The Davenports(77)

“Ugh, I’ll tell you, but you can’t interrupt me or say anything until I say so.” Helen narrowed her eyes at her brother. He sat straighter in his chair and nodded. His serious expression made her more nervous. This is John. Helen knew she could tell her brother anything. So, she did. Every detail and confused feeling, as she stared into the fire.

“Now I feel awful, and I know it’s my fault,” she said when she came to the end of her story, because what it felt like was the end of things with Jacob Lawrence.

John had done as promised. He’d listened without stepping in or asking questions. When Helen was finished, she felt more exhausted than ever. She remained composed. The threat of tears, though, was not far away. “Okay, you can speak now.” She braced herself for a scolding that would support the guilt and unhappiness she felt.

It didn’t come. Instead, her brother asked, “Do you believe what he said? That he might love you?”

Helen didn’t doubt it for a moment. “Yes.”

“Then he and Livy shouldn’t get married. It’d be a sham, a loveless future for them both. And then what? We all live miserably ever after? You’ll end up avoiding each other to escape heartache and you’ll lose love and your sister. You will tell her, right?” John got up and squeezed himself into the seat beside her. His words needled her. He was right. She hated when he was right, especially now that he was smothering her.

Her hip began to ache under his weight. He sat and waited for her answer as if he wasn’t planning to move until he got it.

“I will,” she said, flustered.

John kissed the top of her head, rubbed her shoulders, and left Helen staring into the cold firebox, more confused than ever.





CHAPTER 34


    Ruby



The air smelled like fresh cut grass. It soothed Ruby’s frayed nerves as she scanned her surroundings. She held her parasol higher against the midday sun and stood near the copse of trees by the lake, where she and Harrison Barton shared a kiss that nearly did her in. Her pulse quickened at the memory. With Olivia’s help, he had received her note in time to meet her here. She hoped the spot would remind him of how happy they’d both been that afternoon.

As far as her parents knew, she and Mr. Barton would continue their courtship until John was secured. What her parents didn’t know was that there would be no her and John.

A bead of sweat ran down Ruby’s back. A sudden breeze brought much needed relief and the woodsy scent of Mr. Barton’s cologne. She turned, and the sight of him made her ache. The dappled light through the leaves sent sunlight dancing across his face.

“Miss Tremaine,” he said politely.

Ruby swallowed and straightened her spine. If he didn’t want to see you, he would not have come, she told herself. “Thank you for meeting me.” She didn’t know where to start. Her mouth was so dry. This may be her one chance to convince Harrison Barton that her feelings were true. When she saw his eyes dart to the copse of trees, and the spark of recognition, she knew she’d made the right choice. He needed to hear it all as much as she needed to say it.

“Why are we here, Ruby?” he asked, his voice strained.

“I want to apologize. For everything.”

He shook his head. “You already did. This”—he gestured toward the trees—“wasn’t necessary.” He took a step back.

“I haven’t stopped thinking about you, Harrison,” she blurted.

He paused and relief flooded every inch of her. Her fingertips tingled. Ruby licked her lips. She met his hazel eyes with determination, and all the feelings she couldn’t put into words.

“I trusted you.”

“I know,” she said. “I can’t change why I did what I did, but I will never regret meeting you and . . . knowing you. You are one of the best people I have ever met.” Ruby cleared her throat. She stood firm as he studied her face. Finally, she asked the question she feared most: “Will you give me another chance?”

He closed his eyes as hers filled with tears. “Yes.”

Ruby’s knees gave way and she sat hard in the grass. He settled next to her, drawing her to him. She rested her head on his chest, hearing his heartbeat. Her fear of rejection had occupied a space so great that the next breath shuddered. They held on to each other. Mr. Barton rubbed small circles in the middle of her back. Ruby wasn’t sure how long they stayed like this. Long enough for her neck to ache and her feet to fall asleep in her heeled boots. Gently, he created space between them. Ruby brushed away the salt and moisture from her cheeks.

He held out his handkerchief to her. “And what about your parents?”

“They’ll come around. They just want me to be happy,” she said quickly, not ready for anything to puncture this bliss. I’ll tell Mother the full truth today, she thought. No John. Only Harrison. There’s plenty of time.

He hesitated a fraction, then stood, pulling her to her feet. He searched her eyes. And then he kissed her, cool and gentle, and then firmer, deeper. The tension that had gripped Ruby released, pushing her on to her toes and closing the gap between them. His arms went around her. She tasted the salt of her tears and the sweetness that was Harrison Barton and the hope she dared to hold on to.



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