and the leaves rustle.
The melancholy feeling of life passing by swept through him like the wind. He could not hold onto one second of time, or to this woman, any more than he could stop the wind. Soon enough, Rose would shy away from even friendship, and Will would have only a memory of having once experienced love.
They did not speak on the walk back to the house, or on the trip to the city. Will stared at the road ahead, any words he would say would only repeat what had already been uttered.
Seeming lost in thought, Rose watched the passing scenery. Will wondered how was it possible to go from lovemaking to this distressing distance in less than an hour?
As he stopped the auto in front of Rose’s shop, a mounting sense of dread filled him.
She looked at the dashboard rather than directly at him. “I had a lovely time, William. It was a perfect summer afternoon, and I will always cherish our private moments together. But truly it will be for the best to end our growing affection before our hearts become too involved.”
Too late.
“To place some distance between us, I think it best you finish the conservatory project without my help. I believe it would be too difficult to remain friends only. Do you understand my reservations?”
“I do,” he replied. And they mean nothing to me. I would marry you this instant if I believed you would say yes.
He would make that bold declaration if he believed she would agree, but Rose had made her wishes clear. Not so long ago, Will had counseled Guy to slow his pursuit of Hattie, respecting her decision and giving her an opportunity to perhaps change her mind. How facile that advice had been! It was a great deal harder to follow.
Pressuring Rose would be selfish now when she had clearly told him what she wanted. He had to bite his lip to keep from blurting his feelings and desire.
“I am truly sorry for encouraging you in ways I shouldn’t have,” Rose continued. “Hurting you was never my intention.” She turned away, but not before he saw tears glistening in her eyes.
Before Will could come around to open her door, Rose was outside the vehicle, across the pavement, and entering her shop.
He watched her with dull despair. Things were going so well. What happened? his heart demanded.
But he had no answer to give it.
*
One could wallow in bed and while away days in mourning with the drapes drawn. Or one could get up, throw open the window, inhale a draught of fresh air and try to accomplish something. Will brooded for most of the following day before electing to follow the better course. After all, Rose had not entirely cut him from her life. He must learn to be content with her friendship. He’d prove his resolve by continuing to aide her with the Sweet matter.
Detective Rumsfeld had left a message while Will was out the previous day and apparently already had news to share. Will arranged an appointment by telephone then headed toward the man’s office with purpose. One could not fight an enemy without knowing all about him. It was paramount to learn as much as possible concerning Edward Merker and his connection to the Sweet family. Why had there been no relatives to take her in? And how had he gained custody of their daughter?
Rumsfield’s secretary ushered Will into the detective’s messy, shabby office. Will hoped the chap’s mind was more organized than his workspace. But Hardy swore by him, so Will settled onto a lumpy chair and waited to learn what the old man with the bulldog demeanor had uncovered.
Rumsfield sat puffing on a cigar and glaring at some paperwork. He removed the stub from between his teeth, dispensed with a polite greeting and cut straight to the point. “Don’t know what the young woman’s told you about her history. Her father, Sir Phillip Sweet, was minor gentry and the last of his line. No relatives to cluck about it when he married an Italian woman, Carlotta D’Arenzo. I couldn’t learn anything about her family. He brought her to England, the couple married and had a child. When their daughter was eight, Sir Phillip and his wife both died within days of each other from a severe bout of diphtheria. Sweet’s will left both fortune and daughter to his business administrator Edward Merker.”
“An employee. Had the couple no close friends better suited to raising a child?” Will