Page 38

T he lavender-scented breeze stirring through the garden reminded Colin of Lily as it swirled into the sunlit room. Colin sat in his favorite place by the window, an open letter spread before him, each line a reminder of the past and a promise of the future.

We have more followers than ever, Rhys had written. We may have lost the Cup this year, but next year, it will be in our hands.

Colin could almost hear his mates ribbing one another as they ran onto the field, their resolve thick as summer air. Losing , the captain’s letter declared, was nothing more than fuel for the next match. Colin’s heart responded with a sharp longing.

It had been farewell, but only until the next season began.

The ink had smudged slightly where the captain’s enthusiasm had caused him to press too hard. His reminder of the last match was laced with regret but also some pride in how they had presented themselves.

Colin could vividly picture every moment of that game. The roar of the crowd, the pulse of the game, the mud and sweat and breathless exhilaration of it all. They had all been devastated to have lost, but at least it was on their own merits, with no one purposefully weighing them down.

It had only been a few months since the end of the season, but already next season was looming. The reminder from Rhys awakened Colin’s own resolve to join them again. He might be busier than he had ever been, but he couldn’t think of much that would keep him away from the football pitch.

With a contented sigh, he refolded the letter, slipping it into his jacket pocket as he pushed back from his chair to look out the front window.

The Cup might seem like a dream, but then, so did a garden outside his drawing room window.

He gazed out, letting the certainty of the captain’s words sink in and settle deep into his heart.

For the first time since losing it last season, the vision of the Cup caused a slow smile to spread over his face.

From the outside, the dower house looked unchanged, brick and stone and ivy running wild along the western wall. Inside, however, old portraits were beginning to mix with new, as the house was coming alive once more.

“Lily?” Colin called, finding her in the study, surrounded by a siege of papers and letters. “What do you think of this?”

She peered up from her work. She was thriving on it, throwing herself into her newest initiative. Colin unfolded the details of his latest law assignment—a case of a factory worker’s rights.

“I knew you couldn’t stay away from the cause,” Lily had teased when he had first brought it home and told her of his intention, but her eyes had been alight with approval and mischief.

The study was their shared space but currently contained all of Lily’s ambition.

Her desk spilled over with plans and reports, a map of ideas threatening to sprawl to the floor.

She waved a letter triumphantly. “We have an audience with the board of inspectors next month,” she announced, barely able to contain her excitement.

Colin watched her with admiration, marveling at how fiercely she was tackling a challenge that he always thought he would fight alone.

They had been working on the initiative together, drawing on her family’s mill and connections to push for improvements.

“It’s happening so fast,” he said, a note of wonder in his voice before he drew her in for a quick kiss, tasting the promise of their joint ambition.

With a touch of mischief, Colin brought out a thick packet of papers from his jacket.

“You’re not the only one making headway,” he said, spreading the pages across a corner of her desk.

It was his latest assignment, filled with notes and case studies, reflecting the same determination that colored Lily’s work. She set aside her plans, intrigued.

“What are you up to now?” she asked, scanning the documents.

Colin pointed to one page, a gleam of excitement in his eyes.

“A case about a worker dismissed without cause,” he explained, words spilling over each other in his eagerness.

“He had no representation, no voice. It’s exactly what I want to focus on. ”

“You’re already becoming quite the advocate,” she said teasingly. Colin laughed richly.

His gaze softened as he looked at her, overwhelmed by how their lives had come together in a way neither had expected.

“I wasn’t sure at first whether I’d find anything as thrilling as football.

” He gestured to the work in front of him, his voice warming.

“But this—this feels right. Like we’re making a difference. ”

Lily reached for his hand, a touch that said more than words could.

She felt the same sense of destiny, of being exactly where they needed to be.

“We are,” she said simply, squeezing his fingers with fierce conviction.

Together, they were a force to be reckoned with.

What began as a small rebellion against tradition had become something far greater, and they were ready for whatever challenge came next.

The afternoon light cast long shadows across the study as they returned to their respective projects, each buoyed by the unwavering support of the other. Colin glanced up from his papers, watching Lily as she immersed herself back into her plans.

“What’s next for us, do you think?” he mused aloud, half to himself and half to Lily. She looked up, meeting his eyes with a confidence that matched his own. “Whatever it is,” she said with a wink, “we’ll tackle it together.”

Of course, every meal with Lily’s family seemed to be a challenge in itself. Lily was determined to bring both of their families together, to show her parents that it didn’t matter where someone was from, but more what they felt for one another.

Tonight was the first evening they had invited both of their families to their own home, for Colin’s mother and sister were living with them.

Lord Harcourt glanced around the drawing room when he entered, taking in the signs of the young couple’s new life: books and papers mixed with remnants of sporting endeavors, a landscape that once would have shocked him into silence.

“And I see,” he said dryly, “that you’ve civilized this place quite a bit yourself.

” Lily raised her eyebrows, a look of playful defiance on her face.

“Careful, Father,” she warned, her eyes twinkling.

“We might win you over yet.” The viscount only harrumphed, though Colin caught the trace of a smile lurking beneath his mustache.

Lady Harcourt’s arrival shifted the atmosphere.

She swept into the room with her usual elegance, pausing only to eye Colin and Lily’s changes with faint disapproval.

But rather than comment, she turned to Lily with unexpected candor.

“I’ve been thinking about your project,” she said.

“I should like to lend my support.” Colin and Lily exchanged astonished glances.

“O-of course, Mother,” Lily replied, masking her surprise with composure. “We’d welcome your help.” The offer hung in the air, a sign of change neither of them had dared hope for. Lady Harcourt’s nod was brisk but sincere.

“Perhaps there’s more merit to it than I first thought,” she admitted, the words as astonishing to her as they were to the others. Colin watched her closely, noting the resolve that hid beneath her genteel exterior.

Lily's voice was full of warmth as she responded. “We’ll make a convert of you yet,” she teased. Lady Harcourt’s lips twitched in a reluctant smile.

Their attention turned as the usually composed Diane bounded into the room with unexpected enthusiasm.

“I passed!” she cried, waving a crumpled letter above her head.

“And I’ve got a job!” she added, the words tumbling out in her eagerness.

“They’ve offered me a position in Marshton. I’ll be teaching!”

The announcement drew the family into a shared embrace of joy and surprise. Colin’s heart swelled with pride, seeing his sister on the cusp of her own journey. He caught sight of his mother across the room, her knitting momentarily forgotten as she watched the scene with peaceful satisfaction.

“Teaching!” Lady Harcourt repeated, her earlier aloofness replaced with genuine interest. “You must be very pleased, Diane.”

Diane nodded, her face alight with both confidence and a hint of fear. “I didn’t think it would happen so quickly,” she admitted, her bravado momentarily giving way. “I’m excited, but I’m not sure what to expect.” The others gathered around her, each offering reassurance and congratulations.

Lily took Diane’s hands, squeezing them with affection. “You’ll do wonderfully,” she said, conviction clear in her voice. “And we’ll come to visit as soon as you’re settled.”

Diane beamed, her doubts momentarily overshadowed by the support of her family.

“Not if you visit her first,” Colin joked to the viscount, nudging him with playful familiarity. “I’ll wager you’ll be there with an army of servants before any of us have the chance.” The viscount’s laughter rumbled through the room, dispelling any remnants of old disapproval.

The evening unfolded with ease, the warmth of their connection apparent in every exchange. Colin watched the transformation around him, noting how distance had closed and lines once drawn so clearly were now delightfully blurred.

His mother sat in a corner, her fingers deftly returning to the task of knitting, a small smile of contentment playing on her lips. She looked at peace in this new world, far from the hardship and uncertainty they had once known.

Colin watched his family—new and old—laugh and plan, a sense of belonging settling over him and it seemed like this was how it was always meant to be.

One foot in the garden and one still in her own world, Emmaline watched the family through the large front window with a peculiar longing. She saw Colin’s smile, Lily’s laughter, Diane’s shining determination, all from a distance. They had found their place. Their people.

She was as fortunate as they were. She had a loving family who accepted her, friends who were there for her no matter what she needed — and yet, no one truly saw who she truly was, nor what she truly desired.

But she had plans of her own, ones that she kept close to heart, for she feared sharing them would be futile, or even worse, bring them to an end before they truly began.

She was still on the outskirts of their tangled conversation when a voice broke into her thoughts. “Emmaline,” Lily called, peeking her head out the door, “what are you doing out there?” There was teasing in her tone, but concern lingered beneath it.

“What are you planning?” Colin joined in, his voice all conspiracy and intrigue. The suspicion was gentle but genuine. They might know her better than she credited them for, but she wouldn’t let the secret slip too soon.

Her lips curved into a smile of pure mischief. “Oh, nothing,” she said lightly, the glint in her eyes telling a different story.

She crossed toward the house with newfound confidence, absorbing the family’s excitement and energy into the core of her own intentions. Their joy fueled her, emboldened her, until even her smallest thoughts seemed grand.

She joined their spirited exchange, and as she stood in the middle of their bright and hopeful plans, Emmaline smiled, full of secrets and the thought of finally following through on what had always called to her but had always seemed so out of reach.

Her story was just beginning, but she had a feeling that it would be as audacious as any of theirs.