It didn’t help what he had said about her father. She didn’t have many prospects back home, and she didn’t know what to do if not even her father was going to stand up for her. No one would take her if her father didn’t speak for her virtue after such as situation, either. When her heart wouldn’t settle down, and he was looking at her there in the garden, she realized just how far they had went.
Everything was behind them. She had known this man for two days after he had kidnapped her. Yet, she wasn’t afraid. When he leaned in, she even allowed for it. She didn’t step back as Lord Ansley’s lips met her own. Dugal. She thought, and the name seemed to echo through her.
Her lips danced with his, moving with his rhythm as he seemed to lead her. His hand went to the small of her back, and she could feel her breathing hitch. Her eyes fluttered closed, and her mind quieted. For that moment, there was no more thought. No more panic. Her mind just quieted, and then he pulled away. She looked at him, and she could see a gentleness in his eyes that she hadn’t seen before.
“Unless what?” She said, and her voice was stronger than she had expected. At her question, a small smile curved over his lips.
“Unless you’ll do me the honor of letting me court you. I can see you becoming a great bride.” He said, leaning down to whisper it in her ear, and her mind went quiet once more.
He reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair back into her up-do, making her shiver. She had never felt his fingers touch her cheek before. His callouses made her remember that he was a working man. Not one that she had ever thought of spending her days with before, but she didn’t see another voice. Moreover, she didn’t want to see one. She looked out at the sprawling landscape again.
“You have a lot to think about. How about you retire for the evening, and we can go riding tomorrow?” He asked, leading her back to her room.
She did have a lot to think about, and her mind wouldn’t stop spinning. Martha came in, and it was as if she already knew. She gave her a sad look, and Martha didn’t try to talk. She was thankful for that, as she wasn’t sure what she’d say. How did you tell someone that in just an instance your entire life changed? She thought before sleep finally overtook her later that night.
Chapter Six
Martha pulled the curtains to wake her up, and for a moment she forgot where she was. She looked over to see Martha’s smiling face, and she gave her a strange look before sitting up in bed. The sun wasn’t shining as brightly through her curtains, making her wonder what day it was. My curtains? I’ve been here two days. I shouldn’t think of them as my curtains. She told herself, but the thought had already been there. It surprised her, but Lauren let it go.
“Lord Ansley is waiting on you, Miss.” She said, and Laruen nodded as she got out of bed, trying not to be too groggy. Her head was pounding, and she knew that her worry had kept her from getting a good amount of sleep.
“Thank you. What will I be wearing today?” She said, looking around to see that nothing was laid out.
“Oh wait until you see it.” She said, and she started to beam. Lauren watched as Martha went out of the room to come back holding a box.
“It’s from the lord.” She said, clearly happy about it, but Lauren’s shaking fingers went to take the top off only to see a rich, dark green that reminded her of the rolling hills outside. The ones that she was coming to love and enjoy.
“It’s going to look so pretty on you.” Martha gushed. There was no note. There was nothing overly romantic, and yet it was one of the nicest gestures that she had received from anyone, especially a potential suiter.
“It’s lovely.” She said, and in almost a daze she started to get dressed.
What she looked like when it was finished was nothing short of stunning. It had taken her more time than usual, but Lord Ansley was going to be busy for the rest of the day, and that made her heart sink a little. She tried to tell herself that it gave her time to think. After all, I shouldn’t make such a decision too light heartedly. I need to think about this. This is all about my future. Lauren told herself, but she knew deep down she really had already made her decision. That day everything had changed, and the more she looked in the mirror, the more she desired to change with it.
“What do I do?” She said, and Martha smiled at her.
“I can get you something to embroider, miss. Or you can walk the grounds. I’d be more than happy to accompany you.” She said, and she nodded a little.
The rest of the day was spent walking the grounds, and she went outside for some time. She started to look around, realizing that the town was a stone’s throw away, and yet in the other direction the manor had more land than she had expected. She smiled as Martha took her to the stables, and she fell in love with the roses there. For a while, she took the brush and just groomed them. There was that voice screaming at her that everything she was doing was improper. Everything that she was considering, too. She just stopped caring. Lauren shut the voice out, and for once she tried to think about what she wanted. She knew that with her future, it was finally in her hands. Right here with Dugal Ansley, it was in her hands, and she was going to make that count. When she finally started to head back for dinner, Lord Ansley was still not there. It wasn’t until after dinner, which she had taken in her room that he called for her. They met in the parlor, and he smiled at her.