“How about Graham losing his memories?” She leaned forward, placing her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands, waiting for my stories.
I decided to explain my journey from start to finish instead of skipping right to Graham. Melody listened with wide eyes, asking questions and sympathizing with me along the way. It was the first time telling my story and it sounded ghastly to hear it out loud.
When I came to the end, I sent her a sad smile and pulled up a shoulder. “He remembered everything and we ended our engagement officially. It was hard for me to accept, but I have come to be very grateful that things happened the way they did.”
“Truly?” Melody tilted her head to one side in question.
A smile spread across my face. “Because I fell in love,” I said honestly.
“With Mr. Ashby?” I nodded and she laughed lightly.
“Have you told him your feelings?”
“I wrote a letter and sent it when we docked. But you have to read his,” I said, holding out his letter to her.
The parchment was bent and worn from the numerous times I’d read it on the ship. She glanced at me, then took the letter and read it through. When she read certain lines, she gasped and looked at mewith an excited smile. Finally, she finished and set it down on her lap. “Oh my, Elsie. Your Mr. Ashby is incredibly romantic.”
I laughed. “He is, isn’t he?”
“And he just let you go?”
“Yes, he had to stay. He was needed there. Besides, I know him well enough to understand that he was giving me time to realize my own feelings.”
She handed the letter back to me. “Well, after reading that opus, I wholeheartedly approve.”
Before I could respond, Cameron came knocking on my door with Kenna and Logan. They wanted their mother, so Melody left after telling me to meet them downstairs for dinner in an hour. We could have continued talking all night, no doubt. But she had a family, one that had grown even larger since I left.
I lay down in my bed and placed Arthur’s letter on my bedside table. Oh, how I’d missed my bed! But I felt listless. After meeting my niece and telling Melody everything, I felt like I’d done everything I needed to do at home. What else was left for me to do at Edleroy? No, I couldn’t think that way. There was still much I could accomplish while being home.
Chapter 37
Thenextthreedayswere spent reacquainting myself with Edleroy. A few new tenant farmers had moved in, and my father always welcomed his tenants with open arms. They came to dinner and brought their children, who were just a few years older than Logan. They reminded me of the children I didn’t get to spend enough time with at the mission.
One afternoon, I decided to meander to my usual tower. When I reached the top, it felt like the walls were closing in on me. It hadn’t changed at all, but I had. I knew I would not be satisfied to wait this time. Arthur could take months to receive my letter and follow me here, but this tower would be wasted on me. I wouldn’t stay there a moment longer.
Just as I turned to leave, however, I heard something that thrilled me to the core. Hoofbeats coming down the driveway.
I knew it was him even before I had a clear view. I raced down the stairs so quickly I almost tripped. I lifted my skirts far too high for propriety’s standards and flew out the front door of the castle at the same time the rider arrived. He jumped down from his horse, and the smile I saw on his face made me squeal with delight. “Arthur!”
He was filthy, bearded, and wholly unkempt. Despite his appearance, I threw myself into his arms. He held me close. He smelled like dirt and salt, and yet still himself.
“I have missed you every minute, every second,” he said, breathless. It filled me from head to feet with warmth. “I couldn’t wait, even to help rebuild the porch on the house. I left the day after you did and found the first ship I could. I couldn’t wait one second longer to see you again.” He pulled back and looked into my eyes and his face became serious. “Now, please tell me, Elsie, before I go mad. Do I have any hope?”
There were many things I wished to say, but couldn’t find the words immediately. My gaze roved over his face, then I simply nodded.
Arthur’s answering smile transformed his face into pure sunlight and made my heart glow. I expected an embrace; instead, he looked around me with nervous energy. “I should speak with your father right away.”
I laughed at his unexpected reaction. Before he had the chance to walk away, I took hold of his shoulders and forced him to face me. “Oh, no you don’t. Kiss me right now, or I will never consent to marry you.”
His eyes danced with delight. “If I kiss you right now, will you be my wife?
I shrugged. “I think you could convince me. Though if you don’t, I will have to take backmyproposal.”
His eyebrows lifted and a laugh escaped him. “Did you propose?”
“I did. In the letter I sent you a few days ago,” I said through a grin. He would never receive my letter. I supposed I would have to say it all to his face instead. How glorious.
He grinned, and lifted his hand to brush his fingers across my cheek, his gaze drifting over my face as if it were something to worship. “My answer is yes,” he whispered.
