular move, especially from those who raise chickens, but I remind them that foxes are God’s creatures too and they have to eat.”He shrugged.“It doesn’t impress anyone, but still...”
Tessa watched, her heart full as not-Russett disappeared into the underbrush.Marcus continued, “And badgers still live in that sett, and otters still frolic in the pool.Your forest creatures are all safe.”
She turned in his arms, her eyes full of tears and embraced him.“Oh, Marcus, I don’t know how to thank you.I do love you so much!”
He stiffened, and she realized what she’d said.She hadn’t planned to say it—it had just burst from her full and overflowing heart.She bit her lip.“I’m sorry, Marcus,” she said.“I didn’t mean to say it.”
