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“Yeah, Scott is an anesthesiologist, Samantha is an architect, Spencer is a pilot, and Sarah is a software engineer. They all found more money everywhere else but Utah.”

The driving factor for most people. And yet, did it ever make them happy? Had it made her happy?

Matthew moved to stare out one of the windows nearby, the courtyard tree’s vibrant green leaves visible at eye-level from the warped glass. “They all have S names? Was that a coincidence?”

“Um, no.” She moved to look at the tree, too, watching as a young girl pranced around the stone barrier at the base of it.

“Is Winnie a middle name, then?” he pressed.

“Nope,” she said. “I was the accident of the family as the youngest. They said they chose Winifred because it means peace and joy, but I called their bluff a few years ago and found out they just couldn’t think of any other S names they liked.”

Yet another reason she was on the outside looking in with her family. Her mood shifted, as it always did when she spoke of them. “They told me with five kids, and with me as the youngest, they wanted me to stand out in all the best ways. Fat bit of good that did me.”

Matthew couldn’t stop staring at Winnie.

Dad had been right. He’d been right about everything. Mr. Knox’s pressure, her siblings’ successes, her own insecurities being hidden by the pride she was forced to exhibit. But now, listening to her speak of her family and their jobs, he could see clear as day the self-doubt in her gray eyes.

How it pulled at his heart.

“Ready to go to the next room?” she asked, her smile clearly forced.

She moved on before he had the chance to respond.

He felt bad for asking so many questions about her family when her spirits were clearly lowered, but he’d wanted to hear the truth from her own lips. Now that he had, he longed for the Winnie from before. The Winnie who’d made fun of his car and the Winnie who’d marveled at the sights.

Honestly, their trip so far had exceeded any expectations he’d had, especially in regard to Winnie’s response to things. She’d been impressed with his home, with Yorkshire and England, and he couldn’t begin to explain how happy that had made him.

Now he needed to bring her happiness back.

They continued moving from room to room, and Matthew shared more of the history with her, relieved when she finally shifted from unhappiness to intrigue once again.

“So, did visiting here inspire your love of the medieval era?” she asked, peering through one of the many turrets they passed by.

She leaned forward, and Matthew had to pull his gaze away from her jeans once again. Even those terrible wellies she still wore didn’t distract him from how good she looked today.

“Matthew?”

He blinked, staring at her as she turned around with a quizzical look. “Hmm? Oh, yes. There were other things, of course, but visiting here definitely helped nurture my love of history.”

It was strange to be speaking with her like this, as if they were actually friends. Shocking what being nice to a person could do to another.

“So you’re obsessed with all of history, not just the medieval era?” she asked.

He nodded. “Yeah, all of it. I know, it makes me even more boring, but that’s the truth of it.”

He was used to women finding him boring, his love of history apparently repulsive. He’d never had droves of girls chasing after him like Cedric for being a striker or Graham for being a piper, or even Finn for being in a small Irish band. Women just didn’t take an interest in what Matthew had to say, it was as plain and simple as that.

And yet, the notion of Winnie feeling the same was disappointing.

“I don’t think it makes you boring,” she said as if hearing his thoughts. She looked through the next turret. “I think it’s refreshing. You know what your passion is and you’re not afraid to pursue it. It’s admirable.”

Matthew didn’t know what to say. Did she really feel that way?

“So when did you first know you wanted to start jousting?” she asked next.

Was she asking her own questions to avoid answering his? Even if she was, he owed her a break.

“Well,” he began, “it always fascinated me when I was younger, but that grew when my dad hired the Birdwhistles to work in the stables when I was…fifteen, I think it was? Hubert had been a knight for quite a while before that and had participated in other tournaments. Once I found out, I’d return home from Eton for summer holidays, and he’d show me how to joust, training me up little by little.”