“A few days ago, after leaving the dressmaker’s, Margaret told me she remembered something. I’d asked her before if she was married or close to anyone, but finally she recalled a man with a chipped tooth.”
“Lands,” Alex said softly. “It must be her.”
Charlotte’s hands trembled as she clutched the leather reins. Penny pawed the ground, as though she sensed the importance of the revelation too. Charlotte turned around when the small lane narrowed, and Alex followed, heading in the direction of the main road.
“What is to be done?” Alex whispered.
They discussed ideas for the next few minutes, Charlotte wishing to be extra careful about how to handle the introductions, unsure of what Margaret would remember and not wanting to alarm her.
“What I still don’t know,” Charlotte said, “is what happened to her to begin with.”
“I want to understand the same thing.” Alex exhaled. “Now more than ever I wonder what else my miners have tried to hide. I intend to continue investigating. I’ve been searching, and everyone made it sound as though she just disappeared. There are often accidents that go unreported, and no one takes fault.”
Charlotte swallowed. “I see.” She studied the tight pull of his eyes as he glanced across the woods. “Thank you for sharing this with me. I can accept hard information like this, Alex, despite being a lady.”
Alex’s thoughts seemed far away. “I know.” He was silent for a few more breaths. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet and almost defeated. “I’m just afraid that if you knew where I’ve been, what has happened in the past, you couldn’t bear to look at me again. I’ve made my way to a respectable position with decent wages and a good name and standing, but before—”
“How can you say such things? I’d rather have you tell me what you’ve been through—including the difficult experiences you’ve had—than for you to carry the burden of your past alone. I understand much of it must have been horrible—so... base and revolting, but that doesn’t change how I feel about you. Would you hold my past against me because I’ve let my brother reign over me?” She sought understanding and acceptance in his eyes, and suddenly time seemed to stand still. What she was about to say mattered; she needed to say it. “I am not proud of who I have become, but I am trying to regain some of my former spirit and independence, thanks, in part, to your words.” She heaved a sigh. “I know I can trust you, Alex.”
At the mention of trust he turned his face toward her, and there was a new bit of light and acceptance in his countenance.
Charlotte fingered her horse’s mane. “Thank you for letting me say so much. I’ve always appreciated that about you. You don’t silence me when my mouth gains a mind of its own. I don’t feel like you judge my every word or wish to muzzle me.”
He was so gloriously different from her brother in that regard.
He searched her face, seeming to take in every part of her and finding it all worthwhile. He smiled softly. How she longed for him to whisk her into his arms, but they were on horses, and good heavens, they’d been together only a handful of times.
Since an embrace wasn’t an option, at least her words could convey her depth of feeling. She sucked in a breath. “With all these words, I hope I’ve made it obvious how much I am trying to understand you.” She eyed the path before saying the next part quietly. “And how much I hope to continue to do so in the future.”
Her breath felt short as Alex studied his pommel. She was being open and bold, and when his shoulders seemed to lift, her heart soared. Finally he drew his eyes up to meet hers. “Charlotte, even when you are verbose, I dearly love listening to all your words, because they come fromyou.” He leaned forward in his saddle, a slow grin stealing across his face. “Even now, don’t stop. Despite our lovely conversations, I realize I don’t even know if your favorite color is still green. Do you still prefer eggs for breakfast? Do you like attending church, or do you find the sermons odious? Would you choose reading or company? What accomplishments have you gained in the last ten years that I don’t know about? Do you still run through the forest with reckless abandon? I could listen to you answer all this, and still I wouldn’t know all I wish to.”
Heat rose to her cheeks, and the tilt of his head indicated his pleasure at her blush. It was the sincerest speech anyone had ever directed to her. Someone cared deeply about who she was, liked herasshe was, and not for the money associated with her.
“In fact, Charlotte”—his tone grew quieter and more serious—“if it is not too bold, I’d like to continue listening...” He stared into her eyes and seemed to take courage from what he found there. “For as long as you’ll have me.” His expression was soft and tender, and his words warmed her from her feet to the nape of her neck. “I don’t want to go away. I want this to work.”
He steered his horse a little closer to her, until the knee of his trousers brushed against the folds of her skirt. He leaned over the side of his saddle and turned near her, so close she could see the truth of his words and the honesty of his admission in all the lines of his handsome face. She wanted to trace those lines, stare at that defined jaw, and memorize that welcoming smile for the rest of the afternoon.
With one hand he reached for her, but she pulled back, eyeing him. “Do you have any sort of creature on your person? Like a worm?”
“I promise I do not.” He waved his open palm toward her. With a nod, she relinquished the reins and accepted his gesture, happiness starting in her fingertips and racing to her heart as their hands found their perfect fit in one another’s. “There’s still so much to learn, but I’ve never felt this way about anyone, not in my whole life. I find myself distracted when I’m at the mine, wishing I could be with you instead of at the mine, talking with you and learning all I’ve missed these many years.”
She felt the same way and returned his sentiment with a little squeeze of her hand.
The moment was perfect. The sun was just warm enough, the birds sang in the trees, and a light wind blew through the leaves of the tall elms. She sighed, letting all the goodness wash over her. “Very well, then. I do still like green. And blue. Now I prefer potatoes for breakfast.” It was the easy, safe way to turn the conversation, but as she watched his face, she swallowed, feeling sure enough to venture words that were more important, more vulnerable than ever before. “And... as preferences go, you have been my constant favorite, whether I was twelve or twenty. I always hoped, even when I didn’t know what had become of you, that someday you would return and still act kindly toward me. That we could be the friends we once were.”
“And what if I wish we could be more?” The words seemed to burst from him, and his eyebrows rose at his own admission. His head tilted in eager anticipation, but then his brow clouded. “Continuing down this path would not be without difficulties. We would enrage your brother, I am sure.” Heaviness dripped from his sigh.
Charlotte held more tightly to his hand. “But he must see in time how right this is. There must be a way to soften the animosity. If my mother, and Christopher when he comes, learn how you saved Walter from drowning, perhaps then they will begin to glimpse your goodness. I think George likes you, despite the pressure he feels from Christopher, and I hope Joseph won’t always be persuaded to follow his eldest brother.” She sighed. “Meeting like this is not a viable long-term solution though.” With one hand she gestured at the woods around her. “The deception has been tearing at me, and I dread that sooner or later, we will be found out.”
“And yet I can’t help thinking,” Alex said, his eyes wide with a spark of hope, “that we were meant to find one another again. There have been too many times when we’ve happened to cross paths.”
She shook her head. “More like there were too many times when I happened to stumble upon you and then all manner of words tumbled out of my mouth.” She thought of the dressmaker’s, the zoo, the lake, and the greengrocer.
He smiled good-naturedly. The sensation of him smiling at her because he accepted her felt amazing. He caressed her hand with his thumb. “It’s like someone is watching out for us, wouldn’t you say?”
“I can’t be certain,” she said. “I’ve never been one to believe in a higher power.”
“Truly?” He studied her. “So I take it the answer to my question about church is that you don’t prefer it.”
