Dalton’s Challenge by Penny Fairbanks
Chapter 16
What a strange day it had been. He had not wanted to tour Harboard with the rest of his family. Caroline had somehow managed to convince him. He had not wanted to come to Wiltshire at all, knowing that he would be in the same county as Winnie.
As Dalton drank in her beautiful features—eyes of deep green like fields during the heart of summer, lips soft and sweet like clouds—and absorbed her incredible, astounding words, a warm blanket of tranquility enveloped him.
He certainly had not expected to run into Winnie here, to be forgiven so wholeheartedly—to know, even before she said it, that she loved him as much as he loved her.
“Are you sure, Winnie? If you say yes now, I am afraid there will be no going back for you,” he chuckled softly, removing her hand from his cheek to place it over his heart, beating with a strength and certainty he had never felt before. “I would not blame you at all if you did hate me for the rest of your life. I have certainly earned it.”
Winnie gave an exasperated sigh. “Of course I am sure. I would not be here if I was not truly, completely sure.” Her fingers clutched at the fabric of his coat, her eyes traveling over his face with longing.
“Then allow me to apologize again—for what I said on the hilltop, for what I said in London, for generally being an irksome presence in your life. Just so you know, I did not truly think you boring. I, too, envied you. I envied your quiet grace and the way you spoke of the serious things in life. I feared them, and your unflinching resolve showed me just how foolish I really was.”
“You see, Dolly?” She grinned up at him, the sight setting Dalton’s heart aflame with love. Even that sweet, silly nickname she had joked about before sounded so wonderful. “We are very different, yet we complement each other perfectly. I make you a little more sensible, and you make me so much brighter.”
With his other hand, Dalton trailed his fingers down Winnie’s cheek. She was even softer and warmer than he had imagined. “Nonsense, my dear. You are bright on your own, and I am so very glad that you are showing it more. Though I do hope you will reserve this just for me.”
He bent his head, his lips now just an inch away from Winnie’s, his heart pounding with joy.
“Wait just a moment,” Winnie announced quietly as she pulled away slightly. “I am afraid I cannot allow you to kiss me until you have said…” She dropped her eyes, a beautiful rosy blush spreading across her cheeks.
Dalton laughed, his first real laugh in weeks. It lifted him up to heights he had never thought possible. “As you wish.” He tilted Winnie’s chin up again, encouraging her to look him in the eyes. She stared up at him, calm and hopeful. “I love you so very, very much, Winnie.”
Her face split into a beaming smile, tears of happiness shimmering in her eyes. “I love you, too, Dalton. You may kiss me now.”
Dalton hummed thoughtfully, taking a moment to enjoy those wonderful words. “Are you sure? This is quite public. Or have you thrown all propriety out the window?”
Winnie tried to frown, but her smile refused to be hidden. “I am sure. Though I suppose it must be quick…this time.”
Still smiling, Dalton finally closed the distance between them. Nothing had felt more perfect, more exhilarating, more euphoric than Winnie’s lips against his. That one simple kiss held all their love, their unusual past, and their wonderful future.
When Winnie did not pull away, Dalton took it upon himself to resume their propriety. Winnie stared back at him, her eyes pleading for him to continue. As much as Dalton wanted to—indeed, he had never wanted anything more than to keep kissing Winnie—he knew they should not risk it yet.
“Do not worry, love. We will have many more kisses soon. In fact, there will be so many that you will likely get sick of them,” he chuckled, brushing his thumb over her lips.
Winnie grinned again, her blush deepening. “I suppose you will just have to keep kissing me until we see if I grow sick of them.”
“It would be my honor,” Dalton whispered, “to vex you until the end of our days.”
Winnie laughed, the sound bubbling up through her and flooding Dalton’s ears. Goodness gracious, did he love her! His soul sang with such profound joy and love that he thought he might take flight and soar through the sky.
“There is only one way you will be able to achieve that,” Winnie stuttered through her giggles.
“Indeed.” Dalton nodded sagely before taking both Winnie’s hands in his, bringing them up to his lips for another kiss. “Will you be my wife, Winnie?”
Even though Dalton had not planned on asking that question for many years, it felt so natural and perfect now—only for Winnie. He knew deep in his heart that he could never ask this question to any other woman. It could only ever be Winnie.
The prospect of marrying no longer brought terror. It brought bliss, excitement, and peace all at once—because he would marry Winnie. Marriage would bring some of those responsibilities Dalton had once dreaded. With Winnie’s hands in his, he knew he would be able to face anything life had in store for him. They would face it together. She truly was his other half.
Winnie did not answer right away, her bottom lip trembling and her eyes shining. “Darling?” Dalton prompted gently.
“Yes, Dalton,” Winnie whispered breathlessly. “I would love to be your wife.”
Her dam broke, tears racing down her cheeks faster than Dalton could wipe them away. She giggled shyly, lowering her face.
“There is no need for that, my beautiful Winnie.” Dalton gripped her chin again, encouraging her to look at him. “You do not need to hide any part of yourself from me.”
“And the same is true for you.” Winnie pulled her chin out of Dalton’s grip, instead nuzzling her cheek into the palm of his hand. “Because I love you, and I am your partner in everything.”
Winnie’s words sent another jolt of happiness through Dalton. He knew right away that he would never tire of hearing them or saying them. “I love you, too. But I suppose we cannot stay on this bench saying it back and forth forever, can we?”
The corner of Winnie’s mouth pulled down in a thoughtful frown. “I suppose you are right. There is much we must prepare for the wedding.”
Dalton chuckled, standing from the bench and holding his hand out for Winnie. She took it and he pulled her to her feet, looping her arm through his. “That is very true, though I meant finding my family and sharing the good news. My mind had not gone quite that far yet.”
“I know, my dear. That is why you have me.” Winnie patted Dalton’s arm with a sly smile.
Dalton lowered his head, his lips just brushing against her ear. “And I am so very, very lucky to have you.”
Every memberof the Harcourt family buzzed with excitement as their carriage made its way to Risin Hall, but none more so than Dalton. Mr. And Mrs. Thirley had invited them for dinner to celebrate his engagement to Winnie. Dalton’s only regret was that Anna, Noah, and Beth could not be there to celebrate with them. He had sent a letter off to them as soon as he returned to Mr. Holland’s home and could not wait to read her excited reaction.
Dalton chuckled quietly to himself as he remembered everyone else’s reactions yesterday. Had he proposed to Winnie just yesterday? Time had seemed so inconsequential to Dalton since Winnie had appeared beside him on the bench like an angel.
Harriet had thrown her arms around his waist while Patrick clapped him on the shoulder with a wide grin. Mama had immediately taken Winnie’s hands, both women tearing up with joy. Papa had given Dalton a proud nod, later taking him aside to tell him how thrilled he was and how happy he knew Winnie would make him.
Then there had been Caroline. As his younger sister sat beside him in the carriage now, Dalton wondered if perhaps she actually was more excited than him. She smiled as she stared out the window, gently humming some sweet tune. Caroline did not even bat an eye when Harriet, who sat between them, tugged at the fingertips of her glove.
Dalton’s heart flooded with love and appreciation for his sister. Yesterday, when Dalton and Winnie had rejoined his family—no, their family—Caroline had stood back, allowing everyone else to rush forward and congratulate the couple. When Dalton had managed to extract himself from Mama’s embrace, he had noticed Caroline watching the joyful scene, one hand pressed to her mouth as silent tears slid down her cheeks.
“Caroline, I wanted to thank you for all your help with this,” he started quietly, a lump forming in his throat as he realized that everyone in the carriage had directed their focus on him.
The young woman turned to face him with a serene look in her eyes. “A new hand mirror will do just fine.”
The whole carriage burst into laughter, Dalton the loudest of all. That was their Caroline—a heart of gold with more than a pinch of pragmatism.
When the Harcourts finally made it to the front steps of Risin Hall, Dalton’s stomach erupted in dizzying flutters. He could not wait to see Winnie even though he had seen her just yesterday. He could not wait to kiss Winnie even though he had kissed her just yesterday. Dalton never wanted to spend another moment apart from her. These past two weeks had been torture, believing that Winnie would take her hatred for him to the grave.
Somehow, despite all the mistakes he had made, she still loved him. Soon, she would be his wife. She would be Mrs. Harcourt, and someday, Lady Welsted.
The Thirleys’ butler led them upstairs toward the drawing room, Dalton’s heart nearly leaping out of his chest in his eagerness to get to Winnie.
“Patience, son,” Mama chuckled at Dalton’s side as she put a calming hand on his arm.
“I am afraid I must disobey.” Dalton grinned down at the baroness, his elation impossible to mask. “I am on the verge of spending my life with the woman I love and adore above all else. How can I be patient?”
Mama shook her head, bemused. “I suppose you have a point. Just try not to gallop through the Thirleys’ home in your excitement.”
“That I think I can manage.” Dalton bent down to kiss his mother on the top of her head. “Harriet, on the other hand…”
Dalton and Mama looked ahead to see Patrick with a tight grip on Harriet’s shoulder. She looked as though she would break free and race down the hall at any moment, her boundless energy barely contained by her older brother’s firm hand.
Mama let out a heavy sigh. “This will be a long night. And she is so terribly eager to see Master Thirley and update him on all of Sandy’s mischief. Hopefully, they will keep each other out of too much trouble.”
When they finally reached the doors of the drawing room, Dalton felt ready to explode with happiness. His eyes found her immediately. They would always find her, no matter where they were. That was what Dalton and Winnie did. They always found each other.
Winnie stood from the sofa after giving Warren’s collar one last tug to make it perfect. Her eyes found Dalton, too, shining with love and anticipation. As Mr. and Mrs. Thirley welcomed the Harcourts, Winnie mouthed the three words Dalton had chosen as his favorites in the entire English language.
I love you.
He smiled softly, his heart slowing down to a steady, peaceful rhythm. I love you, too, he mouthed back.
To everyone’s amusement, Caroline burst forward and rushed to Winnie. “Oh, sister! I am so very happy!” she cried as she squeezed Winnie in a tight embrace, her voice trembling with emotion.
Winnie hugged her back, peering at Dalton over Caroline’s shoulder, her expression full of joy and laughter. Dalton watched with complete contentment. Yes, Winnie would fit into his family so perfectly.
“Thank you, dear Caroline,” Winnie gasped once the younger woman let her go. “This would not have been possible without you.”
Caroline looked back at Dalton, gesturing for him to join. He strode forward, his eyes never leaving Winnie’s perfect face, the chandelier above casting a beautiful halo around her.
“I will take credit for this particular plan, but I truly believe you two would have found your way back to each other eventually, with or without my help,” Caroline said, taking Dalton’s hand in hers. She smiled up at her brother with pride.
“I am sure you are right, sister. Winnie and I seem to have a way of crossing paths when we least expect it.”
“And thank God for that.” Winnie beamed at them both before stepping aside, tilting her head for Dalton to follow.
“I missed you so very much.” She smiled, slipping her hand into his as they separated themselves from the group.
“I missed you as well.” Dalton brushed his thumb against the back of Winnie’s gloved hand, desperate to take her in his arms, though he knew that might be embarrassing to do in front of their families.
Suddenly, Winnie pulled away, turning to face him. Her hands gripped his forearms, her eyes conveying a secret message before she glanced over at the group. Dalton’s heart skipped, knowing that she had the same thought.
Sensing their gazes, Caroline looked over her shoulder at Winnie and Dalton. With a mischievous smile, she spun around on her heels, marching toward the opposite wall.
“My goodness, what a lovely painting! Come, everyone, look. Please tell us the history of this excellent piece,” Caroline announced, drawing everyone’s attention to a large portrait of an austere-looking couple.
Dalton silently thanked Caroline, promising to get her both a new hand mirror and a box of her favorite bonbons. She had taken their cue perfectly, borrowing an old trick Dalton had used to buy Anna a moment alone with Noah.
He wasted no time, grasping Winnie’s face in his hands, crashing their lips together. He could feel her inhale sharply before melting into his touch, her lips gently moving against his. Dalton had never known that lips could be this soft and sweet yet bold and confident yet loving all at once. Then again, that was exactly who Winnie was.
Dalton smiled into the kiss. He knew he would never grow tired of this, and he knew that Winnie would not either. Her hands came up to rest on his chest and he pulled her closer, arms encircling her waist. Nothing else mattered but this beautiful moment between them. Everything had led them to this moment—from their terrible first outing, to their many uncomfortable meetings throughout London, to the summer they spent learning and growing from each other.
Now the future looked amazing to Dalton. He still had his worries, but he knew that together, he and Winnie could overcome anything.
“You have such wonderful taste, Mrs. Thirley!” Caroline cried, the shrill tone in her voice signaling that their moment of privacy had come to an end.
The couple pulled apart, smiling breathlessly. They glanced over at their families. No one seemed to suspect them. Dalton breathed a sigh of relief until Mama looked over her shoulder, her brow raised knowingly.
Winnie clapped a hand over her mouth, her ears growing redder than Dalton had ever seen. He laughed, gently pinching the tip of one ear before tucking a strand of golden hair behind it.
“Your mother saw!” Winnie gasped, staring up at him with wide eyes.
“Perhaps,” Dalton chuckled. “But she is your mother now, too. And I can tell from here that she does not mind. She simply likes to tease sometimes. I get that from her. Maybe one of ours will inherit that as well?”
Excitement quickly replaced Winnie’s embarrassment. “If he or she does, I am sure I will be asking for plenty of advice from the baroness.” She smiled with such contentment and warmth that Dalton nearly bent down to kiss her again. Patience, he reminded himself. They had the rest of their lives for that. Winnie took Dalton’s hand, guiding them back to their families.
Whenever Winnie looked up at him with her bright, loving smile, Dalton saw his whole future unfolding in her eyes. His future would be beautiful with Winnie by his side.