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As the sun began to wane in the sky, they took seats in the park. It was quite a full park, and Nathan was not the only little one there. Soon enough, he was playing with the other children who had come to see the event, though their parents frequently shushed their louder shouts so the adults could hear the music.
When their picnic was done, Leo looked around, watching the couples together. Maeve and Benjamin were at peace, completely content, sitting side by side, hand in hand as they listened to the music. Lord Gloucester and Miss Baker were bent toward one another, whispering, eager to talk.
I wish to speak freely.
The thought gave Leo an idea. He stood from his seat, earning Chloe’s gaze from where she had been sat beside him.
“Where are you going?” she whispered.
“For a quick walk.”
“With whom?” she asked, her eyebrows quirking high. He smiled and offered her his hand.
“With you, if you will say yes.”
Chloe smiled before placing her hand in his. He pulled her to his feet and away from the crowd, noticing that Maeve tried to stand as well, as if to follow them, until Benjamin pulled her back down again. Leo made a mental note to thank Benjamin later.
“Where are we going?” Chloe asked after they had put some distance between themselves and the open-air concert behind them.
“Somewhere we can talk.” Leo led her over a small bridge and toward the river. It was the same place they had come before and taken boats out onto the water. When he saw the boats, he hesitated by the dock, deep in thought.
“You wish to go out on the water?” Chloe asked in surprise.
“We could, couldn’t we?” Leo asked, drawing her toward the water.
“Last time you splashed me with water!”
“I shall try not to this time, I promise.” As Leo stepped into the nearest boat, he noticed Chloe eagerly following him. Within minutes, they had untied the boat and rowed out across the water. The sun was drifting down in the sky a little more, the orange becoming streaked with purple clouds, so that Chloe looked quite ethereal to his mind, gazing at the sunset.
“Quite beautiful,” she murmured, staring at that light.
“Beautiful moment,” he agreed, earning a soft smile from her. Once they were in the middle of the water, Leo left off the oars.
Now is the time.
“Chloe?”
“Yes?” She shifted her focus completely to him.
“There’s something I wanted to ask you. Alone.” He began slowly, rather nervously.
“Is that why we had to row all the way out into this river before you could ask me?” she asked mischievously.
“This is not the time for teasing,” he said, though he laughed with the words.
“No time for teasing? I do not remember agreeing to that!” She laughed too. Deciding there was a better way to get her attention, he balanced the oars on the boat edge and reached forward, taking her hand. At once her laughter died, and she looked at him, wide-eyed. “Oh . . . is this a serious moment?”
“I’m hoping so,” Leo said, aware his voice had deepened. “Chloe, this last week since you have been back in London, and you and I . . . we . . .”
“Have barely spent a day apart?” Chloe offered to finish the sentence with a smile.
“Just so.” He nodded. “I do not think I have known such happiness. With that in mind,thisis what I wanted to ask you.” Pausing, with his other hand he reached into his pocket. He had picked out the very ring he desired yesterday, so certain that Chloe would love it. Revealing the ring box, he presented it to her, watching as a breathy gasp escaped her lips.
“Is that a . . .?” She didn’t quite finish the sentence, her own nerves apparently taking over.
“Chloe, I—”
“Yes!” She said with sudden firmness.
