She took the linen covering off the basket and shifted through the contents. “It doesn’t appear so.” She removed a biscuit and took a bite, and her face lit up. “This is delicious!”
William leaned forward and helped himself to one. “Mrs. Vance seems to have quite the knack for making biscuits,” he agreed once he’d eaten it.
“That she does,” Georgie responded as she brushed the crumbs off her hands. “How much longer do you think before we arrive at Gretna Green?”
“We made good time yesterday, so with any luck, we will arrive late this evening. But that is assuming we don’t make any unnecessary stops.”
Georgie nodded in approval. “I believe I will breathe a sigh of relief once we are wed.”
“As will I.”
“I keep looking out the window, half expecting to see my brother,” Georgie admitted.
William gave her an encouraging smile. “There is no way he could have known what we planned to do.”
“I know, but sometimes, when things are going too perfectly, I worry that it might come crashing down around me.”
“Nothing will happen to you, I promise.”
Georgie waved her hand in front of her. “I know I sound foolish—”
“You don’t, and you never need to worry how you sound around me,” William said. “I want you to be able to speak your mind.”
“You say that now, but I tend to have the most outlandish thoughts.”
He lifted his brow. “Like when you sold your gowns at the market?”
“Those funds were used to buy the girls new dresses,” she defended. “I would do that again if I had to.”
“You won’t ever have to sell your clothing again,” William said.
Georgie smoothed down her traveling habit. “I will need a whole new wardrobe, since newlyweds aren’t expected to be in mourning, and all my other gowns are gone.”
“I am sorry that you won’t be able to mourn your father properly.”
“My father has only ever wanted me to be happy,” Georgie said.
William hesitated for a moment before asking, “Are you happy?”
Georgie’s face softened. “I am.”
“That does please me to hear.”
She surprised him by asking, “Are you happy?”
“I suppose I am.”
Georgie arched an eyebrow. “You don’t sound very convincing.”
“I haven’t been content for so long that I forgot what it was like to be happy.” He sighed. “After my mother died, I just felt lost, like there was no purpose to my life with all of my family gone. I was miserable, and it was entirely from my own making. But…” His words trailed off. How could he adequately express what he felt in his heart?
“But?” she prodded.
“I have a new purpose in my life.”
“Which is?”
“You,” he replied. “I know we are getting married under special circumstances, but I hope to make you so deliriously happy that you never regret marrying me.”
