Page 99 of Forget Me Not

“That reminds me.” He reached into the pocket of his coat. “The King has sent you something.”

He handed her the smaller packet that had arrived with Digby’s note. She accepted it eagerly. “No one ever sends me anything.”

Lucas, in that moment, added to his list of vows that he would send her letters and packets and make certain she never felt forgotten.

“You asked if I would go on adventures with you. I believe I would like to accept that invitation.”

“Does this mean you intend to join me?” His heart thudded hopefully.

“I made a promise to go on adventures with you. And so adventuring we will go.”

Relief and excitement surged through him. He wrapped his arms around her, lifting her from the ground and spinning her about. Her almost girlish giggle only added to the utter delight he felt. His beloved Julia was happy. That meant the world to him.

He kept her in his arms, her feet off the ground and one arm hooked behind his neck.

All he could think was,Don’t ruin this, Lucas.He’d made such a mull of things between them and had done so often enough to be legitimately worried. She was beginning to thaw, beginning to trust. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing what little progress he was making.

As he slowly set her on her feet once more, he took courage in the smile she wore.

He kept one arm around her waist and walked beside her out of the house. “Have you guessed where our adventure is taking us today?”

“No,” she said, “but I’m still excited.”

“Does that mean you trust me?” He posed the question lightly, but it was anything but frivolous.

Her smile froze a little. “Enough for an afternoon’s excursion.”

He’d pressed too hard too soon. “I will accept that for the gift that it truly is.”

They walked on a moment, the silence between them a little awkward, a little uneasy.

“You can open Digby’s packet if you’d like. We have time, and I’m overflowing with curiosity.”

“You didn’t peek?” she asked with a cheeky tip of her head.

“He told me not to. No one disobeys a monarch.”

She smiled as she untied the twine around the small paper-wrapped parcel. She folded back the paper and pulled out a small stack of sealed letters.

“They’re for me,” she said in amazement. “I never get letters, and here I have”—she counted them—“five letters just for me.”

Again, he silently vowed to write to her.

The Trent lapped peacefully against its banks as they walked on the trail beside it.

“They’re from the Gents,” Julia said. She held them up to show him. Each was labeled “to Our Julia,” followed by “from the General” and another “from Archbishop,” another “from Grumpy Uncle,” another “from the King,” another “from Puppy.” All five had written to her.

“What do you suppose they could be writing to me about?” She didn’t sound nervous. That was a good sign.

“They are probably tattling on me,” he said with a theatrical sigh.

Her eyes pulled wide with the same mischievous excitement he knew well from their childhood. “What did you do?”

“Why do you assume I’m guilty?”

“I’ve known you all my life, Lucas Henry Jonquil. You don’t have me fooled.”

He shook his head and tucked her close to his side. “You are trouble, Caroline Julia Jonquil.”

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