did not back away. His eyes pleaded for the answer I could not give. “Mr. Lundall, as I have said before, I cannot marry you and I never will.”
“But the violence of my affections demands it!”
“I have no such feelings toward you.”
“My passions are great enough for the both of us.”
“Mr. Lundall, you fail to understand. I am sorry, but I refuse to marry someone whose sentiments are so different from my own.” I would never bind someone to a loveless marriage the way Edward had tried to bind me.
He looked away from me and sighed. Then he straightened. “I will wait.”
Did this man never quit? “Have you not been listening? My answer is no. Please do me the honor of believing me when I say I shall never marry you.”
“Margaret,” my father called from the top of the stairs. “It is time for breakfast.”
I sighed with relief. “I must ask you to excuse me, Mr. Lundall. As you can see, I am in no condition to receive guests, and considering our conversation, I dare say you would rather be on your way.”
“Yes, I suppose that would be best.”
“I can show our guest to his horse, Margaret,” my father said. Bless him and his impeccable ability to come to my rescue.
“It’s a chaise, actually,” Mr. Lundall said. “I never ride horses. Abominably dirty animals.”
I curtsied. “Perhaps we shall meet again, Mr. Lundall.”
I made to step around him, but he grabbed my hand and quickly kissed it. “I will not give up, Miss Brinton.” He turned and bounded up the stairs.
My father rocked back on his feet as Mr. Lundall passed, then shot me an astonished glance. I shrugged and lifted the bouquet back to my nose. His lips twitched and he turned, following Mr. Lundall around to the front of the house.
Six
Alice met me at the back door, her nose red and her face a little pale though her blonde hair was done up in ringlets; she must have gotten over her cold. Her expression was serious but her eyes held excitement. “Did you see Mr. Lund—you look worse than Daniel! Did you fall into the lake as well? Daniel said it was your fault. What did you do?”
“It was not my fault.” I sat on the bench and began unlacing my shoe. “I wasn’t even near him. But this,” I indicated my dress, “is completely his doing. How are you feeling?”
“Better. It was only a little cold. You’ll have to hurry if you’re going to change. Cook is already having the food brought in.”
I slipped my feet out of my boots and made for the stairs.
“Did you see Mr. Lundall?” she asked again, following me. “Mama told him it was too early to call, but I saw him slip around the side a minute later.”
“Yes. I rather wish he’d listened to Mother.”
“Did he propose again?” She giggled.
I stopped and faced her. “He did. But I do not think it something to laugh over. I would not wish a refusal on anyone.”
Alice instantly sobered. “He should stop asking.”
“He should.” Why he didn’t I couldn’t understand. “I brought you a gift. Give me a moment to change.”
“Is it another book? I read some while you were gone. I hope you don’t mind. You left at such an interesting part. You should have come in last night, after you got home.”
“I did. You were asleep. But I’ll read to you tonight.”
Alice nodded and headed down the hall.
I stepped into the breakfast room just as everyone was sitting down, a different dress, old but clean, concealing most of the morning’s events. As I slid into my seat across from Daniel, I glared. “You left me.”
He took a sip from his glass, hiding his mouth. It did nothing to hide the laughter in his eyes.
“I’ll exact revenge,” I promised.
“Unnecessary, seeing as you already have—preemptively, so to speak.”
“Louisa’s witnessing your debacle was not my fault.”
“As Mr. Lundall’s appearance was not mine.”
I reached for a piece of toast. “The two are not the same, Daniel.”
“Did you bring my gift?” Alice asked from across the table.
“Of course.” I handed her the small, wrapped package.
“May I, Mother?”
Our mother nodded, and Alice began to meticulously untie the string. When the wrapping fell away, she gasped and reverently fingered the pattern on the lace handkerchief. “It is so lovely. Where did you get it?”
“Rosden. And, look.” I held up my matching handkerchief. “I purchased one exactly like it for myself.”
“You were in Rosden? Why did you not return with Father?