“And thank you for noticing me.”
He pulled back slightly, just enough to see her face. “I will always notice you,” he replied, his words low, soft and genuine, his hands placed protectively around her waist. “And I am here, if you need anything.”
“I know, Luke,” she answered back, her heart swelling as all the love for those around her came flooding back in. She had lost someone she loved, and that heartache was not going to go away. But Luke had helped open her heart back up. He had reminded her what it felt like to be cared for, and she had a renewed desire to help others feel the same.
Luke was beyond surprised when Clara asked him to accompany her on tenant visits the following day. “It has been a long time since I have checked in on the women of Faversham,” she informed him. “I want to make sure they are all being taken care of.” The excitement he saw returning to her eyes while mentioning her formulated plan was contagious. While he had no real desire to make the visits, the idea of helping Clara find her happiness again filled him with joy.
The first house they stopped at belonged to Clara’s old friend, Amanda. The dark-haired woman had married an old banker and now lived in a house next to Amanda's parents, just west of the town center. The building was fairly new, and made entirely of red brick.
“Clara!” Amanda yelled in excitement when she opened the white-stained front door. “Come in! Come in! Oh, and you have brought Lord Maxwell with you!” She ushered the two of them inside.
“I have just come for a short visit,” Clara explained, sitting down on the room’s small sofa. Luke wasn’t sure what his purpose was, so he stood just inside the doorway. “How is your family?”
A young boy with brown hair and murky eyes wandered in from the back room, looking wearily at the visitors. “We are doing well!” his mother answered, sitting down on the cushion next to her friend. “Little Charlie,” she gestured to the boy, “is just starting to talk, and then our next little one,” she pointed to herslightly rounded stomach, “should be here around Christmas.” Clara gushed over the announcement and asked Amanda a dozen questions. The woman answered back excitedly. The light continued to grow in Clara’s eyes, piercing out over the blackness of her attire. She was talking to someone. She was caring for her friends. She was finally allowing herself to do the things that made her happy.
Little Charlie stood a few paces from the sofa, but his mother was too engrossed in the conversation to pay him any heed. Luke decided to attempt entertaining the boy, hoping that would allow the women to converse a little longer. He squatted down to the child's level and whispered, “Charlie, do you like biscuits?” That got his attention. Little Charlie came toddling over.
“We will be right back,” he announced to the room. The boy's mother simply nodded her head as she animatedly told Clara about an event she had attended at the local dancing hall.
They were only a minute's walk from the shopping center, so Luke swooped the child into his arms and carried him over to the bakery to buy him a treat. As they meandered through the streets of Faversham, he remembered another shopping experience he had made long ago. It was a hazy memory now, but he remembered Clara’s friend attempting to flirt with John, and the four of them standing in a shop full of ribbon for far too long. John had been so angry when Luke and Clara were slow getting back to the carriage.
Why had we been slow?He tried to remember.We had been discussing something, but what was it?
He and Charlie purchased their sweetened biscuits and headed back toward home. All the while, Luke’s thoughts were on that day, trying to remember the details.
The little boy finished his biscuit. “More!” he asked in his childish voice.
“Sorry,” Luke answered, “just one.”
Just one.
The memory came flooding back to him. Clara had told him people brought meaning to her life—something he had witnessed first hand. Then he said he neededjust one. One person to truly love. Of course, Luke was blessed to have more than just one person in his circle of love, but he found there was still sometruth in his words. If he could keep just one person happy—one particular person with blue eyes and long blonde hair—his life would be fulfilled, his mission complete.
He just did not know if that particular person would allow him to do so.
While Clara had thoroughly enjoyed her time outside of the house, coming home, knowing her Papa was not there, had filled her with sadness once again. She was not as sorrowful as she had been, not even remotely so, but she still could not muster the strength to continue her visits, and instead, returned to her unproductive melancholy. Daily, Luke urged her to travel beyond the estate’s brick walls, or to invite a group of friends over for tea. But winter was coming, and with it came a great deal of thunderstorms. Given the weather, Clara had the perfect excuse to ignore his promptings.
But Luke continued to seek her out. They came together at least once a day, just to talk. It felt like old times in a way, but also new and exciting. She was not naive enough to believe the relationship could remain as it was, but for now, she was enjoying having him as company.
Rain continued to pound against the house as Mother and Clara sat in the drawing room. Walters appeared with a note on his silver platter. “His lordship requested I deliver this to you.” He tipped the tray toward Clara. “He apologizes for the delay. It was in a jacket he has not worn since his travels.” The envelope was crinkled and somewhat damaged.
“Thank you,” Clara said, eyeing the package strangely. But it took only a moment to determine it was from Luke's mother. She pulled out the letter and read.
Lady Clara Merritt,
I have enjoyed having my son and your brother stay with us. They are two of the finest gentlemen. I love watching Luke play with his little brotherand sister. He was such a stoic child, but he has become a happy man. I think a great deal of the change can be attributed to you.At one point in time, you asked me to teach you how to embroider portraits. I have enclosed some examples and instructions as my best attempt to teach you from afar. Feel free to write with any questions.
Avianna
Clara pulled out several pieces of fabric, each filled with different stitches and partially completed images. There were also multiple pages full of written instructions. It was obvious Luke’s mother had spent a great deal of time preparing the embroidery lesson, and Clara's heart swelled with gratitude.I am going to learn,she decided.Then I will make a portrait of Papa.She pulled out her own embroidery set and began to study.
Chapter 30
Something Was Different
It took several weeks for Luke to convince Clara to begin her tenant visits again, but, eventually, they had met with all the families in Faversham. With each friendly conversation, Clara’s light had rekindled little by little, and she was happy and loving once again. When Luke worked in the study with John, she spent most of her time on embroidery. It was a long process, and a great deal to learn, but her portrait of her father was slowly coming along. She used the painting over the mantle as a frame of reference.
Not surprisingly, Luke’s love for Clara continued to grow. Watching her rekindling joy as she helped the people around her reminded him of what a special woman she was—selfless, caring, and charitable. It made it difficult to persuade himself to return home. It was already October. He had been away from his estate for nearly a year, and John definitely did not need his help anymore. There was no logical reason for Luke to stay, but he felt if he waited just a little bit longer, perhaps Clara would change her mind. She seemed to enjoy his company. They were able to laugh and talk and confide in one another. Was it possible she would choose him after all? He still wasn’t sure what had happened with the duke. Clara had never mentioned it, and Luke didn't want to be tortured with the details. Theonly thing he knew was that he did not want to leave when there was a possibility he would be able to take Clara home with him.
