“I would like that.”
The worry that had been plaguing him began to abate. “I’d like that as well.”
Annaliese looked out over the water. “I’m sorry I’ve been so reluctant to discuss any of this with you.”
“I’m not surprised you were reluctant because, if you think about it, we don’t really know all that much about each other,which is why...” Seth caught her eye. “I’m going to propose we don’t even discuss a courtship between us. Instead, let’s just be for a while.”
“Just be?”
“Yes, just getting to know each other. Then, once we get to a point where we’re comfortable discussing what’s bothering us, instead of keeping everything bottled inside and worrying about things that aren’t nearly as insurmountable as we believe, we can discuss what our next step is.”
“Louisa is probably going to think we’ve taken leave of our senses for not committing to a courtship after admitting we love each other.”
“Irma will probably think that as well, although, after both of them consider the reason why we’re not committing just yet, I’m sure they’ll come to understand the why of it, given how both of them seemed to be disappointed with the way their marriages turned out.”
“You mother still has time to turn her marriage around.”
“True, and I’ll be sure to have a chat with Father once he gets home to remind him Mother has an adventurous spirit that needs looking after.” He smiled. “I’m also going to encourage Mother to pursue publishing her pirate novels, although I don’t think that my suggestion to you to open a publishing house was the right one. You belong with your animals and insects, not involved with the dreary business of getting books into print.”
“Aunt Ottilie told me she’s going to be opening her own publishing house because she’s written a memoir and knows that’s the only way it’ll get published.” Annaliese smiled. “I already told her about Louisa’s novels and Norma Jean’s plays. I’m happy to report that Ottilie said she’d be delighted to get those into print as well.”
A shrill whistle suddenly rent the air, drawing Seth’s attention to where Norma Jean was waving to him from underneath a palm tree.
“Ottilie wants me to tell the two of you that the captain is putting fish over the fire, and that you have ten minutes.”
Louisa, who was standing next to Norma Jean, lowered the binoculars she’d obviously been using to keep an eye on him and Annaliese, and sent him a cheery wave. “We’ll just wait right here while you finish up your talk,” she yelled.
It was difficult to refuse a sigh as he turned back to Annaliese. “Did you notice that Mother’s keeping us under surveillance?”
“The binoculars pointed our way were a dead giveaway.” She sent Louisa a cheery wave of her own. “Here’s hoping she decides to abandon that surveillance because given that we’ve now cleared the air between us and declared ourselves in love with each other, I think it’s past time we get down to trying out some of that kissing we’ve been thinking about so much.”
Seth snapped his attention back to his mother. “You and Norma Jean need to go have a talk with Ottilie,” he called.
“I’m your chaperone,” Louisa called back.
“Ottilie wants to publish your pirate books and Norma Jean’s plays.”
Just like that, his mother and sister turned on their heels and dashed away, leaving him completely alone with Annaliese.
“Impressive,” Annaliese said with a grin.
“I’m not as obtuse as everyone thinks since I can, upon occasion, understand what motivates people.”
“And you were motivated to distract your mother and sister because you’d like to kiss me?”
“I’d love to kiss you,” he corrected before he drew Annaliese close and lowered his lips to hers.
A full five minutes later, Annaliese pulled away from him and blew out what sounded quite like a disappointed sigh. “It would appear as if I love to kiss you too, but I think that fish should be almost done by now.”
“We have at least three more minutes to spare, then two minutes to get there,” he said before he drew her close againand cupped her chin in his hand. “I love you, Miss Annaliese Merriweather.”
“Excellent because I love you as well, Mr. Seth McCormick.”
His lips were covering hers again a second later, and with every kiss, Seth became convinced that his fascination with the incomparable Annaliese Merriweather was only going to intensify with time.
Twenty-Seven
During the time it had taken them to return to Chicago, and then the week she’d been back at the academy, Annaliese had realized one extraordinary thing—being allowed to simplybewith Seth made her happier than she’d ever imagined.
