“How did you get through it?”
“Well, fortunately, Edmund came to his senses and came after me,” Amelia said. “It hardly took me a moment to realize that I desperately needed him in my life.”
“I’m glad that it’s worked out the way it has. Although, I do miss you living with us in Town.”
Amelia tilted her head towards the sun. “I love being out in the countryside. It fills me with a renewed sense of purpose.”
“What about all the bugs?”
Her sister laughed. “Only you would ask such a ridiculous question.”
“I still believe it to be a valid question.”
“You would be surprised to learn that I enjoy catching frogs by the stream with Sybil.”
Hannah shuddered. “That sounds awful,” she declared. “Aren’t they slimy?”
“They are, and they smell awful.”
“Then why do you do it?”
Amelia gave a half shrug. “Because it makes Sybil happy, and I do love making her smile.”
“You are a good stepmother.”
“It is easy when Edmund is such an attentive father to her.” Amelia turned her attention towards Harrowden Hall and waved at the duke and his young daughter. “Speaking of, they are about to join us on our walk.”
“Wonderful,” Hannah said.
Sybil ran up and eagerly asked, “Do you want to make a wish, Aunt Hannah?”
“I suppose so.”
The young girl held up a fluffy white dandelion. “If you blow all the seeds off with a single breath, then your wish will come true.”
“Is that so?”
Sybil bobbed her head. “I wished that Amelia and my father would get married and look what happened!”
Hannah smiled at the girl’s exuberance. “Your wish did come true.”
“As will yours.”
Not wanting to dash the girl’s dreams, Hannah reached for the dandelion. “I suppose I have no choice but to make a wish, then.”
The duke spoke up as he reached for Amelia’s hand. “Not to put any undue pressure on you, but we’ve all had our wishes come true.”
Hannah smiled at the remark. “I am glad to hear that.” She sucked in a breath and then blew on the dandelion, watching all the seeds take flight.
“Did you make a wish?” Sybil asked.
“I did.”
Sybil put her finger up to her lips. “You must not tell anyone, or else it won’t come true.”
Hannah crouched down next to Sybil. “Thank you for letting me use your dandelion to make a wish.”
“Father told me that you were sad, and I thought it would make you happy,” Sybil said, swaying from side to side.
The duke cleared his throat. “You weren’t supposed to say that to Hannah.”
Sybil’s eyes went wide as she rushed to say, “I’m sorry.”
Reaching out, Hannah put a hand on her sleeve. “You have no reason to apologize,” she said. “I am just thankful I have such a thoughtful niece.”
“If you want, we could look for more dandelions and you could make more wishes,” Sybil suggested.
“That won’t be necessary, because there is only one thing that I want,” Hannah said.
Martin’s voice came from behind her. “Which is?” he asked, his breathing labored.
“Martin!” Hannah exclaimed as she rose and turned around to face him. “Why are you breathing so hard?”
“I ran here.”
“From London?” she asked incredulously.
Martin looked amused by her remark. “No, I saw you down here as I approached the main door.”
“Oh, I see,” she replied.
Sybil tugged down on the side of Hannah’s dress. “Who is that?”
Martin turned his attention towards the girl. “I am Hannah’s friend,” he replied. “I was hoping to speak to her for just a moment.”
“What do you want to talk about?” Sybil asked innocently.
Amelia had been whispering in her husband’s ear, and now the duke stepped forward and reached for Sybil’s hand. “Why don’t we give Lord Egleton and your Aunt Hannah a moment alone?”
Sybil nodded. “I think that might be wise.” She lowered her voice. “It seems like he really wants to speak to her.”
The duke’s voice grew firm. “But we will remain close to ensure that Hannah is properly chaperoned.”
After they walked a short distance away, Hannah turned towards Martin with an expectant look. “What is it you need to speak to me about?”
He didn’t answer her question but asked one of his own instead. “Why did you leave Town?”
“I think you know why I did.”
He took a step closer to her. “Was it because of me?”
“I do not wish to answer that question,” she said as she moved to turn away from him.
Martin gently placed his hand on her arm, stilling her retreat. “I made a terrible mistake, Hannah.”
“Is that so?”
“I was so afraid of losing you, that I didn’t realize that I was losing you in the process.”
Hannah pressed her lips together. “If you are here to salvage our friendship—”
He cut her off. “I’m not here for that.”
“You aren’t?”
“I’ve come to realize that I don’t want to just be friends with you,” Martin said. “You mean so much more to me than that.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Martin dropped his hand from her arm. “When I asked for you to find me a bride, I had no idea that it would lead me straight to you.” His eyes grew intense. “I love you, Hannah. I’m sorry it took me so long to recognize the truth of it all, but I love you.”
“You do?”
“My heart chose you a long time ago,” he stated. “I was just either too hardheaded or stupid to realize it.”
Hannah’s eyes searched his as she attempted to gauge his sincerity. “Do you truly mean that?”
“When I kissed you, everything changed between us,” Martin said, “and I knew I couldn’t deny how I felt towards you any longer.” He grinned. “But I did try. Unconvincingly, I might add.”
“Are you sure, Martin?” she asked. “I need you to be sure, because I don’t think my heart could take another rejection from you.”
Martin reached for her hand and brought it up to his lips. “I have never been so sure of anything in my life.” He knelt down and looked up at her, his eyes full of love. “Will you
