Free A Hope Remembered by Stacy Henrie Page A

ago.” She let herself out the back door. Nora trailed her outside. “When will we be seeing you for supper?”
    “Um...”
    “How’s tomorrow night? Then you can meet my brood—all seven of them.” She chortled as though she’d made a joke. “Don’t know if I can hold Mary and the twins off much longer than that. They want to hear all about America.”
    A vine of panic wrapped itself tightly around Nora at the thought of sharing a meal with a room full of strangers. Though the idea of eating alone, without Perseus, held even less appeal. “I would love to join you,” she heard herself say.
    “Good. Now be sure to eat that pie.” Bess wagged a finger at her. “I’ve got my work cut out to fatten you up, I have.” With that, she disappeared around the corner of the cottage, still muttering under her breath.
    Nora rested her shoulder against the doorjamb and released a tired chuckle. In Bess’s absence, the cottage echoed with its earlier quiet. Perseus meandered to the door. He sat at Nora’s feet, his head tipped to the side again as he watched her.
    “I think I may have made a friend.” Nora smiled down at the dog.
    Another unusual friend , she thought wryly. But a friend nonetheless. The bleakness she’d felt earlier had disappeared in the wake of Bess’s kindness and happy chatter.
    The scent of warm food teased Nora from behind. She pushed away from the door, feeling famished. She’d tackle the rest of her work soon enough, but right now, Bess’s pie smelled too heavenly to ignore a minute longer.
    *  *  *
    Colin halted beside the lane leading to Henry Lewis’s cottage. He’d put off coming to see Nora, choosing instead to fly until well past lunch. The question he’d been debating all morning still plagued him. Could he continue to befriend her knowing what his father expected him to do where she and her sheep farm were concerned?
    He jammed his hands into his trouser pockets and released a low growl. If only he’d managed to escape earlier, before Sir Edward had found him. Though Colin knew he wouldn’t have been able to avoid his father forever. Eventually Sir Edward would have sat him down and repeated the same pleading request to save Elmthwaite. One that felt like an echo of Christian’s from that fated day three summers before.
    A lad with a fishing pole propped against one shoulder rambled up the road toward Colin. Headed to the north side of the lake, no doubt. The boy threw Colin a funny look as he passed, likely curious as to why the baronet’s son was standing unmoving along the side of the road.
    “You’re being daft,” he muttered to himself as he strode up the lane. He had to collect Christian’s dog after all. Perseus would be awaiting their daily walk.
    The cottage came into view a few moments later. The disrepair was every bit as visible as it had been the night before, and yet the house held an air of life about it today. Perhaps it was the way the glass panes shone in the sunshine, clear evidence someone had been at work inside.
    Colin marched to the front door and knocked. As he waited for Nora to answer, he shifted his weight from one polished shoe to the other, staring at the hard-packed earth.
    He caught sight of the door swinging open and lifted his head. Nora wore a faded blue dress beneath her apron, which accentuated the sapphire color in her eyes. Eyes that appeared to brighten with pleasure upon seeing him. Guilt rendered his mouth dry.
    “Mr. Ashby.” She smiled, the gesture enhancing the delicate features of her face. A very pretty face.
    “I’m here for Perseus,” he announced. Nora’s eyes widened at his slightly curt tone and he stifled a groan of regret. He’d never persuade her to do anything this way.
    Clearing his throat, he modified his request. “What I mean is, if you no longer require the use of my dog, I’d like to take him on his walk.”
    “Oh, yes, of course.” She stepped back from the door. “Come in, and I’ll find him.