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She nodded happily.
David sighed. “Do you comprehend what marriage to a man like him will mean for you?” The question was asked without hatred; just simple honesty.
“Yes.”
“How can I be certain?” He posed the question out loud, but really it was to himself. He looked askew, deep in thought. Eventually his gaze moved to the hydrangeas, looking along the hedge until he reached the newest.
David looked back at them, his face and body a study of exhaustion. “You’ve already declared your intention to marry, soIdon’t have to be certain,” he announced his conclusion. “Youdo, Clara.”
Her vision blurred with tears, and she doubted her own ears. Surely she was misreading her brother! Could it be true? “I’m certain,” she said in a voice that matched the words.
“Then you have it. My blessing, that is.” David half-smiled at Clara’s immediate and visible relief. “I’m relieved as well,” he admitted.
“Youare?” She shook her head, confused.
David shrugged. “Since our parents died, I’ve done my best by you. Knowing that you’re matched happily…it’s unexpected, but I can’t deny relief. Tremendous relief, actually.” He looked James up and down, frowning. “I suppose that if there’s a man alive who can handle you…”
She launched herself at David, who smiled as he embraced her. “David, how I’ve worried about losing you! I’m so happy that you saw reason.”
“Reason?” David looked horrified. “It wasn't reason I saw, Clara, but love. Undeniable love.”
When James offered David his hand, David looked at it for a moment before accepting it.
“NowI’lldo my best by her. I’ll do my damnedest every day,” James promised.
Still gripping his hand, David blinked dispassionately. “If I thought a threat from me carried any weight, this is the appropriate time to issue it. However, you know Clara well, apparently. So you know thatshe’s quitecapable of dispatching you to hell.” Letting go of James’s hand, David turned to Clara. “Should you need my assistance with that at any time, call upon me.”
She looked at him wryly.
Her brother cleared his throat. “And hearty congratulations to you both on your betrothal.”
“Thank you,” said Clara primly. “All this settled, I’d imagine you’re ready to retire to the hall for some rest after your travel.”
But David was looking at the gazebo again before turning to the hydrangeas once more. When he turned back to them, his expression was inscrutable. He cleared his throat, then looked from Clara to James. “I’m very sorry about your child.”
She swallowed, and she and James nodded. The air was heavy with sadness, but again Clara felt the benediction of their shared suffering.
The three of them walked back to Anterleigh Hall, whose stone and windows shone in the diagonal late afternoon summer sun.
This time, David paused in the rose garden, and even sat down tiredly on their mother’s favorite bench. Clara sat down next to him and took his hand.
“No, thank you.” David rejected James’s offer to leave the siblings some privacy. “I’d like for you to hear this as well, Robertson.”
David moved down the bench to the edge, followed by Clara, making room for James to sit. She looked happily from David to James on either side of her.
“Our parents would be proud of your bravery, Clara. Seeing Mama’s flowers…it’s not difficult to know the proper thing to do here. It’s what Mama and Papa would want me to do, I’m sure. My blessing you already have. Marry when you wish, and it needn’t wait for the solicitors.”
“No?” Clara was surprised by her brother’s unusually rapid change of heart.
“My wedding gift to you will require solicitor involvement, but that may follow in due course.”
“Oh, David, what sort of gift requires solicitors?”
“Robertson, what would you say to joint ownership of Rosemount? To building the wheel together? I have it on good authority”—David shot Clara an indulgent look—“that the energy produced will be enough for both of our mills.”
She laughed. “And here we’ve calledJamesbold and rash!”
David looked at her through half-closed eyes. “This is a highly considered decision I’ve taken. The proposal was first raised more than half a year ago. In my library if I recall.” He shot a look at James, then sniffed. “I believeyouwere present, and can serve as my witness.”
