“Very well,” he said quietly. “If that is what it will take, then surely there is something more he can do to help you come to grips with Sean’s death. I am sure if he knew you would agree to marry him right away, he would do everything possible to meet your terms. Shall I tell him?”
She paused a long moment before nodding. Jocelin kissed her on the top of the head and let her go.
“Then I shall go and tell him,” he said as he began the long trek up the hill. “He will be pleased.”
Sheridan turned back to the lake, standing alone as the gentle waters lapped at her feet. After a moment, the tears came, silently pouring down her cheeks as they had done so often these past six months. She wiped at her face, trying to stay ahead of the torrents that dripped onto her bosom. But it was of no use; the tears sprang from a well of grief that would never run dry.
She continued to stand there for quite some time, pondering her future. She did not want to return to the castle where Guy had arrived and was now undoubtedly asking where she was. It would take little time for him to find her. He was, if nothing else, predictable. She wanted to spend a few moments alone with her thoughts before he came hounding after her like an eager puppy.
Sheridan put her hands against the small of her back again and began to pace around the shore of the lake. Lost in reflection, she barely missed stepping on a harmless little snake as it drank from the water. She shrieked, first in surprise, followed by giggles when she realized what she had nearly done. She stood there a moment, watching the snake fade into the weeds.
“Sheridan?”
A familiar voice caught her attention and she turned abruptly to see Guy standing a few feet behind her. Her heart sank a little at the sight of him; he had found her sooner than she had hoped.
“Greetings, Guy,” she said pleasantly. “How was London?”
He shrugged vaguely. “It was… eventful,” he seemed rather unsteady in his manner. “I heard you scream. Are you all right?”
She grinned, pointing to the grass. “A little snake startled me,” she said. “I am fine.”
Guy nodded and it was then that Sheridan noticed he seemed tight and drawn about the face. She peered more closely at him.
“What is wrong?” she asked. “You look strange.”
Guy seemed taken aback that she noticed his demeanor; he was hoping that it was not too noticeable. Then again, he had never been any good at hiding his feelings.
“Do I?” He tried to bluff his way out of it but found that he could not. “It… it is nothing, really. Well, perhaps something. Aye, it is something.”
He was rambling and she lifted her eyebrows at him. “What is it?”
He wasn’t sure where to start. Reaching out, he took her gently by the arm and began to walk her back over to the chair and umbrella spread beneath the sapling. It was cooler in the shade.
“I just want to say something,” he began softly. “I have… well, I have loved you since nearly the moment we first met. You know that. And I have wanted to marry you for nearly as long.”
She sighed faintly, pausing to look at him. She was hoping they could have avoided this subject for a little while but she was not surprised that it was the first thing out of his mouth.
“I know that,” she said quietly. “And I am not trying to be cruel by refusing, but.…”
He cut her off. “I realize that. Your heart is with Sean; I have always known. And I want you to know that I have finallyaccepted that. I have accepted the fact that you and I shall never wed.”
Her brow furrowed faintly; his manner seemed rather abrupt and slightly nervous. “Why would you say such a thing?” she asked curiously.
He regarded her a moment before taking a deep breath. “You are aware that I went to London at the bequest of my father.”
She nodded. “Of course. You were here at Lansdown when he sent a missive and asked you to go to London on an errand.”
“Aye,” Guy was having difficulty looking at her. “I did go to London. But it was not on an errand for my father. It was because my father had received a missive addressed to me at Abergavenny Castle.”
“What missive?”
“A missive about Sean.”
Fortunately they had reached her chair because Sheridan felt all of the blood rush from her head. Guy carefully lowered her into the chair. The tears were already pouring from her eyes as he sat beside her.
“My God,” she breathed. “Is it true?”
“It is. It said….”