Free Dare to Love by Jennifer Wilde

today, ask me to marry him, and that wouldn’t come easy to a man like Brence Stephens.
    He walked beside me with a long, casual stride, wearing a pair of shiny black knee boots, snug black breeches, and a loose white silk shirt opened at the throat, the long sleeves full, billowing slightly in the breeze. His hair was windblown, and his dark brown eyes were moody, contemplating inner visions I could only guess at.
    We walked for several minutes in silence, moving down another gentle slope. As we drew nearer the underground springs the grass began to lose its brownish-gray hue, gradually turning a dusty jade green. The ground became softer, spongy underfoot, and there were many more boulders now, huge, hulking stones of varying shapes. Patches of wildflowers began to appear, pale purple, purple-blue, deep royal purple, white. It was a strange, mysterious place that cast a peculiar spell. I fancied the ghosts of the Druids who had once dwelled here watched us as we passed, invisible specters that whispered in faint voices.
    I wore a dark blue frock with a full, flaring skirt. As I walked the skirt billowed, revealing glimpses of the ruffled white petticoats beneath, and my hair tumbled about my shoulders in loose waves. I was filled with a heady anticipation, but there was apprehension as well. What if I disappointed him when he finally took me into his arms and kissed me? What if I were awkward and gauche? I was so very inexperienced, knew so little about these matters despite all my worldly reading. I wished that I were indeed the seductive temptress of the dance, instead of a nervous girl unsure of herself.
    â€œYour maid looked upset when I called for you,” Brence remarked.
    â€œShe was. She’s leaving for Devon tomorrow, and she’s reluctant about leaving me alone.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œShe didn’t plan to join her sister until—until things were settled, but she received another letter. Her sister’s going to take a short trip and wants Fanny to come early so she can look after the cottage. Fanny didn’t want to, but I insisted. There’s really no reason for her to stay.”
    â€œSo you’ll be all alone in the house.”
    â€œFor at least three more weeks. Then Chapman will foreclose and all the furnishings will be sold at public auction. I—I don’t know what I’ll do then.”
    â€œYou’re not to worry, Mary Ellen.”
    He’d said that before, and it was very comforting. Brence was going to take care of me. What did it matter if the house was lost, the furnishings sold to strangers? We would be leaving Cornwall, sharing a bright new future together. The thought was elating. I felt that glorious rush of happiness, aglow inside, shimmering, making me light-headed.
    Surrounded by boulders as large as houses, I led the way along the narrow path that twisted among them, Brence following patiently behind. The sound of splashing water echoed among the stones, and there was the smell of moss and mud. The stream was a glittering silver ribbon that appeared and disappeared. We caught glimpses of it as we followed the path that finally led into the small clearing I remembered so well. A thin waterfall tumbled over the face of a rough gray boulder, branching into three small streams that fell into a pool with mossy banks. An oak tree spread shadows over the ground, and the purple wildflowers grew in profusion.
    â€œSo this is the famous waterfall,” Brence said.
    â€œI told you it wasn’t large. It’s lovely, though.”
    â€œLovely,” he said, but he was not looking at the waterfall.
    â€œI used to come here as a child. I used to sit on that rock by the pool and lose myself in daydreams.”
    â€œWhat did you dream?”
    â€œI dreamed I belonged. I dreamed everyone liked me, that I was pretty instead of plain, that I had loving, respectable parents and a definite place in the scheme of things.”
    â€œYou