Page 45 of A Duke's Sinful Bargain
But it was there, plain as daylight, a blossoming realization of the depth of Tom’s feelings for Eliza. Both Anna and Alexander continued to watch as Tom tenderly pushed a stray strand of Eliza’s hair away from her face.
“Tom has devoted his life to serving others,” Alexander mused, “but it seems he has finally found someone who knows how to unlock his heart.”
The thought filled him with a profound sense of joy. Tom was a good man. He deserved a good woman by his side. As he turned his gaze back to Anna, Alexander felt a renewed sense of gratitude for the time they had spent together, for the bonds forged not only in joy and amusement, but also in vulnerability and understanding.
“Now, I believe you mentioned some surprises?” Anna asked, bringing them back to the present moment.
He grinned, looking around, not saying anything. He bent forward, still in search, much to her delight.
“What are you doing?” she wondered, smiling.
“I’m not sure,” he admitted, trailing an unknown path, with her following closely behind. “But please, bear with me.”
She inhaled deeply, pretending to be annoyed. “What else am I going to do with you?”
He continued searching, absolutely certain it would be there. At least one. Every time his mother had brought him there, they stumbled onto one. Sometimes even two. And she told him how rare and precious it was. Just like Anna.
“Nothing yet?” he heard her ask.
He didn’t turn around. He kept looking in the grass among the wildflowers, bent down, almost like a hound dog, sniffing a scent.
“Ah!” he finally said, after what felt like an eternity.
He gently picked a beautiful and delicate flower. He turned to Anna with a trembling hand. “For you…”
Anna looked at him, then at the flower, gently taking it into her hand. The flower appeared just as he remembered it. Almost otherworldly, with its elegant, pouch-like lip resembling a dainty slipper, its petals a pale shade of pink tinged with hints of lavender. The lip was a deeper, more vibrant hue, providing a striking contrast to the surrounding petals.
“Is this…” she started softly, lifting her gaze to him.
“The lady’s slipper orchid.” He nodded.
She faltered before speaking. “I’ve never seen it in real life. Only… in pictures.”
She gently caressed it with her fingers, almost in disbelief that she was actually holding it. His heart swelled with joy at her shy reaction.
“I… thank you, Alexander,” she whispered through her radiant smile. “I’ve never received anything so special.”
“I see something just as special every time I look at you, Anna,” he admitted, torn between the desire to kiss her passionately and keep staring at her until the end of time.
But before he could choose between the two, he heard Tom call out to them, lifting their catch into the air as Eliza smiled proudly.
“We’d best go and see what they caught,” Anna urged, letting go of his hand as if they had been caught doing something illicit. But he didn’t mind. The magic of the moment was still there, and he would treasure it in his heart forever.
Chapter 24
The following morning, Anna was still under the influence of the previous day’s picnic and her time spent with Alexander. Their connection had deepened beyond anything she could have expected. But she wondered if that was a good thing.
She inhaled deeply, still holding that same embroidery hoop that looked like a mess, without the slightest desire to rectify what she had done so far. It was merely an excuse to sit there in the drawing room, lost in her thoughts. Only she was not allowed to do so for much longer as a knock on the door interrupted her. A moment later, Eliza was invited in.
“My lady,” she beamed with a glow that was perplexing to Anna, “this is for you.”
Only then did Anna notice that Eliza was handing her a note. Her heart leaped with joy. “Is it him?” she squealed in delight, not even trying to sustain her joy.
“I do believe so.” Eliza nodded somehow mysteriously.
Anna hastily unfolded the note. Once again, it was brief.
The stables.
