Her face lit up, and it caused his heart to skip a beat. “Cape heaths? From your greenhouse?”
“Yes. Hope you like the color combination.” They were blue and purple.
“I love them, thank you.” Her voice trembled with emotion, and his insides warmed at pleasing her.
“I made an early morning expedition to Sevenoaks and stopped by the sweet shop. First for Megan; I do hope she enjoys chocolates.” He passed her the small wrapped box. “Mostly buttercreams and orange fillings.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wollstonecraft.” She gave him a brief, genuine smile that arrowed straight to his heart. He’d bring his daughter chocolate every day in order to bask in the kindness of her smile.
“And I did not forget you, Jonas.” He passed the young man a decorative bag tied with a ribbon.
Jonas opened it and peered inside. “Humbugs! Thank you, Garrett.” He tossed one of the hard candies in his mouth.
“Alberta, I hope you are partial to chocolate peppermints.” Alberta took the box he held out to her.
“I am, thank you. My goodness, it appears you are courting all of us.”
He laughed as he held a larger box to Abbie. “This is for you, Abbie. An assortment of sugar-coated nuts, lemon drops, and hand-dipped chocolates with various fruit fillings.” The large, silk-covered box had cost a pretty penny, but Abbie was worth it—and more.
“We should leave you two alone,” Alberta offered.
“No need. I thought Abbie and I would take a ride in the carriage. Would you be up to a short jaunt?”
“I would. Heavens! Candies, flowers, and now a ride in your carriage. You are courting me. I could not be more pleased,” Abbie replied, her cheeks flushing attractively.
“Excellent. Then perhaps tomorrow you, Megan, and I could journey to Sevenoaks for the afternoon? There are a couple of shops to explore and a lovely tearoom.”
Abbie looked to her daughter. “Megan?”
“Yes, Mama.”
Not overly enthusiastic, but not quite as cool as past encounters. He would take the small victories when and where he could acquire them. “Then we shall. Now, Abbie, if you will fetch your cloak. There are warming bricks in the carriage, along with woolen throws to ensure you stay comfortable.”
Alberta stood. “I will arrange the flowers in a vase while you are gone.”
“Alberta, if you could ask Samuel to return to the carriage? He is in your kitchen. If he’s not done with his warm drink, tell him to bring it along.”
“I will. Come with me, Jonas, Megan.”
He found himself alone in the parlor, pleased that his gifts had been appreciated. Now to see if Abbie would be agreeable to his next surprise.
Once bundled in the small carriage, Garrett knocked on the roof, then gathered the throw and placed it across their laps. “January does not translate well to courting. If it were summer, there would be other options, like taking in a Sunday afternoon concert at the bandstand in town. Cricket matches, teas, picnics, and other socials. We will have to make do. The warming bricks are at your feet. At least the sun is out and offering a modicum of warmth.”
“This is quite exciting. Where are we heading?”
He laid a gentle kiss on her lips. “Around the perimeter of the Wollstonecraft property, then beyond. However long you wish to be cuddled up with me in this small carriage.”
Abbie laughed. “There isn’t much room, but I adore cuddling.”
“See? I am learning new things about you already. The getting-to-know-you part, as you suggested.” He sobered. “I would also like to know more about the man who raised my daughter. The man who held your affection. Tell me about your past.”
“He did hold my affection. Elwyn was also my dear friend.” Her eyes sparkled as she spoke of him, and Garrett experienced a stab of envy. “He was of average height and build. A pleasant-looking man with a ready smile and twinkling brown eyes. His patient and kind personality served him well as a physician. He was much loved and admired. He knew my father through the army; Elwyn was a young medic. They became friends, and after the war in Spain my father moved to Brighton and Elwyn took a position at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London.”
Abbie smiled, seemingly happy to talk of her late husband. “It was there he first came across those with addictions, and it moved him greatly. So much he decided to start his own clinic. He wanted to place it in a serene setting, and Hertfordshire proved to be ideal. Also, it was far enough from London to ensure privacy. He used a large portion of his own money to start it, and many high-profile clients funded further expansions and renovations. It left little time for socialization or finding a wife, so when my father contacted him… Well, he thought the marriage would benefit us both.
“It did,” Abbie continued in a soft voice. “He took a broken-hearted girl expecting a child and welcomed me into his life and home. He never spoke down to me. Instead, he included me in all aspects of his professional life. Elwyn treated me as his partner. He was also gentle and patient and did not rush me into consummating our marriage. And when Megan was born, he couldn’t have been more proud or loving. You may rest assured that he loved her with every part of his generous heart.”
A damned saint. Garrett grudgingly had to admit the man merited praise. “I am glad and gratified that Dr. Hughes proved to be exactly what you and Megan needed and deserved. It is to my everlasting shame that I cannot say with certainty I would have been at age eighteen. As you stated, I was self-centered. Perhaps I still am, for I am far from perfect.”
“I don’t require you to be perfect, Garrett. I never have. I adore you the way you are. Believe me, Elwyn was not perfect; there were times he annoyed me and I him, I imagine. He was untidy, leaving piles of clothes and papers throughout the house. He was also a picky eater. But those quirks of his personality merely made him human. Real.”
“Why didn’t you have children?”
Abbie sighed wistfully. “We tried, and seeing as I had Megan, Elwyn came to the conclusion that the fact that I had not conceived lay with him. In typical fashion, he did not allow it to make him bitter or sad. Instead, he cherished Megan all the more.”
Garrett took her hand and kissed it. “Thank you for telling me about him. I’m pleased that Elwyn was there for you both, but I am entirely envious. Which makes me human. Real.”
She leaned against his shoulder. “Oh, yes. You are very real.”
“Perhaps you will tell me more about yourself while we ride.”
“What do you wish to know?” Abbie asked.
He slowly removed her glove with his teeth and let it drop to the floor of the carriage. Then he took her hand. “Your favorite music, books; do you like to dance? What is your favorite color, dessert?” He stroked the pulse point of her wrist with his thumb. “What is your favorite position for sex? I recall you particularly enjoyed being on top and riding me like Boudicca heading into battle.”
There was the attractive blush to her cheeks again. “Oh, you wicked, sinful Scot,” she murmured sensually.
“Scot? I suppose I am in many ways.” He kissed her hand. “I certainly look the part.”
“Especially last night. Oh, Garrett, you were glorious, absolutely splendid in your mother’s tartan. As I said, you must wear it more often. Even if for me alone.”
“Aye, lassie. The kilt and nothing else. Och, but ye are a demanding wench.” He mimicked his grandfather Mackinnon.
Her eyelashes fluttered. “And you must speak to me with that exact accent when you wear the kilt. Special occasion. Not every time we…we…”
“Make love?”
“Yes. Oh, what is this place?” Abbie pointed out the window as the carriage slowed and came to a stop.
“This was a hunter’s hut from my great-grandfather’s time. It’s in remarkable condition, as my own grandfather and father kept it in minimal repair even though none of us hunt. I hired a few of the tenants in need of work to ensure the place is in tip-top shape: the fireplace working, the walls, roof, and floor sturdy. I told them that I wished to have a private area to write, so new furniture will be moved in this afternoon. This will be our place, Abbie.”
He took her hand and kissed it. “I will meet you at the rear entrance of the Eatons’ residence at the stroke of midnight, and we will ride here on Patriot for a stolen hour or two. If you are amenable.” Hell, say yes. End my torment.
“This is entirely outrageous. You are proposing an affair?”
“Yes, a surreptitious one, as we court and come to know one another. As we move forward, we will need to discuss what the future holds. For I want a life with you Abbie, and my daughter. If you do not foresee one with me, tell me now, and we will progress no further.” Christ, his insides were in knots.
“I did not come here looking for this, not really. Or perhaps I did,” she demurred. “Yes, Garrett, I yearn to explore and see what the future holds.” Abbie paused, then gave him a shy smile. “I will not deny us showing how much we yearn for each other.”
He gathered her in his embrace and kissed her hard. As always, it turned fierce, then gentled, until they were playfully nibbling on each other’s lower lips. “Do tell. Your favorite music, books, do you like to dance? What is your favorite color, dessert?”