With Love, Louisa by Ashtyn Newbold

Chapter 26

Sitting down on the ground, Louisa tucked her ankles beneath her, twisting a blade of grass anxiously between her fingers. Cassandra sat nearby under the same tree, her bare feet extended out in front of her. She hummed an unfamiliar tune, weaving several blades of grass together on her lap.

Jack had been inside a long time. Louisa didn’t know whether that was good news or bad news. Her heart gave a sudden leap when she caught a glimpse of his brown jacket from across the lawn. She nudged Cassandra, pointing at Jack as he walked in a circle, seemingly searching the grounds for them.

“He’s still alive,” Cassandra said. “That is very good news.”

Louisa laughed.

“Jack!” Cassandra shouted, waving both her hands in the air.

He turned, finally seeming to catch sight of them. His sister stood, brushing the grass from her skirts as she approached him. “Did Papa send you out here or did you come of your own accord?” she asked.

Relief flooded through Louisa as she noticed his smile. She remained where she sat beneath the tree, listening as he relayed the details briefly to his sister. “And he didn’t object when I said Louisa and I would like to visit more often.” His eyes slipped past his sister for what must have been the tenth time, settling on Louisa with a weight that kept her planted on the ground like the tree beside her.

Cassandra glanced over her shoulder at Louisa, a knowing smile twisting her lips. When she faced Jack again, he had already taken one step around her, headed in Louisa’s direction. “I’ll leave you two alone,” Cassandra said, her grin persisting as she meandered back toward the house.

Louisa interlocked her fingers in her lap, looking up at him expectantly. His determined strides set her heart pounding. The same determination flashed in his eyes as he sat down beside her on the grass, rotating until he faced her fully. In the shade, his hair appeared even darker, the freckles on his cheekbones more prominent with the contrasting shadows.

“I’m proud of you,” she said in a quiet voice. “It could not have been easy to tell your father how you felt.”

Jack gave a subtle shake of his head. He stole her hand from her lap and wrapped it up in his. “I wasn’t easy. I’ve been wasting the years wishing he understood what I was feeling rather than explaining it in words.” His eyes wandered over every feature of her face. “It was a mistake I have no intention of ever repeating. I don’t want the same fate to occur between you and me, so I will no longer keep my feelings from you. Not in word, nor in action.”

He drew a deep breath, a half-smile pulling on his lips as he traced a circle over the back of her hand. “You’ve signed your name on my heart, Louisa. I didn’t plan to marry you, and I certainly didn’t plan to fall in love, but that is what has happened. You give me a reason to arise each day, and you give me something to aspire to. I will spend all of my days striving to be worthy to call myself your husband.” He touched the side of her face, cradling her cheek as she leaned against his hand.

She watched the emotion playing across his face, completely entrapped by the sweetness of his words. Her heart raced.

“I make another revision to my proposal,” he said. “I propose a life together that is what you have always dreamed of. I am far from perfect, as you well know, but I promise to try. I want to share every moment and hardship with you. I want our house to be filled with laughter and children and fond memories that they can tell the people they love one day.” His voice cracked. “I want you. I choose you.”

Louisa’s throat constricted with emotion, a broad smile on her lips. Her heart soared. He lowered her hand to the grass, leaning toward her until his forehead touched hers. His arm curved around her waist, warm and safe and strong. “I love you, Louisa. Quite madly, in fact.” The raw sincerity of his words caused tears to sting the back of her eyes. Louisa had always thought that one day a man would fall in love with her and then marry her. She had never expected that he would marry her first and then love her.

She drew a quaking breath, unsure whether to laugh or sob or kiss him. “I wish you could see how wonderful you are,” she said in an accusatory voice. “There is nothing more you need to do to obtain my good opinion or forgiveness.”

“I thought your forgiveness could not be won until I procured you a pineapple? I have been working with my man of business in having one imported, you know.”

She covered her mouth. “You cannot be serious.”

“I am.”

She practically snorted as a laugh burst from her mouth. “I love you.” The confession flooded her with strength, and she leaned toward him with a smile. “Just as madly,” she added with another laugh.

He touched her face, his fingers grazing her cheek as a grin curled his lips. “Are you certain my snoring won’t be enough to change your mind?”

She took his face between her hands. “I’ll learn to tolerate it.” The poor man could hardly smile with the cut on his lip. She wanted to kiss the pain away, but she feared kissing him would only make it worse. He seemed to have forgotten his injury, brushing his lips across hers. He winced, and she carefully drew her thumb across his mouth, stopping him from making a second attempt. Her heart skittered wildly as he groaned with frustration.

“Blasted Whitby,” he muttered.

She giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck as his arms encircled her waist. He tipped backward on the grass, pulling her down with him. She could feel his heartbeat against her own chest as she left a trail of kisses over his bruised jaw, caressing his face as she pressed her lips slowly to each injury. There were so many after all.

“Will you allow me to drive the curricle over the bridge today?” Louisa asked, propping herself up on his chest. They had missed her lesson the day before, and he had promised that he would finally allow her to take the reins on the bridge that spanned the river.

Jack smiled, tucking one hand behind where his head rested on the grass. “I confess, I would rather stay right here all day.”

Her face warmed, and she wondered if she would ever become accustomed to his flirting. Still, she couldn’t stop her smile. “Jack, please?”

He gazed up at her with a mischievous grin. “Very well, but I have three stipulations.”

A laugh bubbled out of her chest, and his own laughter rumbled against her. He beckoned her closer, whispering his stipulations in her ear.

They were far too flirtatious to repeat.