Aurora saw nothing, at first. The sky was not completely dark, but a fading greyish blue covered by clouds. It didn't look to be long until true nightfall, however, if the first of the twinkling stars meant anything.
With a deep breath, Aurora trudged down the path. She planned only to have a quick glance around to see whatever it was Father had been talking about — but what she saw left her staring.
At night, the angel's trumpet bloomed. During the day, the flowers hung limply and their true beauty was hidden; but now they were bursting with color, bright pink and peach almost glowing in the semi-darkness. It made the plant appear twice as huge, towering above her as the topmost flowers spread out towards the moon.
That wasn't all. Movement to Aurora's left alerted her to Elmore himself, sitting beneath the shade of the angel's trumpet. He was close enough that the lowest flowers almost touched him, but not quite. On his face was a sweet smile.
"Aurora," he said brightly, "you came. I didn't think that you would."
She only blinked, surprise taking over. Had he been here all day? The thought was absurd, and yet...it very much looked to be the case.
Elmore stood, careful not to touch the plant directly. Yet his eyes were only on her, as if Aurora were the only thing in this entire garden worth looking at.
"Yesterday," Elmore said as he came to stand across from her. "Yesterday, you revealed some things to me that I'm not sure you remember. When you inhaled the smoke of the angel's trumpet, I hoped that it would ease your symptoms and prevent another fainting...yet it did much more."
Aurora thought of seeing Lord Foley, who wasn't really there. Of having an entire conversation in her head before the smoke cleared. It all felt so far away, the memories fogged as if faded by time.
"Do you remember what you said to me?" he asked, and there was something almost hopeful in his tone.
Aurora shook her head because she truly was unsure.
Elmore bit down on his lip, and a soft sigh escaped his throat. He seemed truly unsure, as if he didn't wish to continue. Yet there was a resolution in his eyes, too.
"All right," he said softly, "then I'll remind you. Aurora, you said that you loved me — wished to marry me, even. I know that you were unaware of my presence, but I couldn't ignore such heartfelt words. You were socertain,I've never heard anything like it. It was beautiful, and at first I didn't know if it was true...but I've come to hope that it is."
Aurora's heart was thundering against her ribs until ithurt.She couldn't believe what she was hearing, the words echoing in her mind without her comprehension.
All of that, everything she had said, was out loud? It was too embarrassing to even think about, and Aurora wanted nothing more than to disappear.
Yet Elmore was smiling as he reached out to take her hands in his. They were so warm and large, enveloping hers easily, and he gave them a squeeze.
"Do you understand what I'm saying, Aurora?" he asked. When she shook her head, he continued, "while you were hallucinating, you revealed to me exactly how you felt; and it was the best thing that I had ever heard. Now, it's time for me to be honest withyou.I love you too, Aurora, and I think a part of me has loved you since we met."
Aurora blinked stupidly, trying to process his words. Even while her chest continued to thrum with joy, she couldn't believe that this was real.
Elmore...loved her?
When he smiled, it lit up his entire face. He was so handsome, so perfect, that Aurora was left breathless.
Then he took something small and square from his pocket, and Aurora's heart skipped. No, he wasn't...
"Aurora Washam," Elmore said, as he opened the box to reveal a small golden ring. "I know this is sudden, but yesterday made me realize just how much I care for you. I love you, and if what you said was true then you love me too. So would you become my wife?"
Aurora was hardly even aware of throwing herself into Elmore's arms. Suddenly she was justthere,her own arms thrown around his waist as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. He was hot despite the chilly evening, as if overheating simply from nerves alone, but Aurora loved it.
Slowly, he curled an arm around her waist. "Is that a yes?" he whispered.
Laughter bubbled up in her throat as she exclaimed, "yes, of course I'll marry you! Elmore, I want nothing more."
She felt him laugh, felt the rumble of his chest against her. It was such a beautiful sound, truly, and she adored it.
Finally, Aurora felt complete. Without thinking, she peeled away from Elmore and kissed him.
Chapter 35
Aurora Washam
Aurora couldn't contain their excitement as they readied for the opening of the greenhouse. She had already spent the entire day preparing — making herself look lovely enough to host not just for people like her, but even Lords and Ladies too.