'And?'
'And I insisted on rowing part of the way back.'
'Even though you had to switch places in the boat with me,' he said. 'What did you do tonight when you were terrified of the height of the cliffs?'
'Climbed them,' she said.
'And now,' he said, 'you are terrified to love me. What are you going to do about it?'
She drew her head back from his shoulder and glared at him.
'Love you anyway,' she said. 'Don't ask the next question, Josh, if you admire the shape of your nose. You remind me of everything I hated about all my governesses, asking their questions, and trying to extract the correct answers out of me by slow degrees and with infinite patience. You are going to ask me what I plan to do about my terror of a real betrothal with you and a real marriage with you.'
He gazed back into her eyes and said nothing.
'We are betrothed,' she said firmly. 'There-that is what I am going to do. We are really betrothed. But if you should die before our marriage, Josh, I shall pursue you through all of heaven and hell after my own death and throttle you. Do you hear me?'
'Yes, sweetheart,' he said meekly, and grinned at her. 'I want to hear myself say this, Free. And I want to hear your answer.'
He sat up, checked his distance from the edge, and ar-ranged himself in a picturesque kneeling posture. He took one of her hands in his and smiled his most charming smile at her.
'Lady Freyja Bedwyn,' he said, 'will you do me the great honor of accepting my hand in marriage? On the understanding that it is to be purely a love match on both sides?'
'You look remarkably silly,' she said.
'I know, sweetheart,' he said, making a kissing gesture with his lips. 'But I want you to be able to boast about this to our grandchildren one day-that their grandpapa went down on bended knee and begged you to marry him.'
'They will never believe it,' she said, 'when they look at the old lady I will have grown into and then look at the handsome old gentleman you will have become.' She sat up and sighed. 'But I will remember this moment all my life, and I daresay it will bring tears to my eyes when I know no one is looking. Yes, I will, my love. I will marry you-but only on the understanding that it is to be a mutual love match.'
She sat and he knelt, and they grinned at each other like a couple of self-satisfied fools while her hair blew wild about her face and he was very aware of the long, almost sheer drop less than a yard behind his heels.
'I keep expecting to feel the weight of the shackle close about my leg,' he said, 'but it is simply not happening. I am a betrothed man and have never felt so free. Free with Free! Shall we go back to the house and wake everyone up with the news?'
'It would not be news to them, though, would it?' she said.
'Lord, no,' he said, grinning at her. 'We have to celebrate somehow, though sweetheart. Any suggestions?'
'Oh, Josh,' she said, opening her arms, 'do stop talking nonsense and come here.'
'Brilliant idea,' he said.
Joshua had gone out on business by the time Freyja asked for him the next morning. She was bubbling with unaccustomed excitement, but though she was surrounded by family and friends, there was no one to confide in. What would she say?
I am in love?
I am betrothed?
I am going to be married?
To Joshua?
Apart from the fact that they would look at her as if she had finally taken leave of her senses, it was all very lowering. She was not a person given to an exuberant outpouring of sentimental drivel.
She went for a walk instead-all the way to the village. This was something she needed to do anyway-and it had to be done alone. No one must know about it. Even the thought that someone might find out gave her the shivers.
'Good morning,' she said when Anne Jewell opened the door of her cottage to her knock. 'No!' She held up a staying hand when the woman gestured as if to ask her to step inside. 'I'll not come in or disturb you longer than I need.'
'But-' Anne Jewell began.
'No, thank you.' Freyja kept her hand raised. 'Correct me if I am wrong, but I do not believe you are entirely happy living here in this village, are you?'
The woman's welcoming smile faded somewhat.
'Everyone has been most kind,' she said, 'especially Joshua-Lord Hallmere. But you must not fear. I will not continue to accept his support. I am in hope of acquiring some new pupils soon.'
Freyja clucked her tongue. 'Do you think I care about a little support payment?' she asked. 'I have looked at you and seen an intelligent woman who has never complained about her lot even though it was brought on by noble self-sacrifice and injustice-and a woman whose pride has not been broken. Is it your wish to teach?'
Miss Jewell looked wary.
