Page 73

He led her into the hallway where the footman was waiting with their coats. Alaric helped her with her pelisse and donned his own overcoat. The sky was overcast with heavy clouds, and the air was still very cold. He led her along the gravel walkway towards the woods.

‘Have you explored this part of Severn yet?’

‘The forest?’ She appeared confused at the question. ‘Well, no, not really. I thought it was only trees.’

‘My brother and I used to spend hours in these woods,’ he told her. ‘Thornton was always one for mischief. He tried to frighten me several times.’

He led her through the trees, carefully holding back branches so she could walk through. It was quite possible that the trail was overgrown. And there was the risk that the surprise he wanted to show her might not be there any more. Still, the view from the top of the hill was lovely enough.

‘And did Thornton succeed?’ she asked. ‘In frightening you, I mean.’

He idly took her hand in his. ‘What do you think?’

She didn’t pull her hand away. ‘You probably let him think he did. Nothing frightens you, Your Grace.’

It bothered him that she’d reverted to using his title even when they were alone, but he said nothing about it. ‘You’d be wrong.’

‘What are you afraid of, then?’

I’m afraid of becoming like my father. Even now, walking at her side, he couldn’t deny that Charlotte fascinated him. He’d missed his wife, and he didn’t know how or why she had become so important to him. He’d thought he had feelings for Lenora, but after seeing her in London, he realised he felt nothing for her.

He’d tried to stay away from Charlotte…and yet it hadn’t done anything to dull the anticipation of seeing her again.

It made no sense at all. He’d awakened in the mornings, wanting her in his bed. He’d yearned to regain her friendship, to bring back the easy way between them. And since the distance had only made him miss her more, he’d given in and returned to Severn.

They had made a sensible match, one based on logic, not emotions. She had helped him pay off the debts; he had given her the gardens she wanted. Charlotte had helped make a list of sensible rules to govern their marriage, and he now realised it was because of the way she’d been raised. Love had not been part of her upbringing, and her own parents had treated her like an obligation instead of their daughter.

And hadn’t he done the same thing? She had made herself vulnerable, offering to love him. But like an idiot, he’d pushed her away.

Now he understood that their marriage could not fit neatly into a set of cut and dried rules. It needed air and space to breathe, like his wife’s garden. She had centred her heart on an open space where she could be free to make her own decisions.

He’d let his own fear govern him—fear that if he let her into his heart, he would lose himself. But there was nothing worse than losing Charlotte.

He didn’t know how to find the right balance, but he was determined to find a way.

‘Alaric?’ she said, breaking into his thoughts.

He realised she had asked him something. ‘Sorry. What is it?’

‘I asked you what you were afraid of, as a boy.’

He thought a moment and then answered, ‘Snowmen.’

A laugh broke forth from her, along with an unladylike snort. Her green eyes warmed at his answer. ‘Really?’

‘They terrify me.’

At that, she laughed again, and it lit up her face. ‘You’re lying.’ The afternoon sunlight gleamed against her golden hair like a halo, reminding him of how beautiful she was.

Alaric slid his arm around her waist. ‘I like hearing you laugh, Charlotte. I don’t remember the last time I heard it.’

Her smile grew wary. ‘Maybe because I haven’t had many reasons to laugh in the past few weeks while you were gone.’

Which was entirely his fault. He didn’t know how to respond to that, since an apology wouldn’t change what he’d done. Instead, he wanted to use actions instead of words, sharing something more meaningful with her.

‘Come with me,’ he urged. They continued walking uphill, along the trail that cut through the woods. Alaric continued keeping his arm around her, for it was muddy in a few places where the snow had melted. The path grew steeper, and she struggled as the incline sharpened. Alaric held on to a sapling as he continued with her towards the top.

Charlotte was breathing heavily. ‘I didn’t realise this was still part of Severn.’