How could she possibly believe his adoration of her would change rather than grow? “I could never resent or dismiss her. I love her.”
“Yes, but does she know that?”
“No, I do not believe she does.”
Mr. Downy pointed a stubby finger at George’s chest. “Then how can she think any differently? A wife who is chosen for any reason other than love can never feel fully valued in her marriage. For that reason I dreaded my task this Season.”
“Would you have chosen one of the others if I hadn’t approached you?”
Mr. Downy took a deep, tense breath. “Only if I could have felt confident they would have, at the very least, not mistreated her. I hope, George, that you do intend to be careful with your incomeand assets. It is a terrible thing for a father to see his daughter’s future hang so precariously in the balance.”
A wife who is chosen for any reason other than love. . .“Ought I to tell Caroline of my feelings for her?” He hadn’t out of fear of rejection, but he was being rejected as it was.
“I would advise against it at this point. She will likely suspect any such declaration was an attempt to convince her not to break off your engagement.”
“Surely she would not believe I would lie to her.”
They had nearly reached the garden gate. “I am only suggesting, son, that your actions will speak far louder than your words. Show her your feelings and then the words you speak will have meaning.”
“How can I show her if she never comes out of her bedchamber?”
Mr. Downy grinned. “You are in luck. She is coming this way.”
Indeed, she was. And, though nothing in her posture spoke of true pleasure, she was wearing his shawl, which he chose to view as a good omen.
“Allow her to see the sincerity of your feelings, George. That will give her the confidence to move forward.”
“I will do my best.”
She was there beside them only a moment later. “Welcome home, Father. We have missed you.”
Caroline kissed her father’s cheek. He patted her hand. “I have not yet greeted your mother. I will leave you with George. Be certain to set the dogs on him again if he misbehaves.”
Color touched her face on the instant. “I was nine years old when I did that, Father.”
“And,” George quickly added, “I deserved it.”
“Youwereteasing me rather mercilessly, and my kitten was unwilling to attack.” Caroline, thank the heavens, sounded morelike herself in that moment than she had in the past twenty-four hours. Perhaps all hope was not lost.
“Would it improve your opinion of my eleven-year-old self if I told you that calling you Cry-o-line was Tom’s idea?”
He detected a smile beneath her continued discomfort. “I fully believe Tom was the instigator. But you fell in full step with his devious scheme, so you are just as much to blame.”
George sighed dramatically. “He was a terrible influence.”
“Perhaps that is why you spent more and more time with me as the years passed.”
“That was not at all the reason.”
Her continued light expression entirely dismissed the possibility that his “reasons” had been quite personal. She knew so little of his feelings.
He slipped his hand around hers, ready to pull back should she make the least objection. Much to his relief, she intertwined their fingers and, without the slightest protest, walked at his side as he undertook another circuit of the garden. Mr. Downy had slipped away at some point, leaving them to the quiet solitude of trees and flowers and gravel pathways.
“Thank you for this shawl,” she said as they walked. “It is the most beautiful thing I have ever owned.”
“I am pleased to hear that you like it. You wear a great deal of blue, so I felt safe in assuming that it is a favorite color of yours.”
She watched him with blatant curiosity. “I do favor blue, just as I prefer white roses. How is it you remember so much about the trivial aspects of my life?”
