A Timeless Romance Anthology: Sarah M. Eden British Isles Collection

by Sarah M. Eden

  There was the laughing encouragement he was used to receiving from his friend. Perhaps she’d only been distracted earlier by worries over her family. That would certainly account for her unenthusiastic response to his news. ’Twas a logical explanation, something Isaac far preferred to confusion.

  “Is there anything I can do to help with yer grandparents?”

  “Bless ya, no. There’s no immediate crisis, only the hardship of waiting and watching them fade.”

  He could appreciate that. “Ya know where to find me if ya need anything.”

  “Yes, I simply follow the crowd,” she said dryly, with a bit of a twinkle back in her eyes.

  “Indeed. And ye’ll find me at the very front of it.” He set his eyes in that direction, in fact. ’Twas time and past to get on with the weekend’s goals. “Wish me luck.”

  She hesitated the briefest of moments. “I’ll wish the best for ya.”

  There was some difference between that and what he’d asked for, though he couldn’t put his finger on just what that difference was.

  “Until tomorrow, then. Farnham Street after church.”

  She smiled. “I’ll be there.”

  He watched her a moment as she made her way down Market Street, away from the square. She didn’t attract the attention Miss Kilchrest did, but she was a fine-looking woman. Her light brown hair didn’t capture a man’s gaze the way a head of fiery locks did. But she didn’t fade into the scenery. He’d wondered many times while walking at her side just why it was that no man had snatched her up yet.

  His weekly walk to Cavan had improved drastically with the addition of her company and friendship. Even as the weather had turned colder, he’d not minded waiting at the point in the road where she always joined him. Her company was well worth the discomfort. She would certainly be the first person he told when someday Miss Kilchrest accepted his proposal. Likely only his mother would be happier for him, though she didn’t live close enough for telling in person.

  But he would have nothing to tell either of them if he didn’t focus on his goal. The list of things to accomplish was clear and precise in his mind. He’d purchase a few foodstuffs to eat over the weekend whilst making his way to the coveted position at Miss Kilchrest’s side. Once he had accomplished that, he would speak with her about furthering their connection. After her acceptance, he could see to some business he needed to undertake. While courting Miss Kilchrest was reason enough to come to Cavan, he found that justifying the time away from his farm was easier when he added business with pleasure.

  ’Twould be his most productive trip into Cavan yet.

  He purchased a bit of bread and cheese from stalls along the market road. A few of the men he saw every weekend trailing Miss Kilchrest noticed him there. Their faces fell a bit upon seeing him arrive, a sure sign his progress with Miss Kilchrest had not gone unnoticed. She was a fine catch, to be sure. Her dowry was something any man would wish for, but her kind heart and gentle spirit even more so. That those arguments in her favor were combined with a strikingly pretty face and a fine figure had secured her more suitors than she likely knew what to do with.

  She’d not have to worry over that long, though.

  His sack upon his back and his eye on the thickest part of the bachelor crowd, Isaac set his mind to the task at hand. Some assertive weaving in and around tables and vendors and spectators set him within a few feet of his goal and well within sight of the lovely Miss Kilchrest as she walked at her leisure among the stalls. She did seem to take a great deal of delight in shopping and glancing coyly at the men who trailed her.

  He’d thought it a very good sign during his twelve-mile walk from home that the last remaining autumn leaves were a shade of red that quite perfectly matched the color of Miss Kilchrest’s hair. The glimpses of sky he’d spied between the ever-growing clouds reminded him of the brilliant blue of her eyes. A very good sign, indeed.

  Today would be his day. Of course, first he’d have to actually come close enough to her to speak the words.

  The past months had taught him to be more forward than he was by nature. Standing about waiting for Miss Kilchrest to notice him hadn’t worked very well.

  He stepped in front of one of the other men, moved around a few others. Miss Kilchrest was fully in his sight and lovely as ever she’d been. What man could help but notice her, especially when she wore a bright smile as she did in that moment?

  The rising wind rustled the few curls she’d let hang loose about her face. She was sweet to everyone, charming them and easing even the most nervous of her suitors. The women, too, seemed happy to see her when she crossed their paths. At vendor stalls, she stopped to enquire after their goods and compliment their offerings, though she rarely made a purchase. Her friendly nature would make a good addition to his neighborhood.

  He caught her eye in the next moment. She smiled welcomingly. ’Twas all the encouragement he needed.

  Isaac slipped up to her side near a vendor’s table with a small spread of braided watch fobs.

  “A good afternoon to ya, Miss Kilchrest.”

  She laid a light hand on his arm. “How are you, Isaac?” She’d taken to using his first name, though he’d not felt comfortable calling her “Sophia.” Perhaps after she accepted his coming request he would.

  “It seems we are in for a bit of weather,” he said.

  She nodded, glancing briefly up at the sky. Her gazed returned quickly to the men standing about. Some held hats in their hands. Others stood with airs of confidence. Isaac had made a study of which men she gave second and third looks to. Those who arrived ragged or dirty she seemed less than impressed with. She preferred a smile to a somber expression.

  The men who met those expectations were the ones to receive an invitation to call at the Kilchrest home. Isaac had seen at least a dozen men receive that coveted invitation. His turn was coming; he knew it was. After all, if she agreed to consider him her primary beau, his presence in her home would be a natural thing.

  Miss Kilchrest, he had quickly learned, preferred to make the conversation than follow it. Isaac usually obliged her in that, but if he were to pose his question, he’d have to take control of their short time together.

  “I wondered if I might have a word—”

  One of Miss Kilchrest’s particular friends arrived in that exact moment. Isaac stood back, waiting, while the women exchanged embraces and quick-paced words.

  He looked over those men who hadn’t yet given up for the day. O’Leary from Drumora, who’d received ample attention from Miss Kilchrest. Kelly from Pullamore Far. Others he’d not met in person but recognized from their many weekends jostling one another about. Malone and Sheridan, both Cavan men, who Isaac knew were his greatest rivals. They alone had been granted as much of her time as he. Others had, early on in Isaac’s courtship, but they’d fled the field, apparently having been deemed not quite what Miss Kilchrest wished for.

  Her friend moved along with one last wave goodbye.

  Isaac began again. “Miss Kilchrest, I wished—”

  “Buy a flower for the fine lass, will ya?” a little flower girl, likely no older than ten, implored with a bit of forward cheekiness, but wearing the dimpled smile of an angel.

  He could hardly resist such a request, especially seeing the acceptance of the offering already hovering on Miss Kilchrest’s face. Whether the flower girl had anticipated it or not, she’d made a clever suggestion. Given the sheer number of men still trailing after Miss Kilchrest, all the little girl’s flowers were purchased and offered in a moment’s time.

  “Oh, I do love flowers,” Miss Kilchrest said, her arms laden with blooms, likely the last they’d see in a while. The chill of late autumn hung heavy in the air.

  A light sprinkling of rain began as it so often did. Usually, Isaac didn’t even note it. But the timing today might actually prove helpful.

  “There’s an overhang just this direction,” he said, motioning toward a nearby building. “If ye’ll ju
st step that way, ye’ll be out of the rain.”

  “How thoughtful.” She shifted the flowers into one arm. She offered a wiggly-fingered wave to the other men then slipped her arm through his.

  Isaac took a deep breath as they walked swiftly away. His moment had come. Months of working to gain her notice were about to pay off. Soon she’d send the other men packing, and he could move on to the next part of his plan.

  Safely under the overhang, he charged ahead. “Miss Kilchrest, I feel we’ve come to know one another these past months.”

  “Indeed.” She smelled her flowers, obviously at ease with him. A good sign.

  “I think ye’ve come to feel something of a preference for my company.”

  She touched his arm briefly. “Of course, Isaac. Who could possibly not enjoy your company?”

  With that extra encouragement, he cut directly to the heart of the matter. “I wish to ask you, then, if ye’d be so good as to consider me yer beau, rather exclusively.”

  She did not appear nearly as shocked as Alice had, though perhaps a bit surprised. Her smile, however, remained serene. “You sweet man,” she said. “I didn’t realize you were so fond of me.”

  “Who could possibly not be fond of you?” He echoed her words of a moment earlier, thinking she might laugh at the sally.

  Miss Kilchrest shrugged a single shoulder, returning her attention to her collection of flowers.

  “I don’t wish to press ya, but is there an answer to my question?”

  A flattering bit of color touched her cheeks. “Of course there’ll be an answer, I’m only uncertain what answer to give.”

  “Might I suggest ‘yes’?”

  She swatted at his arm. “You sweet man. ’Tis not a matter of yes or no.”

  “It isn’t?” Isaac didn’t think there was a third option.

  “This is only unexpected, is all.”

  Unexpected? What did she think he’d intended with his four months of pursuit, if not an eventual proposal? The sensible assumption was that he meant just this, to further their connection.

  She gave him such a heart-tuggingly uncertain look. “Can my answer be ‘perhaps’?”

  Perhaps. A third option, after all. “‘Perhaps,’ but not ‘no’?” he clarified.

  Miss Kilchrest looked quite pleased with that. “Yes, exactly.”

  Not no. He could accept that. For the time being.

  And, he thought with some burgeoning hope, Alice would help him think of ways to win Miss Kilchrest over for good. Alice would help, and he’d have Miss Kilchrest’s hand for sure and certain.

  Chapter Three

  Alice generally looked forward to her Sunday afternoon walk toward Killeshandra. For those few hours, she had sole claim on Isaac Dancy’s time and attention. For that brief time each week, she could imagine he fancied her, that he thought her more than merely a friend. Walking the road as they wound about the lakes felt like coming home.

  But, standing with her childhood friend, Billy Kettle, waiting for Isaac to arrive, Alice couldn’t summon enough enthusiasm to even smile. Her favorite time in the entire week, and she was dreading it.

  “Why do ya have to go, Alice? Can’t ya stay here? We could have fun.” Billy asked the same question and made the same arguments every week. He generally did so in the first moments after she left her grandparents’ home and long before she left the street where both their families lived. He’d been more overset than usual that day and had followed her all the way to Farnham Street. “No one else will feed the ducks with me.”

  She patted his hand. When they were both little, she would pat his shoulder, but he’d grown far too tall. “The ducks have all flown away now. They’ll not be back until spring.”

  “Ducks go away. You go away.” His forehead creased deeply as he pouted. Though he had the look and build of a grown man, little else about him had changed over the years. “I don’t like all the going away.”

  He kicked a pebble with the toe of his boot, his hands shoved into his trouser pockets. Poor lad. ’Twas the same difficulty, the same sadness every week. The only thing that changed was how easily he could be reassured.

  She looked up into his handsome face and almost painfully innocent eyes. “I’ll be back on Saturday as usual. We’ll have grand fun then, we will.”

  “How far away is Saturday?”

  “But six days. Not even a whole week. And yer da says he’s found a bit of work for ya to do.” She smiled encouragingly. “Ye’ll be quite busy, and I’ll be back before ya even have time to miss me.”

  His mouth twisted about, brow still furrowed. “I can miss ya fast.”

  He’d always been so sweetly loving, like a dear younger brother.

  Billy’s worried pout transformed instantly to a laughing grin. “Here comes yer beau.”

  He’d teased her about Isaac from the very first time Billy saw her arrive in Cavan with him. Billy gave her a quick hug, laughing like a child who’d heard a particularly entertaining tale. She couldn’t help smiling at his antics. He rushed away, throwing grins back at her as he did.

  She yet had a smile on her face when Isaac arrived at her side. Thank the heavens for Billy. She’d not have been able to greet Isaac with anything resembling cheerfulness without him.

  “Who was that?” Isaac motioned with a small twitch of his head in the direction Billy had gone.

  Had he never met Billy? Alice couldn’t remember introducing the two. “He’s Billy, m’ dear friend.”

  “Yer dear friend, is he?” Isaac’s mouth pulled down, his eyes narrowed, still not looking at her.

  Feminine instinct can be a wonderful thing. Useful, at the very least. The man, Alice realized on the instant, was a touch jealous. And if he could be jealous of her friendship with another man, he couldn’t be quite as determined to court Sophia Kilchrest as he professed to be. Part of him, at least, must have some feelings for her.

  Alice clasped her hands behind her back and walked slowly down the road, not looking back, but certain he would follow. “Aye, my dear, dear friend. He welcomes me to Cavan Town each Saturday and sees me off every Sunday.”

  Isaac caught up to her. “Why is it I’ve never seen him?” He looked back over his shoulder several times.

  She shrugged. “Ye’ve been a bit distracted, ya must admit. Fighting off hordes of fellow knights in shining armor takes all the concentration a man can muster.”

  “But ye’ve never even mentioned him.”

  Aye, jealous he was, and no doubting it. “I’m certain I have.”

  She kept up her somewhat brisk pace, quickly leaving behind the outskirts of Cavan. That Isaac kept up with her without protest seemed a good sign.

  Alice picked up a topic other than Billy. ’Twould do Isaac a world of good to let things spin about in his mind a while. “You were to have a monumental weekend, if memory serves. How did things go with Miss Kilchrest?”

  She’d dreaded the conversation for two days but now found herself equal to it. Perhaps she hadn’t lost her opportunity after all.

  He buttoned his coat higher as they walked further from town, the chill of approaching winter stronger even than it had been the day before. “I had a chance to speak with her during that bit of rain we got yesterday.”

  Alice’s heart stumbled a bit in her chest. She did her utmost to keep her expression and her tone light and unconcerned. “A proposal in the rain? ’Tis hard to set a more romantic scene than that. Perhaps if ye’d arranged for a dusting of snow.”

  Isaac yet watched her with creased brow. “Yer dear friend, he is?”

  A smile tipped one side of her mouth. The situation wasn’t entirely hopeless. “Never ya mind about Billy. Tell me how Miss Kilchrest answered yer question. Has yer courtship become etched in stone?”

  Please say no. Please say no.

  “Well...” He didn’t seem to know just how to answer. “I asked if she’d consider me her one and only suitor and...” Again his face twisted in thought. “She didn
’t say ‘no.’”

  “Did she ‘yes,’ then?”

  Isaac shook his head.

  “Not yes, but not no.” Alice took some comfort in that. “And ya mean to ask again, do ya?” But how soon? How insistent did he mean to be?

  “I mean to go back and try my hand again.” He gave her a quick but earnest look.

  “Even if she makes that effort difficult?”

  “The difficult things are often the most worthwhile.” He nodded just off the path in the direction of the lake. “Like this here.” He stepped off the path and bent over, plucking a bright yellow flower from the ground. “Blooming so late in the season is hardly an easy thing, and yet this daisy here has managed it.”

  “’Tis a sowthistle.” She smiled through the light correction.

  The look he gave her was utterly amused. “Daisy. Sowthistle. Colaimbín. Ya can’t expect a man to know the difference.”

  “Perhaps that is yer problem with Miss Kilchrest. Perhaps she’s a flower expert and is disheartened by yer ignorance.”

  Isaac eyed her hair a moment. Her hair? What was the man about? He pulled a few low leaves off the stem of the sowthistle he’d picked and tucked the flower into her bun. Alice ordered her cheeks not to heat, but they only paid her the tiniest heed.

  A tender gesture it was. A man couldn’t be entirely indifferent to a woman and have such a thought even cross his mind.

  Isaac didn’t linger over the moment as Alice would have loved him to do. He simply nodded and continued on down the road.

  “Ye’ll help me, won’t ya?” he asked.

  Alice shook off her scrambled thoughts. “Help ya with what?” She lightly fingered the flower in her hair. She’d never look on a sowthistle the same way again.

  “Help me work out just what will turn Miss Kilchrest’s head? I’m all at sea in this.”

  He wasn’t the only one. How could the man act so fond of her in one moment— acting jealous of another man, picking wildflowers for her— and determined to claim Sophia Kilchrest’s hand in the very next instance? It seemed men were thicker in the head than she realized.