Page 144 of Eleanor’s Earrings

“Lucy and Grace are young. They will require guidance.”

“They will require several locked doors and perhaps a watchman.”

Eleanor laughed. “Nathaniel.”

“I agree that we share responsibility while respecting that they are your sisters, not my soldiers.”

“Good. I will retain a voice in decisions concerning the land.”

“Half the voice.”

“More if you are wrong.”

“Naturally.”

She smiled. “What would you bring?”

“Savings. Two horses. Tools. Experience building storehouses, arranging freight, and keeping records. Enough knowledge of farming to complain with authority.”

“You have planned this.”

“Since the night watch when you described the house.”

Eleanor's eyes softened. “You truly want Clover Creek?”

“I want you. Clover Creek is where you are building a life. I would rather join that life than ask you to abandon it.”

She looked away, but he saw the tears.

Nathaniel touched her chin with his left hand and turned her back. “What frightens you now?”

“That I will become smaller inside a marriage.”

“You?”

“It happens to women.”

“I have spent three weeks trying to convince you to share authority. I have no intention of making you surrender it after the wedding.”

“What if I argue before breakfast?”

“I expect to love you most honestly during those arguments.”

Eleanor laughed through her tears. “That was almost romantic.”

“I was trying very hard.”

She moved closer and rested her hands on his chest, careful of the injured shoulder. “I am ready for you to ask.”

Nathaniel's heart beat faster.

“Not yet,” he said.

Her mouth fell open. “You have spent days being impatient.”

“And now I want to do it properly.”

“When?”