William merely smiled, and Rose thought all the more of him for his gentlemanly discretion.
When he asked her to go driving the next day, she did so. On Sunday, he sent her an invitation to meet him after he left the State House for an early supper on Thursday, and she readily agreed. She was old enough to be allowed to dine with a man in a public restaurant without a chaperone. Even her mother gave her blessing, along with instructions — she must come home at a reasonable hour in her own carriage and never be alone with William. Then Evelyn wandered off to stare out at her gorgeous back garden in her distracted way.
Rose alighted at the Parker House Hotel and found him waiting on the steps. William took her arm and her insides felt warm. Yes, she could get used to this man. It was not the same as the immediate yearning that had bowled her over with Finn, but it was satisfactory nonetheless — more than satisfactory — and it was blossoming.
In truth, she had as much desire to learn more about William and to kiss him again, as she used to feel with Finn.
At least, she thought so. It was hard to recall now. Their time had been so brief.
“What are you thinking?” William asked her as they were escorted to a table in the elegant dining room — where every white tablecloth was perfectly pressed and the crystal chandeliers shone like icicles in brilliant sunshine.
She felt guilty. Thinking of her dead husband was definitely not the right way to start off the evening that held such promise.
She smiled at him. “I was thinking how pleased I am to be with you.”
He looked surprised and immensely happy. “Thank you. I am honored.”
A little while later, while sharing the lobster salad, he confessed, “I’ve watched you over the past few years. You seemed to withdraw from our society more than a little. You haven’t been as outgoing as you once were. I didn’t know if you were bored by all of us or if it was something else.”
She could not tell him the truth — not all of it, anyway — but she could tell him something.
“There was an ... an incident, no, it was more than that. Anyway, it happened about three years ago,” she admitted, “and it left me greatly saddened.”
“I am sorry to hear it. If you ever wish to tell me more, know that my ears, as well as the rest of me, is at your disposal. And I’m glad that you’ve chosen to finally start reaching for some happiness and that you’re doing so with me.”
The evening went well. They each chose the mutton cutlets with mushrooms and a glass of burgundy. She told him about her family, and in return, he engaged her with stories about his. Rose considered that she hadn’t been so relaxed and entertained and enthusiastic, all at once, in a very long time.
When their meal was over and he returned her to her carriage, they stood close.
“I should very much like to kiss you again,” he told her, his gaze locked on hers.
She could be honest. Why not?
“I would like that,” she told him, watching as a slow smile spread over his handsome face.
“Not here, of course,” he said, not bothering to glance at the stream of people walking on the sidewalk. The murmur of the passers-by was a gentle background hum.
“Of course.” She smiled back, not letting her eyes leave his.
“Soon, though?” he asked, his voice dropping to a delightful whisper.
She nodded, feeling a thrill of anticipation.
He helped her onto her carriage that she prided herself on driving well and stood watching as she drove off.
“My goodness,” she said aloud once alone. William Woodsom was certainly awakening a few things that had laid dormant since she’d become an untimely widow. What’s more, she could easily imagine bringing him to meet her family. Why, Reed and Charlotte already knew him. Everything would be smooth as silk against one’s skin.
For the first time, she wondered if because of her previous marriage, there was some formality she had to go through if things were to progress with William. Obviously, as a widow, she was free to enter into a new engagement, though if it came out that she’d been married before ... and she hadn’t told him.
Hm, she could imagine that would not sit well.
She would talk to Claire about it. Reed, as a lawyer, would be a better choice. Yet after all this time, she couldn’t easily mention to her brother that she had once upon a time been a wife.
