He had to know what he was up against. If Ginny was playing coy and actually did have feelings for him of some sort, Harry had to know and understand the man who was competing for her affection. So he showed up at the mine site bright and early on Monday morning, ready to size up the competition.

But, of course, Adler wasn’t there.

“Did you expect a toff like him to soil his hands doing grunt work with the rest of us?” Harry’s brother, Brian, teased as the two of them nailed timbers together to form the frame for one of the smaller outbuildings.

Harry shot Brian a nasty look, but didn’t answer. In a way, Adler’s absence answered his question better than anything else could. Adler was a step above him on the social ladder. If Ginny set her cap for him, she’d be elevating her station, exactly like she always said she wanted to.

“This is about a girl, isn’t it?” Brian asked as they fixed the last nails in place, then carried the section of frame over to the rest of the crew erecting the building.

“Mind your own business,” Harry grumbled.

“It’s always about a girl,” Brian went on, ignoring him. “It’s that lovely Ginny, right?”

Harry didn’t answer. “You two have been dancing around each other for years.”

The conversation paused as the two of them joined the larger crew, holding their piece of the frame in place while the others secured it to the rest of the structure. But Brian wasn’t done.

“Frankly, I’m surprised you didn’t marry the woman two years ago,” he said when they were freed up to nail together another piece of frame.

“Ginny’s ambitious,” Harry said, focusing on work and not meeting his brother’s eyes. “She wants more than I have to give her.”

Brian snorted with laughter. When Harry glared at him, he shook his head and said, “Women want a man who can make them laugh and keep them satisfied in bed. Aside from keeping a roof over their heads and food in their pantries. And maybe giving them a few fat babies to coo over. And—”

“Get to your point.” Harry hammered the nail in front of him with more force than was necessary.

“My point is that even though sweet Ginny comes down here now and then to have lunch with Adler, there isn’t enough spark between them to light a match.” Brian pointed his hammer at Harry. “The two of you, on the other hand.”

Harry straightened, frowning. “What about us?”

“Combustible.”

Harry’s frown darkened, and the ache in his chest intensified. “I can’t give her what she wants. And after the other day, I’m convinced that I can’t say the right thing to her to save my life.”

He couldn’t shake the sense of failure and doom that had stuck with him after Ginny overheard him talking to Miss Victoria. Try as he might, he couldn’t shed a positive light on anything that Ginny might have heard. Worse still, he hadn’t summoned the nerve to corner her and ask her about it. The whole situation had turned into a gigantic mess that was quickly spinning out of control.

“If it makes you feel better,” Brian went on as they both bent to work, “I’ve got money on you and Ginny working things out.”

Harry snapped straight. “What are you talking about?”

“Mick, Charlie, and I have a bet about whether Ginny will pick you or Adler or someone else entirely.”

Harry wanted to throw down his hammer and punch all three of his brothers. “I don’t want you wankers making any sort of bets about my life.”

Brian laughed. “Well, you’re stuck. It’s what brothers do.” He straightened, looking past Harry’s shoulder. “But if it makes you feel better, there’s your competition now.” He nodded.

Harry turned to find Adler climbing down from a wagon and brushing his sleeves. He looked as out of place at the building site as Harry would have looked in a fancy London ballroom. It was too disheartening to look at the man and think of all the things Ginny could have if she stayed with him, so he returned to work, pounding nails as hard as he could. He came within a hair’s-breadth of pounding his fingers as well.

“Watch it,” Brian laughed. Harry assumed he was talking about his clumsiness, but he went on with, “The enemy approacheth.”

Harry frowned, then stood and turned when he heard Adler call, “Mr. Pond, if I might have a word with you.”

Harry sent a wary look to Brian, who just laughed and shook his head, then tossed his hammer aside and strode to meet Adler. He kept his back straight and his frown in place, and crossed his arms without offering a hand for Adler to shake when they met in a clearing between half-constructed buildings.

“What can I do for you?” Harry asked.

Adler was silent, sizing Harry up with narrowed eyes. At last, he said, “I wanted to ask you about Miss Davis.”

Harry’s gut clenched, but he kept his face impassive.

“How long have you known her?” Adler asked.

“More than three years,” he answered. “Since she came to work at Starcross Castle.”

“I see. Does she have family in the area? Is she originally from Cornwall?”

The question raised Harry’s suspicions. “She has a sister who works up in St. Ives, and a brother who’s a fisherman down by Penzance. But that’s all that’s left.”

Adler had the audacity to look pleased by the report of how little family Ginny had. “I see. Interesting. And is she close to her kin? Does she have any lingering ties to Cornwall?”

The knot in Harry’s gut squeezed tighter. “She’s dedicated to her position at Starcross Castle,” he said. “And she’s very fond of Lady Mariah.”

“Yes, but as I understand it, she’s only been serving as Lady Mariah’s maid for a short time.”

“And in that short time, they’ve grown close. Lady Mariah depends on Ginny, especially since she’s expecting.”

“Oh. I hadn’t thought of that.” Adler’s shoulders sagged, and he stared at the ground. “Still, I suppose she would be willing to form new friendships and attachments.”

Harry dropped his arms to rest his hands on his hips. “What are you getting at?”

Adler seemed to ignore him for a few seconds before shaking himself out of his thoughts and meeting Harry’s eyes again. “What do you know of her character?”

“Ginny’s character?”

“Yes.”

Harry bristled at the implication Ginny’s character could be anything but perfect. “She’s bright and she’s caring,” he said. “She would cut off her right arm to help someone in need. And she’s a good sport about things too.” He thought back on every private, glorious moment the two of them had shared, heating with the memories of her touch, her kisses. It wasn’t until he realized that his face must be flushed that he cleared his throat and went on with, “She’s the loveliest woman I’ve ever had the pleasure to know.”

As much of a mistake as he felt it was to betray so much emotion in response to Adler’s question, Adler’s only response was to nod and rub his chin. “I see. And the two of you have been close over the years?”

If ever there were a time to assert his claim to Ginny, it was now. If he even had a claim to begin with. That twist of uncertainty kept him from warning Adler off completely. All he did was answer, “Yes.”

“I see, I see.” Adler continued to nod as though they were having a discourse over some book. “So if I proposed to her, knowing that marriage would mean moving to Australia, at least for a time, do you think she’d say yes?”

The bottom dropped out of Harry’s stomach so hard and fast that it felt as though it took his heart with it. He had no idea that Adler had become attached enough to propose marriage. But then, he was a fool if he didn’t admit to the signs. And Australia would be the chance of a lifetime for Ginny.

“I don’t know,” he answered, fearing the answer would be “yes”. He turned to go back to work.

“Because I am going to ask her,” Adler called after him. The edge in the man’s voice was as much of a threat as it was a statement. Harry turned back to him. “I’m going to ask Ginny Davis to marry me,” he repeated. “Since you have no prior claims on her.”

Harry took two steps back to the man, pulling himself to his full height and balling his fists. But he couldn’t think of a blasted thing to say. Adler was right. He didn’t have any prior claims to Ginny. Except that he loved her. Except that he hadn’t been able to think of another woman since the day he’d met her, and he doubted he’d be able to make a place for anyone else in his heart for the rest of his life. But that didn’t mean he had a claim on her.

“Do whatever you want,” he said. It took every ounce of strength in him to feign indifference and to turn away. His throat squeezed up as he marched to retrieve his hammer, taking it back to where Brian was pretending not to be watching his every move.

“Thank you, Mr. Pond,” Adler called behind him. “This has been an enlightening conversation.”

Harry didn’t glance back at the man or wave goodbye or acknowledge him at all. Brian rocked back on his haunches and watched, however. “He’s getting back into his wagon. Funny that he didn’t decide to stick around today.”

“Not funny at all,” Harry grumbled.

“There he goes,” Brian went on. “I wonder what he’s up to, looking like it’s Sunday or he’s going to visit the Queen.”

Harry’s stomach turned. He was going to propose to Ginny immediately. The bastard had probably only come to the worksite to gloat before charging off to ruin every chance for happiness that Harry had. Well, he wasn’t going to put up with it. He refused to sit calmly by and wait for the woman he loved to marry another man.

“I’m leaving,” he said, tossing his hammer aside and walking away from Brian. It was a shame that he’d have to make his way back to Starcross Castle on foot while Adler had his wagon, but with any luck, he would still get there in time.

“That’s right,” Brian called after him. “Go claim what’s yours.”

Harry would have glared at his brother over his shoulder if there’d been time, but there wasn’t. He picked up his pace, jogging around hills, knowing that time, and too many other things, wasn’t on his side.

Ginny was sitting in the servant’s hall, mending the hem of one of Lady Mariah’s newer gowns, when Poppy stuck her head in and said, “Mr. Adler is here to see you.” Her eyes were round and she couldn’t keep the smile off her face.

“Stephen?” Ginny blinked, lowering her work and staring at Poppy as though she’d announced Prince Albert had risen from the grave and come to call on her. “What does he want?”

“I don’t know.” Poppy stepped all the way into the room. “But he’s wearing a fine suit, and he has a bouquet of flowers.”

Ginny’s brow flew up, then crashed down into a deep frown. She stood, carefully setting Lady Mariah’s dress aside, and brushed her hands across her skirt to chase away stray threads from her sewing. Stephen should have known better. It was the middle of the day on a Monday, and not only did she have all of her usual work to do, she had a mound of things to accomplish that were left over from her half day the day before. Sitting through conversation after dry conversation with the man was trying enough, but to have him interrupt her for a chat was beyond the pale.

“If he hasn’t left in ten minutes,” she whispered to Poppy as they left the hall and strode to the kitchen door, “invent some excuse to come get me.”

“But it’s Mr. Adler,” Poppy protested. “And he’s brought flowers.”

Ginny sighed, pausing just inside of the door. “He’s the most boring man in the world, and other than the few things I can pry out of him about Australia and the other interesting places he’s gone for work, he puts me to sleep.”

“I think he likes you,” Poppy insisted in a whisper, leaning toward her. “Those flowers say it all.”

Ginny pressed her lips together and blew out through her nose. “Ten minutes.”

“All right.”

Ginny shook her head and marched out into the courtyard, certain that Poppy would be watching from one of the kitchen windows. She put on as cheerful a smile as she could manage as she approached Stephen. He was indeed wearing a nice suit and carrying a bouquet, but the way he skittered anxiously toward her, his smile far broader than usual, sent Ginny into a panic.

“Hello, Stephen,” she said, pretending everything was fine. “What brings you here today?”

“Ginny.” He said her name as though it were a blessing and rushed to meet her in the middle of the courtyard. For a moment, he simply stood there, smiling at her. Then he extended the bouquet to her. “These are for you.”

Ginny took the flowers, dutifully smelling them. “They’re pretty. Thank you.”

“Beautiful flowers for the most beautiful woman I know,” Stephen went on. “A woman that I would like to continue to know for the rest of my life. Intimately.” He seemed so nervous that Ginny was afraid steam would start screaming from his ears.

“Thank you,” she said, feeling more awkward by the second.

“Flowers aren’t all I have for you, my dear,” he went on, reaching into his pocket. When he took out a small ring, Ginny gasped. “I have this as well.”

She opened and closed her mouth like a fish on dry land. When Stephen awkwardly dropped to one knee, her chest constricted so tightly that she couldn’t breathe at all.

“Ginny Davis, I know we haven’t known each other long,” he began. “But I find you to be the loveliest creature I’ve ever had the pleasure to know. And seeing as I’m leaving for Australia in a fortnight, I—”

“A fortnight?” Ginny squeaked. She’d been banking everything on having so much more time to think about things.

“Yes, but a fortnight is nothing if you say you’ll be mine.”

“Yours?” She sounded like a ninny, but her mind was having an impossible time accepting the scene unfolding before her. She glanced desperately to the kitchen window, only to find Poppy, Mrs. Harmon, and the two kitchen maids looking on with joy and excitement in their eyes.

“Marry me, my darling,” Mr. Adler went on. “Come away to Australia with me, where we will have adventures untold in strange and exotic lands.”

At last, Ginny’s frozen heart thawed. Strange and exotic lands filled with adventure. That’s what Stephen was offering her. And it was more than anyone else was offering. She cast a quick glance toward the stables, half hoping that Harry would march out and put an end to the proposal, more than half hoping he would declare himself and end the confusion that had kept her up nights. But the stable door remained empty.

“I…um….” Panic swelled up through her, making her hands clammy. “Stand up, Stephen.”

“O-oh.” Red-faced, Stephen stood. He nearly fumbled and dropped his ring. “Is there a problem.”

“Um….” Ginny had no idea how to answer him, no idea how to tell him he was offering her the adventure of a lifetime and giving her the tools to break her own heart forever all at once.

She wasn’t going to stand for it. Come what may, she wasn’t the sort to let life get the best of her. If she were going to take a leap of faith, she wanted to know what she was getting into and what she was leaving behind, and if it was worth it.

“Kiss me,” she said, staring Stephen straight in the eyes.

“W-what?”

“Kiss me,” she repeated. “I want you to kiss me.”

“Kiss you?” he asked, his voice cracking.

“Yes. Now.”

“Well, if you think it would—”

She was tired of his lollygagging. She stepped into him, put her free hand around his waist, and pressed her mouth to his. He was taken by surprise, and his mouth was already open, but he didn’t take advantage of the fact. He stood rigid and tense as she brushed her tongue along his bottom lip. It was like kissing a dead fish.

Disappointment flooded Ginny, and the story of what her life would be like if she accepted Stephen’s proposal stretched before her. Yes, there would be adventure, but there wouldn’t be a lick of passion. She could see the world and all its wonders, but the ache that burned inside of her would go forever unsatisfied. Because it wouldn’t be Harry in her bed. It wouldn’t ever be Harry.

Stephen finally caught on to what was happening and made a move to kiss her back, but it was too late. Ginny pulled away, letting out a sad sigh. She was on the verge of turning Stephen down and sending him on his way, when she spotted Harry dashing into the courtyard and skidding to a stop. His eyes were wide and his face red—with exertion, and possibly with fury. And of all things, anger flashed through her. Where had he been moments before, when she needed him to set everything straight and tell her heart which way to go?

She focused on Stephen, her fist clenched around the flowers in her hand. “I’m not sure,” she answered. “I need time to think about it.”

“Oh…well…all right?” Stephen stammered. “But I don’t have long.”

“It won’t take long,” Ginny insisted.

Beyond Stephen, Harry had burst into motion again. But instead of marching toward her to scoop her into his arms in the romantic gesture she’d waited so long for, he stormed off toward the stable. That only fanned the flames of her ire.

“If you will excuse me,” she said with a furious huff. “I have something I need to settle once and for all.”

“You…ah…oh.” Stephen glanced toward the stable, his shoulders dropping and disappointment painting his face. “All right, then.”

Ginny nodded to him, then stomped across the courtyard’s cobblestones and into the dim interior of the stable. She caught sight of Harry’s back as he disappeared into his office. With a frustrated growl, she flew after him. He wasn’t going to get out of facing things this time.