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“In the gardens of the Arrowwood Hall estate?”
“Smartarse,” I muttered.
He laughed but continued to follow me until we passed under the weeping branches of the willow and located a metal gate. “You know it’s blocked behind here, don’t you?”
“Like I said,” I replied, unclasping my bracelet. “A part of the garden you’ve never seen before.” I located the small key among the charms and, after opening the metal gate, inserted it into the tiny lock on the wooden gate behind it.
“What the—”
“Wait.” I heard the click, then removed the key and pushed open the gate, revealing my little slice of heaven.
“Holy shit, Gabriella.” Miles followed me through. “Has this been here the whole time?”
“No, I pulled it together yesterday. Aren’t I good?” I smirked at him. “It used to be an archway, but nobody ever used it, so I turned it into this.” I motioned at the small area before I put my bracelet back on.
Cypress trees lined one side, hiding it from the view of the farmland behind. The willow tree served as a fair barrier to the gardens, and the hedges on the other sides were more than adequate privacy.
A wildlife pond lived in the centre of the garden, and I sat on the edge of the pond to remove some leaves that had fallen in from somewhere. Hundreds, if not thousands of mature tadpoles wiggled through the water, and a sparrow landed on the opposite side to take a drink before whizzing off again.
Wildlife friendly plants and shrubs surrounded the area, but it was the wooden arbour with a climbing rose that was my favourite.
“Don’t you hate frogs?” Miles asked after a moment. “Why the wildlife pond?”
“Because the world needs to be kinder to wildlife, even if we don’t always like it,” I replied softly, looking into the water. “Actually, that was my mum’s idea.”
“Ah.”
“My mum helped me to start with, but then she was diagnosed with cancer and died. I knew I had to finish it.” I brushed a finger along the leaf of an aquatic plant I was fairly sure had spawned itself. “And despite my aversion to frogs, she loved them.”
Miles sat down next to me. “I really didn’t know this was here.”
“It’s my little section of heaven,” I admitted. “If I’m stressed or overwhelmed or upset, I come here. Only Aunt Cat knows it exists, but she doesn’t come here.”
“So why did you show me?”
I dragged my gaze up to meet his. “Because it’s the only place here we can talk without being disturbed. And I would like to do that… without shouting.”
“A very fair request.” His lips twitched, then whatever hint of a smile there was fell. “My position here hasn’t changed, Gabriella. I know what your future holds, and it’s not me.”
“Don’t be a bloody martyr,” I muttered. “Do you not think I have a say in my future? We’re not in the seventeenth century anymore.”
“I know. But I also don’t think you’d do anything to upset your father.”
“You think me insisting on being in a relationship with somebody I care about and who makes me happy would upset him?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps.”
“You’re talking out your arse.”
“I thought you didn’t want to shout.”
“Who’s shouting? I’m not shouting.” I held out my hands. “You know what I think?”
“No, but I gather you’re going to tell me.”
“I think you’re afraid.”
Miles’ eyebrows shot up, and he snorted in derision. “Of what? Your father?”
“No. Of yourself. Of your own feelings.” I folded my arms across my chest. “You admitted last night you have feelings for me and now you’re walking it back, using some outdated, bollocks excuse not to act on them. And it’s because you’re afraid.”
“I’m not afraid.”
“You’re acting like it,” I argued. “What other reason have you got to insist that my father would be unhappy and would marry me off like some European princess for a political alliance?”
He stared at me.
“In all of your assumptions you completely disregard my feelings.”
“I’m saying this because of them.”
“Are you? Or is that a lie you’re telling yourself so you can take the easy way out?”
He shook his head. “I’m not going to discuss this with you right now.”
“You flipping well are,” I insisted.
“No, I’m not. This isn’t going to go anywhere.” He walked towards the gate. “This isn’t a conversation.”
“Because you won’t listen.”
“No, Gabriella, you won’t listen.” He turned and looked at me. “Even taking your father out of this equation, sooner or later, this would fall apart. Maybe not in a year or even ten years, but you’ll realise that you miss this life.”
“I don’t—”
“I overheard your father telling Alexander that he wished you could inherit the estate and the dukedom,” Miles said firmly. “Because this is what you deserve. You love it and work for it and care about it, and he’s right. You deserve a place like this to love and work for. One day, you would realise that and want more.”
