Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Julian arrived precisely at nine o'clock, leading our horses.
I offered my hand to Honey, who sniffed delicately before allowing me to stroke her neck. Her coat was like silk under my fingers, and she leaned into the touch with obvious pleasure. “How are you darling?” I cooed to her.
"I think she likes you," Julian observed with a smile that made my heart flutter.
"I like her as well. She has character."
"Rather like her rider."
The compliment, delivered with just the right combination of admiration and teasing, made me duck my head to hide my pleased smile.
After Julian checked the mare's tack with careful attention, he assisted me into the saddle with hands that lingered perhaps longer than strictly necessary at my waist. The contact sent familiar warmth through my entire body, and I caught his eye as he stepped back.
"Comfortable?" he asked, though something in his tone suggested he wasn't entirely referring to the saddle.
"Very," I replied, settling into the mare's smooth gait as we moved away from the house.
The statement, delivered with such quiet sincerity, made my pulse quicken. We rode in comfortable silence for several minutes, both of us clearly enjoying the crisp morning air and the pleasure of being mounted on excellent horses.
After a moment, he sighed. “I know I need to apologize for my abysmal behavior yesterday.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “Did you really attempt to out-stay Timothy for the whole of one day?”
He rotated his shoulders. “I know it places me in the category of ridiculous rooster of a man, trying to claim territory or something.” He eyed me a moment and then looked away.
“But I don’t like that he has no history with you.
He can have a fresh start and a part of me worries that he will sway your… affections.” His head drooped.
“Julian.” My voice was soft but he lifted his gaze to mine. “I’m afraid you do have something to worry about.”
His eyes sharpened and he straightened his back as though preparing to receive a blow.
I took pity immediately. “By that I mean only that were you to ever tire of me, you could not be rid of my affections. You won me over as a steward. We’ve already had our first major disagreement.
And now I find out you’re actually a Lord?
Not a steward? I might become one of those ladies at the assembly all but ready to swoon at your feet.
“Oh Lord Avebury! I have a free dance for you if you’d like. ” I batted my eyelashes for emphasis.
At this he leaned his head back and laughed. “You, acting as one of them would be a sight.” He wiped his eyes. “Oh Eliza. I’m well aware I don’t deserve you, but thank you for that. I’m afraid this is all too new yet for me to feel confident in what we might create together.”
“It is for me too. And perhaps it is time I let our friend Timothy know that his efforts are falling on uninterested ears…”
His eyes filled with hope. But he didn’t respond.
We had reached a small stream that meandered through a grove of ancient oak trees, their branches creating a natural canopy overhead. Julian suggested we rest the horses, and he dismounted near the water's edge where the animals could drink.
He lifted his large warm hands up to help me down and lowered me to the ground as though I weighed very little.
But he didn’t release me right away. He held me close, his hands still cradling my hips, his strong arms around me.
His warmth radiated through me and sent happy gooseflesh up my core.
His expression stole my breath. He tenderly studied my face, my eyes, my lips…
"Eliza," he said quietly, "I need you to know that everything I said the other day was true. I love you for exactly who you are, and I want to build a life that honors both of our dreams."
So captured by his intensity, by my feelings for him, I couldn’t look away.
"One where we work together as equals. Where your charitable interests are supported and expanded. Where decisions affecting both of us are made through discussion rather than assumption. I need a lady for my estate. I need you, Eliza."
He brought his hands up to frame my face, his thumbs brushing across my cheekbones with devastating gentleness.
"I want to wake up every morning knowing that I get to spend another day earning your smile," he continued. "I want to grow old with someone who challenges me to think differently and supports me when I need strength."
"Julian..."
"I want to love you and be loved by you for the rest of my life."
Instead of responding with words, I rose on my toes and kissed him, pouring all my hopes and fears and growing certainty into the contact.
His response was immediate and overwhelming, his arms coming around me to pull me closer as we lost ourselves in the connection that had always felt so natural between us.
I never knew that kissing could be like this.
His mouth moved over mine as though he would never get enough.
I responded as best I could, pouring my love into him.
My hands moved up his chest and I stood taller on my toes to reach him better.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Julian rested his forehead against mine.
"Then you'll dine with me tomorrow evening? You and your sisters?"
"Yes," I said softly. "I'd like that very much."
"Good. I want to show you my home properly, to share that part of my life with you."
As we remounted our horses and began the ride back to Wyndham Hall, I found myself thinking about the future he had described.
A partnership built on mutual respect, shared values, and genuine affection.
The freedom to pursue meaningful work while having someone to share both successes and challenges.
It sounded like everything I had never dared hope for.
"Shall we stop by the foundling home on our way back?" Julian suggested as we approached the village. "I'd like to see how the Christmas preparations are progressing."
"What a lovely idea."
The cottage was bustling with activity when we arrived. Mrs. Hartley was overseeing reading lessons for the older children while little Mary practiced her angel voice in the corner, her arms spread wide in imitation of heavenly wings.
"Mrs. Tynsdale!" Mary called when she saw us, abandoning her performance to run over. "Listen to what I learned!"
She proceeded to recite a surprisingly lengthy passage about the nativity with obvious pride, stumbling only slightly over the more complex words.
"That's beautiful, Mary," I said, crouching to her level. "You've been working very hard."
"Tom's been helping me with the big words," she said importantly. "And Mrs. Hartley says I'm almost ready for the real performance."
Julian had moved to examine the wooden toys Mr. Henley had delivered, speaking quietly with Mrs. Hartley about the children's progress. I was watching their interaction when Victoria appeared at my elbow.
"The children seem remarkably content," she observed, studying the scene with thoughtful attention.
"They are. Having stability and care has made an enormous difference in their behavior and learning."
Victoria nodded, but I noticed her gaze had settled on the newest addition to the household—a baby girl who couldn't be more than six months old, currently sleeping peacefully in a basket near the fire.
"She's beautiful," Victoria said softly. "Where did she come from?"
"She was found at the church steps three weeks ago. No note, no indication of her family circumstances."
"How heartbreaking for her mother. To be forced to give up such a precious child."
I studied my sister's profile, noting an unexpected depth of emotion in her expression. "Victoria, are you well?"
"Of course. It's simply... difficult to imagine the desperation that would drive a woman to such an extreme."
Mrs. Hartley approached with a ledger tucked under her arm.
"Mrs. Tynsdale, if you have a moment, I wanted to show you our record-keeping system.
We document everything we know about each child's circumstances—where they were found, any belongings or notes, physical descriptions that might help if family members ever come looking. "
"How thorough," Victoria said, her interest clearly piqued. "May I see?"
Mrs. Hartley opened the ledger to reveal careful entries for each child, including detailed notes about their arrival circumstances and any clues about their backgrounds.
"This is remarkable," Victoria said, studying the pages with intense focus. "Such careful attention to detail could prove invaluable if relatives ever seek to reconnect."
"That's our hope. Every child deserves to know their story, even if they can't return to their original families."
I watched Victoria examine the records with growing curiosity about her unusual investment in the documentation process. There was something almost urgent in her attention to the details, though I couldn't imagine what might drive such interest.
"Perhaps you might help us improve the system?" I suggested. "Your organizational skills could be quite valuable for such record-keeping."
"I... yes, I'd like that very much."
After spending another hour at the cottage, during which Victoria continued to show remarkable interest in the children's histories and care, we finally departed for home.
"Your sister seems quite taken with the foundling home," Julian observed as we rode back to Wyndham Hall.
"Yes, though I'm not entirely certain why. She's never shown particular interest in children before."
"Perhaps seeing their circumstances has awakened her maternal instincts."
"Perhaps."
But as I watched Victoria's thoughtful silence during our ride home, I suspected there was something deeper behind her sudden fascination with orphaned children and their mysterious origins.