Mr. Lush nearly leapt from his seat. “Twenty? Dear Lord, Patience! What will you do with twenty tickets?”
Unperturbed, Mrs. Lush raised her teacup, a tiny smile on her lips. “We ladies need a place as much as you gentlemen do. I see no reason we cannot share the same place.” Louisa stifled a giggle at the woman’s firm nod.
As if giving up on the argument, Mr. Lush sighed and changed the subject. “Have you had the opportunity to join in a good hunt yet, Sir Aaron?”
As the men discussed the topic of fox hunting, Louisa glanced at the knight. She had enjoyed the two of them working together, even if their goals differed as they did. The man she had thought her sworn enemy was not the man for whom she had come to care. To what extent, she was still unsure, but it was there all the same.
After a while, Mrs. Lush set down her empty cup and stood, sending both men leaping to their feet. “I’ll get you some money for our tickets,” she said, either missing her husband rolling his eyes or choosing to ignore him.
“If Barker does sell to you,” Mr. Lush said, “I wish to invest. But I do have one question.”
Sir Aaron smiled. “Of course. Do you wish to know the identity of the other investors?”
Mr. Lush shook his head. “I’d like to hear more about you, Sir Aaron. Is it true you saved Princess Sophia from being terrorized by five highwaymen? Were you not afraid?”
Louisa frowned. Rather than the usual prideful grin he displayed, a sadness crossed his features. “Yes well, it was something like that.”
Before Mr. Lush could ask him to expound, Mrs. Lush returned.
“Here we are,” the woman said in a jolly tone. “And a small donation for your cause.” She leaned in closer and added in a whisper, “We women must band together, do we not?”
Louisa stared dumbfounded at the twenty pounds the woman placed in her hand. “Thank you very much, Mrs. Lush. That’s very generous of you.”
Once the trio was in the carriage and heading back to Courtly Manor, Louisa was pleased with yet another victory. Sir Aaron, however, kept his gaze on something outside the window.
“You don’t seem very happy, Sir Aaron,” Louisa said. “I would have thought you would be ecstatic. After all, you managed to secure another investor.”
“I am happy,” he replied, but his tone said otherwise. Then he sighed. “I’m just tired is all.” He turned to look at her. “Let’s do something besides sell tickets tomorrow.”
“Like what?” Louisa asked, her heart palpating at the idea of spending time with him in a more personal capacity.
“I’m not sure just yet, but be ready by eleven, all the same.”
She raised her eyebrows. “And what should I wear, do you think?”
“Clothing appropriate for any sort of outing,” Sir Aaron replied. “That way you’re prepared for anything.”
ChapterTwenty-Seven
For so long, Aaron had equated happiness with that feeling of achievement each time he purchased a new business or agreed to another form of trade. The more shops, hotels, land, and ships he possessed, the more others recognized his abilities as a businessman, and the happier he would be. To him, the contentment he so coveted would only be achieved when his empire was complete. When he saw himself as successful—nay, when everyone else saw his success!—only then would his destiny be fulfilled.
Now, however, the dulcet tones of Miss Dunston’s laughter as she held her new puppy had him questioning this logic. There she was, a simple schoolgirl who wanted no recognition, no public acknowledgment for what she was trying to accomplish. All it took was the gift of a small dog to make her smile. And that smile strangely brought him a sense of joy. It was as if pleasing her had a greater effect than gaining ownership of any building or signing any contract.
Had he chosen the wrong aspirations in life? Could true happiness come from pleasing the lovely young woman who sat across from him? Was he destined to do all he could to see that the twinkle remained in her eye?
Yet that made no sense. How could he delight in witnessing such joy in another person? Why did he feel so fulfilled knowing he was the cause?
And what did this sudden insight mean for his future?
For their future?
Her hint that she would marry him had not escaped his notice. Granted, they had been discussing a mutual attachment to the dog, but her meaning had been clear. Had the subject come up in conversation even three weeks earlier, it would have had him doubling over in fits of laughter. Now however, he found the notion welcoming.
There was no doubt that he had strong feelings for Miss Dunston and that she reciprocated them. Yet were they merely smitten with one another? Could what they had come to share carry them into marriage?
Well, he had no reason to concern himself with such an important decision at present. One did not simply jump into marriage without giving it a great deal of thought beforehand. For now, he would simply enjoy her company.
When they arrived at Hearsely Manor, Aaron said, “Would you like one of the stable hands to take the dog?”