Eliza looked up from her needlework, a smile brightening her face as she saw Lord Avondale walk into the room.
“Avondale,” she said fondly, setting her needlework aside at once and getting to her feet. “How good to see you. Yes, indeed, I should very much enjoy walking with you.” She held his gaze for a long moment, seeing the warm smile and finding such a joy within her heart that she felt as though it might explode from her very being and fill the room.
Behind her, a slight cough pulled her from her raptures.
“Yes, Catherine, you may inform Mama where I have gone,” she said, turning around to see her sister’s arched brow. “I shall not be long.”
Catherine nodded, although Eliza detected the slight smile that her sister was doing her best to hide. Ever since their return from town a sennight ago, her sisters had been in earnest anticipation as to what might occur between Eliza and Lord Avondale. Nothing, as yet, had been said by Lord Avondale, but Eliza was quite certain that, in time, a proposal would be made. A proposal which, of course, she had every intention of accepting. For the moment, they were simply reacquainting themselves with each other, although Eliza’s mother had insisted that propriety should be maintained at all times.
That being said, Eliza had very little intention of allowing her sister to accompany her on her short walk with Lord Avondale that afternoon!
“I shall inform her,” Catherine replied, nodding to Lord Avondale before returning her gaze to her book.
“I shall be but a moment,” Eliza said, pressing Lord Avondale’s arm. “Will you wait for me?”
He smiled at her. “Always.”
* * *
The folly had always been their chosen place of meeting. However, walking through it now, as delightful as it was with the bird song and the sunshine filtering down through the leaves of the surrounding trees, Eliza felt herself grow a little regretful.
“It holds both happiness and sadness, does it not?” Lord Avondale said, as though he could read her mind. “The last time I was here with you does not bear thinking about, and yet consider it, I must.”
She looked at him, seeing the swift sadness leap into his blue eyes, the way his jaw set and how he turned his face away.
“But we are not to linger on the past,” she reminded him, as they walked arm in arm. “I would not have you walk here with me and dwell on what might have been. It is done. You did what you had to and I have held nothing against you now that I understand.” She pressed his arm and leaned into him for a moment, his steps slowing. “Let us think of happier memories, Lord Avondale.”
He smiled at her then, turning to face her so that he might take both of her hands in his. “I would have us think of only the happiest things in this place,” he replied, confusing her a little. “I must consider what occurred in the folly the last time I was walking with you and, in considering it, I find myself desperate to wash such memories away with a moment of such joy that our past troubles fade to nothing.”
Eliza felt her heart quicken at the look in his eyes, her hands tight in his.
“You must know how deeply I love you, Eliza,” Lord Avondale said, gently, letting go of her hand to tuck a stray curl back behind her ear. At his touch, Eliza felt herself tremble violently, her eyes closing for a moment.
“You can see what your touch does to me, Avondale,” she whispered, opening her eyes to look up at him. “I have such a love for you that it seems to pervade my very soul.”
His smile was tender. “Even when I thought myself lost to you forever, Eliza, my heart remained yours,” he said, taking a step closer so that his breath brushed across her cheek. “I cannot imagine being a day apart from you.”
“Nor I from you,” she whispered, her every sense coming alive with hope and anticipation.
“Even though my estate borders your brother’s, I find myself in agony having to leave your side each day,” Lord Avondale continued, his other hand now letting hers go so that it might settle at her waist. “There is nothing for me at my own home, for it feels empty. I am bereft without you, be it only for a few hours.” Pressing his lips together, Lord Avondale looked upwards at the sky for a moment, as if he needed to collect his thoughts. “I would not continue like this
, Eliza.”
His eyes slowly returned to hers and Eliza caught her breath at the intensity of his gaze.
“You are my very life,” she whispered, feeling tears starting in her eyes, her throat aching suddenly. “Surely you know, Avondale, that I have always longed to be yours?”
He kissed her then, fiercely, taking her breath from her chest. Her arms wrapped around his neck as he pulled her tight against him, his lips seeking hers with a desperation that she had never felt from him before. She returned his kiss with all the passion that she felt, a single tear escaping from her closed eyes and running down her cheek.
Lord Avondale’s mouth lifted from hers and he kissed her cheek instead, taking the moisture of her tears away.
“Do not cry, Eliza,” he whispered, his forehead resting gently against her own. “No more tears of sadness, my love. You know what I desire and I can only pray that you desire it also.”
She swallowed hard and looked into his eyes. “Ask me, Avondale.”
Lord Avondale closed his eyes tightly, drew in a breath and set himself back from her just a little.
His hand took hers and he pressed it gently. “My dear, sweet Eliza,” he said, in a voice that was hoarse and cracked with emotion. “Will you be my wife? Will you marry me?”