Maria and Harry were seeing Roger off. He had bought a horse from Harry and was taking it back in the wagon he had brought the cattle in.

“I hope you have no further need of replacement cattle, old friend,” Roger said as he shook Harry’s hand.

“Only to grow the herd from here on out,” he replied. “And I expect I will see you at the fair again next year.”

“Very likely.” Roger turned to Maria. “And Miss Maria, thank you for your most gracious hospitality and friendship.”

“Mr. Roger, it has indeed been a pleasure.” She handed him a basket with a cloth over it. “I prepared you a lunch for your journey and you will also find a selection of the jams you helped us with the other day. Enjoy.”

“And will I see you at the fair next year?”

“Most likely not. I made an exception going this year. But Mother will most likely be here next year and will need my attention.”

Roger took her hand, kissed it and said quietly to her alone, “I am sorry we were not right for each other and I wish you all the very best in your future life.”

“Thank you and you take good care of your daughter. It is difficult only having one parent. She is going to need a lot of your attention.”

“And she shall have it, I promise you.”

Roger put the basket on the wagon’s seat, mounted, and flicked the reins for the horses to start up. Just before he disappeared around the bend of the road, he turned and waved.

Harry moved over closer to his sister. “I did not hear all he said to you, but it sounded as though there might not be a future for the two of you.”

Maria wiped her eyes with her apron and said, “Sadly that is so.”

“Then what next?”

“More of the same, I expect. It looks for the time being that we must settle for each other’s company.”

“That is not a hard task,” he said, taking her arm and leading her back into the house.

“No, Father, I am not going to London,” Percy insisted. “Anna will be returning any day now and I see no reason to waste my time starting another hunt for a bride when I feel quite certain Anna will accept my suit shortly.”

Percy and the Duke were at the breakfast table when Arnold had asked his son about his plans for London. The Duke’s walking stick was not nearby so he was unable to threaten Percy with it.

“Damn you, boy. I swear you had better have an engagement by the end of the week after she returns. Do you understand me?”

Percy found his father to be increasingly pathetic. He understood that the family was in crisis, but who had brought on the crisis? Not Percy. It was his father. And with his father’s failed efforts to right the ship he was putting the onus on Percy to fix the problems. Percy was not going to stand for it any longer. He was exhausted by the effort and furious that this responsibility had been put upon him.

He stood at the table. “No, Father, damn you. I am fed up with your insults and abuse. I have already promised you I would marry Anna if she will have me. But if not, then I am going to ask Maria to marry me. We love each other, and I will be content with whatever dowry she can offer—whether it can pay off your debts or not. If not, then the family can go to hell and you with it. Now… do you understand me?”

Arnold’s face was turning red as he now stood. “You insolent whelp! You had better pray Anna accepts you, for if she does not I will beat you within an inch of your life. You hear me?”

“No Father, you will not. I have held back out of respect for you being my father, but if you try and strike me, even once, I shall pummel you to within an inch of your life. And know I can and will do it.”

“I swear you will rue the day to spoke to me like this.”

“Oh, yes, and how is that? What could you possibly do that could hurt me? Disinherit me from nothing?”

The Duke collapsed back into his chair, looking pale and drained.

“How splendid to be home,” Dorothy cried out as she danced into the entryway, turning in circles.

Anna came right behind her, looking relieved that the journey had finally ended. It had been an exhausting visit—much more so than she had anticipated. The liveliness of the Stewart household had surprised her. The close quarters of the rainy seaside visit had unnerved her and, most importantly, Dorothy’s near cancellation of the engagement had rattled her. And, oh yes, her new-found admiration for Harry had totally taken her by surprise. But that was the only development which she held close to her heart.

Anna was too exhausted to go up to her chambers and she collapsed onto the sofa in the drawing-room, tossing her bonnet on the cushion beside her. She could hear Dorothy singing and dancing her way up the stairs to her rooms. But for now, Anna did not want to move.

What most occupied her thoughts at the moment was Harry. She was home, and he was nearby. How did she want to handle this? Should she brazenly bring up the subject with him or should she drop little hints that she was approachable regarding his feelings for her? Oh, my, being a woman was so complicated. How much easier these things were for men.

Warrick appeared at the drawing-room doorway. “Excuse me, Miss Anna, I wanted to welcome you home. Might you be needing anything at the moment?”

She turned toward him. “Oh, thank you, Warrick, but not right now. But let me ask you, was everything all right while we were gone? Do you have anything to report?”

He seemed to hesitate but said, “There was one rather strange occurrence I should tell you about.”

“Yes?”

“Ah… well… His Lordship came by one morning in somewhat of an agitated state.”

“Good heavens…”

“Yes. He wanted to sit in your room. Something about missing you and wanting to feel you near him. Most unusual, Miss Anna.”

“And did you let him?”

“I saw no harm in it—as he is such a close friend of the family.”

“You did the right thing and thank you for letting me know.”

“Yes, Miss Anna,” he said and left.

Anna leaned against the back of the sofa and smiled.

The very next morning, Anna was with her maid as she was unpacking the luggage when Warrick appeared at her chamber door.

“Miss Anna, Mr. Percy requests to see you. Are you at home to him?”

“Yes, Warrick, tell him I will be down presently and serve tea in the morning room, if you please.”

“Yes, Miss Anna.”

Anna gave final instructions to her maid and went downstairs to where Percy was waiting for her. But, before she entered, she needed to steel her resolve, knowing what was about to come.

“Mr. Percy, good morning.”

“And to you Miss Anna,” he said still standing and holding his hat in his hand.

“You may sit, if you like.”

“No thank you, Miss Anna. I have stopped by just briefly to relay an important message and I do not wish to take up too much of your time.”

“But I have ordered tea. Certainly, you can stay that long.”

“Very well,” he said a little nervously.

They sat opposite each other at the tea table.

“Did you have a pleasant visit to your sister’s future in-laws?” he asked.

Anna smiled to herself. “Pleasant enough. But not without incident.”

“Nothing worrying, I hope?”

“That is yet to be seen.”

Warrick brought in the tea, served it, and left with neither Percy nor Anna saying any more for the moment.

“Mr. Percy, your message?” Anna asked.

He hesitated but briefly and said, “I felt it was important to tell you something that has been troubling me.”

“Oh?”

“Dear, Miss Anna, as you know, I have been earnestly courting you these past few months and I feel I must tell you it has been a deception.”

That startled Anna. “Really? And how is that?”

“The fact is, I have deep feelings of love for someone else.”

“I see,” she said with a smile, and felt a wave of relief wash over her.

“I know you have harbored feelings for me for some time, and my father— knowing that as well— urged me to court you—but in truth my heart belongs to another.”

“Maria,” she said matter of factly.

He nodded. “Indeed.”

“And what has brought about this sudden change in your plans?”

“I think it was the realization that my suit to you was a lie, and even though I might disappoint my family, I could not go against the raging of my own heart.”

“Hmm. Very noble of you, Mr. Percy.”

“I know I must be disappointing you, but I beg your forgiveness. Can you?”

Anna lowered her eyes and smiled. “Yes, Mr. Percy I can do that. In fact, I thank you for your honesty. I have more respect for you now than I ever have. And know that I release you from any claim on me and I wish you well with your suit to my good friend, Maria. For I know she too has feelings for you.”

Percy’s face lit up with joy. “Oh, Miss Anna, what a relief it is to hear you say that, for I have dreaded having to tell you this.” He stood up in his excitement. “Now, if you will forgive me again, I really must dash over and see Maria.”

“I completely understand. And please give her my love and tell her that we are back from our trip. I should very much like to see her and Harry.”

“It will be my pleasure to deliver your message. And thank you.”

Dorothy was out in her garden cutting back a lot of the spent flowers and bolting vegetables. Autumn would soon be upon them and it helped her to keep busy, as she struggled with her feelings for Christopher. She had a knife and a pair of sheers that let her get out her mixed feelings as she cut vigorously away at tough stems or scraggly vines. She was so engrossed in her work she did not hear steps on the gravel path.

“Dorothy, my dearest.”

She spun around to find Christopher behind her, with his hat in his hand.

“What are you doing here?” she said rather harshly.

“I could not go on another minute without coming to see you, Dorothy. I have been in perpetual agony ever since you left us. I could not let you go without seeing you and trying to make things right with you.”

Dorothy’s heart was racing. Her mouth was dry, and her throat felt constricted. “We had better go indoors. This is no place to discuss such matters.”

Christopher trailed after her to the sitting room. She still had her work gloves on but removed them when she sat as he remained standing.

But she could not help herself. She could not maintain her disapproving demeanor and she bounded up, raced over to Christopher and threw her arms around him. Then she took a step back and slapped his face.

“Ow-w-w,” he cried out. “Why did you do that?”

“Because you made me so mad.”

He got down on one knee. “I came to apologize, beg, grovel, plead—whatever it takes to make you forgive me and marry me. I love you. I want you to be my wife. I promise from my deepest soul I never even thought for one second that I wanted to marry you for your inheritance. It is just not the truth.”

“Maybe… maybe not. How can I really tell?”

“By looking into my eyes.” He stood up, came right up close to her and stared into her eyes with intensity. “There. Look at me. Can you not see my heartfelt love and devotion? How can you resist me?” Then he laughed. And she could not help but laugh as well.

“Oh, I hate you for making me love you,” she said as she swatted at his shoulder.

“See, I knew you loved me.”

“I never said that.”

“Yes, you did. Just now. I heard you.”

“Maybe I did not mean it.”

“You did. Come give me a hug and let us make up and please say you will marry me. My mother, my father, my brother and my two sisters are devastated at the thought that you will not be mine.”

“Oh, very well, I will marry you.” she said twirling away from him. “But I hate you too. And do not forget that—forever and always.”