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She still had the notebook in her hand. She clutched. “It’s gone. All of it. What do I do with this now?”
“Start afresh,” Edward said. He walked up to her and took her hand in his. “Let me take care of you.”
Ariadne shook her head. When she looked up at him, she had a sad smile on her face. “You’ve helped me so much. And what I did in return was alienate you from your own family and break your engagement. I cannot possibly ask you to do more for me.”
“Ariadne you speak as if I’m burdened by you.” He shook his head. “You’re the greatest gift in my life. The engagement was not by my own choice. I never wanted to marry Jane. It was always you Ariadne, since the first moment I met you.”
Her eyes widened at his confession and he saw the love in her eyes for him as clear as a spring river’s water. She still wanted him. “But what about your father?”
“He will come around.”
She looked away. “He will resent me for taking you away.”
“You didn’t make me do anything,” Edward said. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “Misunderstandings have happened and I cannot deny that, but it’s nothing you and I can’t fix together.
“We cannot be together, Edward,” Ariadne said.
“Yes, we can,” Edward said. He took a deep breath. “I know things have happened fast in the past two days, but yesterday when I came to your home, my intention was to ask you for your hand in marriage.”
He took the ring out of his pocket and heard her gasp. “Edward—”
“Don’t break my heart by telling me no, Ariadne,” Edward said. “When I saw you walk into the fire yesterday, you don’t know what I went through in that moment. If something would have happened to you, I wouldn’t have hesitated to give up my life.”
Ariadne pushed her finger against his lip. “Don’t you dare say that.”
Edward shook his head. “I love you, Ariadne but you know that. I know you love me back. What is stopping you now?”
She hesitated. He saw a myriad of confusion running through her face.
“Is it about trust?” he asked. It would make sense, considering everything that he had hidden from her.
She shook her head. “That was before. I…I trust you now.”
Something swelled inside him. “Then what is it?”
“You seek a bride, but I don’t have the first idea how to be one. Ladies of the house are expected to know and speak several languages, play the pianoforte, have the perfect lettering or, or come up with all sorts of games for the guests when entertaining,” she stammered.
“Don’t forget the needlework,” Edward reminded her.
Ariadne made a face. “Yes, that too.”
“I remember you sewing me up and doing a very good job of it,” Edward said.
Ariadne glared at him. “You know what I mean, Edward. I’ve seen ladies make beautiful embroideries.”
Edward raised his brow. “It seems as if you’ve given this much thought.” Ariadne blushed and swatted at his shoulder playfully. Edward chuckled. “Besides you don’t need to learn to sew blankets and handkerchiefs when you can make things far more inventive and of much better use.” He nodded to the notebook in her hand and she promptly clutched it to her heart.
“Do you think I can do it, build everything again from scratch?” she asked. Edward felt that dull throb return in his chest. He could taste it in his mouth too. His feelings for her were overwhelming him. He couldn’t let her go again.
“Yes,” he said softly. “And I want to be there to help you with that.”
She looked up at him. “You wouldn’t mind if I continued to work on the inventions and my craft?”
Edward shook his head. “Why would I want to take away the thing that made me fall in love with you in the first place?” He nudged her chin up so that she was looking at him. “I like you as you are, Ariadne. You don’t have to change to fit into my world. You’re already a part of it.”
Ariadne smiled then leaning forward so that their foreheads were touching. There was the sound of throat clearing from the door. Edward looked up to see that Charles was watching them both. He reluctantly stepped away from Ariadne. “Edward there is somebody here to see you.”
Edward had barely time to register his words when his father and mother walked into the flat. His father was trying not to show the disdain on his face while his mother curiously looked around. Immediately at their sight, Ariadne dropped down to curtsy.
