Page 15 of Improper Proposal
“These are delicious,” I say, and Claire beams at me. Bronwyn delivers me a cup of coffee, and I give her a grateful smile.
“What are your plans for today, Will?” Claire asks.
“Nothing, really.”
“Maybe after we finish our gardening, you could take Harper into town. She’d probably love to see the museum.”
My eyes snap up—that will give us the perfect opportunity to talk in private—but I school my features into polite interest, not wanting to sound too eager. “Oh, that would be nice.”
Will hesitates, then his gaze roams my face. His jaw relaxes, something inside him softening, and he says, “I…sure. If that’s what you want.”
“Yeah, I do,” I say.
Everyone goes back to their pancakes and conversation picks up again. I listen to them talk about work and learn that Claire, Bronwyn, and Annabella are all nurses at the hospital. Ned, who is George’s father, and his other sons all work at the bank. I smile to myself at how the kids followed in their parents’ footsteps. Grandma and Gramps are both retired and live here in the castle. The cousins have various jobs, and every member of the family lives nearby.
After our plates are empty, I help Claire with the dishes and everyone files out to get on with their day. Annabella excuses herself—she has a shift at the hospital—and Claire, Bronwyn, and I head to the shed out back. I take in the gardens and annuals as we walk the cobblestone path.
“Your flowers are gorgeous,” I say. “Do you do all this yourself?”
“Bronwyn and I enjoy our gardens. It’s something we do together.”
My heart pinches. “That’s so nice. It’s nice how close you all are,” I say quietly.
Claire puts her arm around me. “Well, you and George might not yet be married, but you’re a part of our family now, too.”
Guilt swamps me. I need to put an end to this now, no matter how much I love the idea of belonging, being a part of this big family. I take a deep breath and rack my brain. How do I tell them about the pact, and that George might somehow be involved, without coming off as crazy or desperate?
“Claire,” I begin, but Bronwyn stumbles from the shed and falls, the roll of burlap she was carrying rolling away.
“I’m okay,” she yells, and I can’t help but laugh. Of course, as I do, it reminds me of earlier, and how Will laughed when I fell off the damn horse.
Claire and I rush toward her, and she’s laughing. “I can’t believe I just did that.” Claire helps her up as I reroll the burlap. “I’m not normally so clumsy.”
“Don’t worry about it. I actually fell off Buttercup this morning.”
Bronwyn’s eyes open wide. “Were you hurt?”
“Just my pride.”
“Thank God Will was there to help you,” she says.
“Help?” I say. “He laughed at me.”
Claire looks horrified. “He did?”
I wink at her. “Yeah, but don’t worry. I kicked his legs out from underneath him and he fell, too.”
Claire and Bronwyn laugh. “Good for you,” Claire says.
“You’re going to fit right in here,” Bronwyn says.
A lump forms in my throat. She has no idea how much I want that to be true.
After rerolling the burlap, we all head into the shed and put on gardening gloves and grab the gear we’ll need to tend to the plants. I don’t really know too much about gardening but, fortunately, am able to follow along. The morning flies by quickly as we chat and tend to the plants, and I have to say, I never thought I’d enjoy gardening, but I kind of like it. Then again, it could have more to do with the good company.
With the morning behind us, we grab a sandwich and then I head to my room to wash up before Will takes me to the museum. I change my clothes and go looking for Will. I find him bent over a laptop in front of the fireplace on the main level.
“Will,” I say, and he looks up at me. “Are you ready?”
