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“I have a better way for you to see the pond,” he said and hurried over to his horse. He dug in the saddle bags and brought out two pairs of skates. “I thought you might be close to the same size as my mother.”
He joined Ellen back at the pond’s edge, holding out the skates to her. She shook her head, giving a short laugh. “I have not skated in years.”
“Nonsense. You will pick it up in no time,” he said. He looked around for a moment and brushed off a fallen log so they would have somewhere to sit and don their skates. She joined him reluctantly, tying on the skates. They were a perfect fit, as he thought they might be.
When they were ready, he held his hand out to her, and she gripped it uneasily. She wobbled as they walked out to the frozen surface of the lake. He tested it to be sure the ice was thick enough before inviting her to join him.
“Come on. It is perfect,” he said and began skating circles around the pond’s centre.
“If you say so,” Ellen said. She was very stiff as she made her way out to him. When she was about a foot away from him, she wobbled to the side and nearly fell. However, before her face could get acquainted with the ice, he steadied her. She clung to his arms, and he set her upright, wrapping his arms around her waist. He began to slowly skate in a circle, bringing her along with him.
He leaned his forehead against hers. “I would never let you fall,” he whispered.
She laughed. “You cannot protect me from everything,” she said.
“Well. If you did fall, I would go with you. Is that better?”
“Yes, it is,” she said matter-of-factly, teasing him back. She turned her attention to the forest that surrounded the pond. “I can see why this was a favourite place of yours. Did you come here often?”
“I did. I always dreamed of bringing you here one day,” he admitted. Immediately, he wondered if he was wise to have revealed so much. She smiled at him, and they began a sort of slow dance around the pond, for she did not seem to want to let go of his arms.
“You had feelings for me for a very long time?” she asked.
He gave a low laugh. “I did. I suppose you think me daft?”
She shook her head. “No. Not anymore. I think it is very sweet that you wanted to bring me here. And I am very glad that you did today. Thank you,” she said softly.
“I would do anything for you, Ellen. Anything at all to make you happy,” Simon said, his desperation coming through in the husky tone of voice. They stopped in the middle of the pond, and he stared deep into her eyes. Dare he tell what he had wanted to share with her for days? He hung his head for a moment, clearing his throat.
“What is wrong?” Ellen asked, concern etched on her face.
Simon let go of her for a second, taking off his gloves. He cupped her face.
“Nothing is wrong. Everything is right, Ellen. I never dreamed you would actually be my wife someday, and I cannot help but think that this is all a dream. These last few days have been some of the best of my life,” he said. A smile crept up his lips.
“I love you,” he said, running his thumbs over her cheeks.
Tears filled her eyes, and she covered his hands with her gloved ones. She nodded, biting her lower lip to try to keep her emotions under control, no doubt. “I love you, too.”
His heart leapt inside his chest, and on impulse, he bent his head toward hers. He gathered her close and kissed her with all the passion he had pent up inside. Gone was the coldness she had exhibited for so long, replaced by a warmth he could not have even hoped for when they were first married. It was as if Ellen was a whole new woman—still imperfect, but perfect for him, nonetheless.
When he ended the kiss, she still clung to him. He laughed and kissed the tip of her nose. For the next hour, they skated around the pond hand in hand, laughing and enjoying the brisk winter air. For him, it would be a memory he would cherish until the day he died.
Chapter 31
December 23rd
Ellen raised her hands to her mouth, blowing into the gloved hands to try to warm them. Simon placed a hand on the small of her back as they walked up to the warehouse. It was the day before Christmas Eve, and they had come to the local workhouse to spread some Christmas cheer and hopefully alleviate some of the sufferings of the people who were trapped in less-than-favourable conditions.
“Do not be nervous. They are people, just like you and I,” Simon whispered to her.
Ellen looked up at him, shaking her head. “I am never afraid of meeting new people. I am dreading the suffering we will see today and the fact that we can do so very little to help them.”
“We can help them today. And my father and I do try to help those we can—finding them jobs in the village. We have employed several people from the workhouse to work around the grounds at Sotheby.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and she leaned into him. For a moment, her body stopped shivering, and she drew strength from him.
“Yes, but there are so many others—” she replied, her voice breaking.
Simon halted outside the door. Ellen looked back at his parents and her parents and younger sisters, who had come to visit the unfortunate people in the workhouse. She looked back at Simon. “Do not become overwhelmed with all the work that must be done. We must see each person and do whatever we can as God leads us.”
