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Would Lionel Mercer waltz in and pick up where Gerald left off? Surely he would not delay in making a proposal. If it wasn’t for Gerald, the man would probably have offered one already. Gerald had seen the eagerness in his eyes.

This stirred another unknown feeling inside him, a rankling that was like an itch he couldn’t scratch. The thought of her being courted by Mercer… by anyone. He glanced up and stared at Clara at the other end of the table, tucking that strand of hair away again. It just seemed so wrong that she should be married to anyone else.

Clara looked up suddenly. Gerald’s gaze snapped away. There was a sharp ache slicing through his mind, one that caused a sense of agony.

Agatha arrived at Clemont Hall later in the afternoon. Eleanor immediately captured her attention, and the two of them shared tea before Agatha decided she really must help Clara.

“Is Gerald not helping as well?” Agatha asked when she sank into a chair beside Clara and began gathering flowers.

“He was snipping stems all morning. I’m not sure where he is now. I assume he has some business to which he must attend,” Clara said.

Uncertain feelings shifted in her heart. Part of her was glad that he had stepped out of the room as it gave her space to breathe, but another part of her missed his presence. She had become so accustomed to it recently that now it seemed strange when he wasn’t around.

“Ah, at least he is not afraid to get his hands dirty. Too many people think they can just throw money at a problem and that means they’re involved. There’s not enough grit,” Agatha said.

Clara thought she ought to be careful about what she said next, otherwise Agatha was liable to go on one of her rants about how the country was going to the dogs and the decline started with the current generation.

“Gerald seems like a man who has grit in abundance, much like Rose, I imagine.”

Agatha softened and smiled. She rocked back and forth a little.

“Ah yes, she was a formidable woman. I remember that plenty of people, mostly men, said no to her. But she kept beating down doors until they listened. Persistence is an underrated quality, my dear. One must keep trying, even when things seem impossible.”

“I shall keep that in mind, Grandmother. Would you mind passing me the daisies?”

Agatha ended up handing Clara the violets, but Clara didn’t comment on her mistake. Agatha would only have denied it happened.

“He does remind me of Rose. When there was something she wanted, she went ahead and pursued it with all her heart. Something tells me that he’s the same,” she said with a knowing look in her eyes that Clara tried her best to ignore.

“He must be. He is a successful man.”

“Successful, yes, but lonely,” Agatha nodded sagely.

“Lonely?” Clara asked, furrowing her brow and turning her head quickly. “I’m not sure I get that impression.”

Agatha chuckled. “Well, that’s probably because he’s not lonely in your company. But otherwise… yes, he is. Can you not feel it in every room of this house? I was speaking to Eleanor and she told me how happy she is that Gerald has found you. He hasn’t courted anyone before, and removed himself from society. She said he has a lot to offer and she’s pleased that such an impressive woman deems him worthy of her affection. I felt quite awful and almost didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth.”

“You didn’t, did you?” Clara’s eyes flared and anxiety cloaked her words. Her heart beat more forcefully. Agatha waved a dismissive hand in the air.

“No, of course not. Once my word is given, it is as strong as steel,” Agatha said, and Clara breathed with relief. “However, it does make me wonder if something is transpiring between you two. I’ve seen the way you look at each other.”

“We don’t look at each other any differently than anyone.”

“Clara, do not deny the obvious to me. I have seen this story play out many times over, although perhaps not in this particular way. There is no catastrophe in it. In fact, it’s perfectly natural, the most natural thing in the world, some might say.”

“I fear your eyes may be deceiving you, Grandmother,” Clara said as gently as possible, even though her insides felt like iron.

“Or you are trying to deceive your heart. These matters are always the ones that are hardest to hide, and they’re often impossible to fight as well.”

“You are wrong, Grandmother. There is nothing to fight. Nothing at all.”

“If you say so, Clara. But tell me, would it be such a shame if love did flare between the two of you? It is hardly a transgression. You would not be committing any sin.”

Clara’s head dipped.

“The sin would be against my own ambitions. I do not seek marriage.”

“Perhaps it seeks you,” Agatha said quickly. Clara had to steady her tongue to prevent herself from lashing out at her grandmother.