Chapter 29

As Rose stepped out of the manor house, she squinted against the bright afternoon sun. The manor's grounds were bustling with activity, but her attention was immediately drawn to William. He stood near the main gate, speaking with the last of the workers who were packing up their tools, ready to leave for the day.

Among the workers, she recognized two familiar faces—her brother's former friends. These were the very troublemakers who had once attacked William. Seeing them now, a pang of mixed emotions ran through her.

She noted the shame in their expressions when they spotted her, their eyes avoiding direct contact. It seemed they were making a genuine effort to atone for their past actions, but Rose couldn't help feeling relieved that her brother had distanced himself from their influence.

She knew that her brother had a good soul. But he was easily led astray by those so-called friends of his. It pained her to remember everything he had done, everything they all had done to William, but she knew that there was no point in dwelling on the past, especially now that everyone was showing genuine remorse, willing to make up for their wrongdoings and turn over a new leaf.

The thought made her smile. She could already imagine how the entire village would thrive, as they all worked together. It was a wonderfully hopeful idea which she knew would slowly come to life. Rose approached William, her steps light on the gravel path. He looked up as she neared, his stern expression softening into a smile. The workers, including the two former friends, nodded respectfully to her before continuing their tasks.

"Rose," William greeted warmly, "I was just finishing up with the workers. It seems the repairs are coming along nicely."

"I'm glad to hear that," Rose replied, her eyes briefly flickering to the two boys who had caused them so much trouble. "It looks like everyone is putting in a good effort."

William followed her gaze, his expression understanding. "Yes, even those who once made mistakes. People can change, given the chance and the right motivation."

Rose nodded, appreciating William's perspective. "I suppose you're right. I'm just glad my brother has chosen better company now."

"Your brother is a good boy, Rose. He's learning and growing, just as we all are," William said reassuringly.

The two former friends glanced over again, this time with a hint of remorse and perhaps a silent plea for forgiveness. Rose acknowledged them with a slight nod, a gesture of tentative acceptance. She hoped they would continue on a better path.

As the last of the workers began to depart, William turned to Rose, offering his arm. "Shall we take a walk? There's something I've been meaning to discuss with you."

Rose's heart skipped a beat, the anticipation of the long-awaited conversation about their future bubbling up once more. She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm, feeling a mix of anxiety and hope.

"Yes, let's," she agreed softly, looking up at him with a mixture of determination and tenderness.

As Rose and William strolled through the garden, the manicured paths gradually gave way to the wilder beauty of the nearby woods. The dense canopy of trees provided a cool, shaded retreat from the sun, but as they ventured deeper, Rose couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern. She looked around, wondering why he would bring her there.

"William," she began, her voice tinged with apprehension, "are you sure we are safe here? Remember what happened the last time I was here?"

Much to her surprise, William chuckled softly, his hand giving hers a reassuring squeeze. "How could I ever forget? Don't worry. I've made sure the area is safe for us today. Trust me."

"I do trust you," she nodded, trying to quell her anxiety.

William was someone she could trust now. His presence alone brought her a sense of security. He gestured toward a narrow path that led deeper into the woods, and with a slight hesitation, she stepped ahead, following the trail. Strangely enough, with each step that she took by his side, she felt more and more safe, more and more reassured. He was by her side and that was enough for her.

They walked in companionable silence for a while, the sounds of the forest enveloping them. Birds chirped overhead, and the rustle of leaves underfoot created a soothing rhythm. The path eventually opened into a small clearing bathed in soft, dappled sunlight. It was a serene, almost magical spot, with wildflowers dotting the ground and a gentle breeze whispering through the trees.

She recognized the place immediately.

***

As they reached the clearing, William's heart pounded with a mix of nerves and excitement. The serene beauty of the spot, with sunlight filtering through the trees and wildflowers dotting the ground, felt like the perfect place for what he was about to do. He discreetly checked his pocket, his fingers brushing against the small velvet box nestled there. The reassurance of its presence gave him a momentary calm.

He was nervous, but not nearly as much as he thought he would be. They had not discussed anything yet, mostly because he didn't know how to approach the subject. Actually, there was only one way he wished to approach it, but even with proof of her love for him, he was still afraid that he could never be enough for her, that she deserved more than a broken duke with a scarred face and heart. Yet, he wanted to hope that he could be enough. In the end, the decision had to be Rose's.

"Rose?" he said, trying to keep his voice steady. He allowed her to walk two steps ahead of him, and now he was staring at her back.

As Rose turned around to face him, William took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. He carefully pulled the box from his pocket and got down on one knee, the earth cool and solid beneath him. His heart raced, but his love for Rose filled him with a sense of certainty that steadied his hands.

"William?" she echoed his name back to him, pressing her hand to her lips. That was all she said, in anticipation of what was to come.

"Rose, my love, you must know why I have brought you here, of all places," he started, not having practiced this speech, which he now regretted. However, he felt that when the time came, as it had, his heart would know the right words. "This is where I found you, like a sleeping beauty that you were, and even before knowing you, I wanted to kiss you awake, take you back home with me and never let you go."

"Oh, William…" she gushed, unable to prevent herself from doing so.

"We have gone through so much together," he continued, spilling words before her, words he hoped made as much sense to her as they did to him. "And I know that there is no one else in the entire world I want by my side. You have brought so much joy to my life. And more importantly, you reminded me of the meaning of love, of togetherness, of unity. No man is an island. I know that now. I thought I wasn't worthy of being a part of the world that has you in it, but you and your love have proven to me otherwise, and I can only spend the rest of my life taking care of you, cherishing you, loving you and thanking you for everything that you have done for me."

He opened the box, revealing the ring inside, its gemstone catching the light and sparkling brilliantly.

"Will you marry me, Rose?" he asked, his voice filled with sincerity and longing. "Will you stand by my side, not just as my love, but as my partner in everything that lies ahead?"

Her eyes filled with tears, and for a brief, agonizing moment, William held his breath. Then she whispered her response. "Yes, William. I will marry you."

A radiant smile spread across his face as he slipped the ring onto her finger. Standing up, he pulled her into a tight embrace, overwhelmed with relief and joy. They laughed and cried together, their emotions mingling in a perfect harmony.

As Rose looked down at her hand, William watched her intently, his heart swelling with love and anticipation. She admired the ring now adorning her finger, its beauty enhanced by the delicate oval sapphire at its center. The gemstone was encircled by a halo of diamonds that caught the light, creating a mesmerizing sparkle. The band, intricately engraved with timeless designs, added an extra layer of elegance to the piece.

William felt a surge of emotion as he saw the joy and wonder in Rose's eyes. "That ring," he said softly, breaking the silence, "belonged to my mother, and her mother before her. It's been in our family for generations."

Rose looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. He gently took her hand in his, his gaze unwavering and filled with deep affection. "They would be proud to see who is wearing it now. I know they would have loved you, Rose, just as I do."

Seeing the tear slip down her cheek, William felt a profound connection to this moment and to her. The ring symbolized not just their future together, but also the legacy of love and commitment that had been passed down through his family.

"Thank you, William," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I will cherish it always, just as I cherish you."

William smiled, brushing away her tear with his thumb. "And I will cherish you, Rose. Forever."

As they stood together, the ring gleaming in the sunlight, William felt a deep sense of fulfillment. This clearing, surrounded by the beauty of nature, had become a sacred place for them. It was the place where he first saw her, where he fell in love with her, not even knowing the profound effect she would have on him.

He took her hand into his and brought it to his lips for a chaste kiss. He wanted to take her into his arms, to shower her with passionate kisses, but he knew he could not risk being seen. He and Mr. Hancock had arranged it with several of the village people to keep an eye out on the boars, so it was possible for any of those men to stumble onto them at any point.

No. He had waited for so long to make her his. He would wait a little longer.

"Shall we head back?" he suggested. "We could have tea in the garden and watch the sunset."

"I would love that," she smiled, leaning onto his shoulder, inhaling in a satisfied manner. "I can't wait to tell Aunt Cora and Henry that we are getting married. And the wedding… I want a small wedding. A lovely wedding, filled with flowers and little fairy lights all around!"

She released him from her grip, swirling around in the middle of the clearing, getting lost in her own reverie of what their wedding would look like. That was how he wanted to commit her to memory. Every day would be a chance for a new memory, he knew that well, but that moment was pure perfection.

"And I want music, and everyone to enjoy themselves!" she kept on talking and swirling, her hair loosening in her bun, becoming undone, floating in the wind like fire. He wanted it to burn his entire being, devour him whole, so they could become one.

"Anything you want, my love," he assured her, once her swirling had stopped, and she was standing before him once again, beautiful and breathless.

"I love you so much, William," she beamed at him.

"I love you, too, Rose," he replied, pressing another chaste kiss to her lips, taking her by the hand and walking slowly back to the manor together.