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Chapter Five
Bella hugged Friedrich’sback as he walked the horse through the woods and out onto the carriage drive.
After informing Henning what had happened to Beauty, she walked with Friedrich along the path to the lake. It was a favorite spot of hers to sit and dream, and she especially wanted him to see it.
Through the trees, the morning sunlight sent ripples of pale gold over the water teeming with waterfowl.
As they approached, the familiar smells of water, mud, and reeds greeted them.
“What a charming spot,” Friedrich said. “Shall we sit?” He pointed the way to a wooden bench placed to take advantage of the view.
They sat together. “Have you enjoyed your stay here in England?” she asked, her heart thumping as it always did when he was close.
He moved to search her face. “More than I expected.”
“Why more?”
“Because I met you, Bella,” he said simply.
Bella melted. “Oh, Friedrich. I shall miss you. I wish…”
“What do you wish, liebling?”
“That you could stay longer. But then it will be harder to say goodbye, won’t it?” she whispered.
He framed her face with his hands. “That is true, my love.”
He lowered his head and kissed her, a gentle exploratory kiss, which quickly turned to undenied passion when Bella threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
Friedrich drew away. “Perhaps we should stop, Bella. I am mindful of your reputation. Nicholas trusts me.”
She raised her hand and gently stroked his cheek. Her passion for him made her body throb with yearning. “Who is going to tell him? The ducks?”
“I want you too much,liebling.”
“I love you, Friedrich.” Women should never admit such a thing first, Bella knew, but she could not let him go without him knowing how she felt.
He gathered her to him and hugged her tightly. “I love you, too, but our position is hopeless. They would never permit me to marry you.”
She drew away from him and gazed into his blue eyes filled with despair.
“And if it were possible? Would you marry me?”
“It is what I wish for most ardently.” He shrugged. “But what’s the use? It cannot happen.”
“Not unless you ask me,” she said.
Friedrich shook his head. “You are young and yet to make your debut. Carrie and Nicholas will want this for you. It is right and proper for a young woman to meet many men before she chooses one.”
“Mm.” Bella traced his jaw with a finger, finding the small indentation in his chin.
He caught her hand and kissed her palm. “Are you listening to me?”
“Of course, it would be most impolite not to.”
“It would,” he agreed, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
“And you feel you must say it. But it shall not change my mind in the slightest.”
