“Which was . . . ?” she prompted when he began perusing the sky again.
He abandoned the perusing and caught her eye. “You were right once again, about everything.”
She blinked. “Everything?”
He took a single step closer to her. “That will take some time to explain, so before I launch into a long list of matters you were right about, is there somewhere we could go where we won’t be interrupted? It’ll be easier on me if I can get everything out without losing my train of thought.”
“You’ve never struck me as a gentleman who suffers from losing your thoughts.”
He smiled. “Oh, I’m not, generally, but you have the uncanny ability to make me lose my train of thought often.”
She couldn’t resist returning his smile. “The barn has some hay bales we could use. We’ll be uninterrupted because the staff are in the fields with the sheep.”
“That sounds perfect.”
After taking his arm, Gwendolyn walked with Walter toward the barn, her pulse skittering every which way, especially when he kept glancing at her with something warm in his eyes.
What the warmth meant remained to be seen, but it was lending her a sense of anticipation, which was completely unexpected given she’d convinced herself Walter was not meant to ever be a part of her life.
She steered Walter toward the hay bale she’d recently abandoned, and after they got settled her pulse hitched up another notch when he took hold of her hand.
“Where was I?”
“You were at the part where you mentioned I was right—and apparently about everything.”
“Adelaide was the one who suggested I open with that. She had a feeling it would capture your attention.”
“And capture it you have, so . . . ?”
“I’ve made the decision to cut back the hours I spend working, something I would have never done if you’d not opened my eyes and forced me to see what my children really need, which is me. I’ve been horribly deficient with their care, but you made me see how special they are and how much they need me. That’s why I’ve also decided I don’t need to marry to provide them with a mother.”
Something heavy settled in her stomach. “I . . . see.”
He annoyed her when he smiled. “I’m fairly sure you don’t, but given the flicker of flames beginning to ignite in your eyes, allow me to finish this quickly before they burst into a bonfire.”
“I don’t have flames in my eyes.”
“Oh, you do. So, returning to your being right about everything, your advice was exactly right when you encouraged me, along with everyone else, to set the bar higher. I’ve now decided to set my bar on the highest rung, because I don’t want to marry a woman I merely rub along nicely with. I want to marry a woman because I know I’ll be able to live an extraordinary life with her, filled with laughter and adventure—but more importantly, love.”
Her breath caught in her throat. “I . . . see?”
In a blink of an eye, Walter was suddenly kneeling beside her. “There are many more things I know I’m supposed to say to you if I stick to the plan, but I believe I should simply get to the most important part. You, Gwendolyn Brinley, swept into my life and aggravated me to no end, refusing to take me on to find a match, and then grudgingly taking up my case when I bribed Mrs. Parker to do so. You then decided I needed to marry for love and tried so diligently to find me that love. But you were destined for failure, because . . . no lady you introduced to me could ever compare to you.”
Tears stung the back of Gwendolyn’s eyes, and she found the simple task of taking a breath difficult. Before she could do more than suck in a much-needed gulp of air when she began to turn light-headed, Walter squeezed her hand.
“You gave me my children back and made me see there are so many possibilities in life I never considered. Do I believe you’ll make a wonderful mother to my children? Of course, but I don’t want to marry you because of that. I want to marry you because you’ve brought joy into my life, and you’ve also allowed me to hope that I can spend my life with a woman I don’t merely tolerate, but one I can love madly for the rest of my days.”
When Walter suddenly stopped talking, Gwendolyn turned and discovered Ethel, Matilda, Oscar, Samuel, Priscilla, and her mother peering around one of the sheep stalls.
“Are you going to be our mother yet?” Priscilla called.
“I’m not quite finished, darling,” Walter called back.
“Did you tell her the part where you’ve raised the bar, done so because you want her, and she’s the highest you’ve ever dared hope for?” Oscar called.
“I believe I said something similar to that.”
“What did you say exactly?” Ethel called next.
“I don’t remember, but I’m rather busy at the moment. Feel free to stay, but you’re going to have to wait with additional comments or suggestions until I’m done.”
“What use would suggestions be if you’re done?” Matilda asked.
Walter caught Gwendolyn’s eye. “I think I’m losing control of this situation.”
She smiled. “Then by all means, get on with it.”
“My thoughts exactly.” He cleared his throat. “To sum up the plan, I want to marry you, Gwendolyn, not because of the children, although—”
“We want you to marry him,” Samuel called. “And Rat and Bert want you to marry him too.”
“But before you say yes, ask him to buy you a farm just like this one, with a treehouse,” Priscilla called next. “We love the treehouse.”
“I will buy Gwendolyn whatever she wants, live with her wherever she wants, never attend another society event if that’s what she wants . . . but may I please finish?” Walter called.
“Well, then stop talking to us and start talking to Gwendolyn,” Ethel said.
Walter blew out a breath and leaned closer to Gwendolyn. “I wasn’t intending to say all this with an audience present, nor was I expecting them to critique everything that comes out of my mouth. However, if you answer my next question the way I dearly hope you will, I suppose we’ll frequently have an audience.”
She felt tears sting her eyes again and managed to send Walter a wobbly smile, one he apparently took as a sign of encouragement, because he returned the smile and gave her hand another squeeze.
“Without further ado, and before Priscilla decides to ask for something else, like her own yacht . . .” Walter leaned closer still. “Gwendolyn Brinley, I love you. I don’t know exactly when I stopped finding you to be the most annoying woman I’d ever met and started finding you to be the most fascinating, but . . .”
“He’s gone off the rails again,” Gwendolyn heard Matilda say, which had her lips twitching.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Walter muttered. “As I was saying, I find you fascinating, I’m in love with you, and if you possibly return even a smidgen of that love, please put me out of the misery I’ve been feeling ever since you left Newport. Tell me you hold me in some affection, or at least find me pleasant enough to where you’ll agree to marry me.”
A single tear fell from her eye. “I find you more than pleasant.”