was my chance. I took a deep breath. “Retract the agreement that exists between us. You cannot want this marriage any more than I. I have no knowledge of the circumstances that drove you into it, but whatever they are, I can promise you that they will not make you as miserable as marriage to me will.”
Lord Williams fell silent. I forced myself to look at the lake so as not to pressure a response from him. I needed him to deliberate on the truthfulness of my words, for surely he must see that our very characters were at odds with each other.
He finally said, “If I were to do this, I would find myself absolved of whatever has led you to create such an unfavorable opinion of me?”
I turned. He couldn’t possibly be ignorant of his ill manners. But perhaps he was so accustomed to untitled people holding him in awe that no one had displayed their dislike for him before. No doubt they were all better accomplished at schooling their features and hiding their emotions than I.
However, all that was beside the point. “Yes, of course.” The excitement of a possible victory—of regaining my freedom—
made me optimistic. “Oh, and you must convince my father to keep the lake.”
He studied me. “You would have me do this even if draining the lake is in the best interest of the estate?”
The leaf crumbled in my fist. “It is not in the best interest of the estate’s occupants.”
He shrugged dismissively. “That is something your father will have to decide.”
I would not be dismissed. “The idea would never have occurred to him if you had not taken it upon yourself to suggest it.”
He started walking again. This time I kept pace with him.
“What is it about this lake that is so vital to your happiness?”
I gestured to the water in frustration. “It is not just my happiness. Our entire family derives enjoyment from it, as do many of our neighbors. We have grown up playing in the water, picnicking along this shore. We used to swim here as children.”
“You wish to retain it for nostalgic purposes?”
How was I to make him understand? Not only understand. I had to convince him that it was important enough for him to argue my point against Daniel while still retaining his compliance in ending our engagement. But it would mean exposing my feelings, and I had no reason to believe he would not mock me for them.
Yet, what did I care if he mocked me? Hadn’t he been doing just that from the time he’d arrived at my home, and even before? Still, my voice was quiet when I explained, “This lake is more than just a body of water or even a place of entertainment. I have found peace here when I could find it no other place. There is a tranquility one derives from the sound of lapping water, the rustling of a breeze through the trees, which is soothing and reassuring in moments of distress. A lake—our lake—has, at times, provided more comfort than a friend’s company or a parent’s embrace.”
“I venture to believe you are the only one in your family who feels this way.”
“No. Daniel might not wish to admit it and Alice is probably not aware of it, but the lake is a part of them. My father, as well. Up until a little while ago, he and I walked here together every morning, a tradition we started while I was a child.”
“How long has it been since he joined you?”
I was about to excuse my father’s absence on account of his illness but paused when I realized our walks had stopped before the illness, when I had, for a time, slipped out of the house early so that I might walk alone. They had stopped because of Edward’s betrayal. I could not think of an instance since when I had seen him walk down here. “Longer than I’d realized.”
“If they discuss the topic again in my presence, I will remind your father and brother of your feelings. However, though understandable, the sentiments you have expressed do not change my opinion.”
This man was unendurable. “This whole landscape would suffer because of your opinion. Does your arrogance know no bounds? You speak and act with complete disregard to those around you, as though we are nothing more than plants in your yard to be moved or destroyed according to your whim. Yet each person you trample has a life full of