Regina Scott by The Heiresss Homecoming

returned to Jamie. I wish I’d had more time with my father. I still miss him.”
    The waterfall’s mist seemed to be thickening. She could feel dampness on her cheeks. Moving to wipe it away, she realized she still held Lord Kendrick’s hand. Letting go was more difficult than she’d expected.
    As if he felt the loss of her touch as keenly, he turned from the water to eye her. “So you ran away from church and found this. Did it please you as much then?”
    A smile tugged at her lips. “Yes. I thought it was meant just for me, a gift from God. I never told anyone, until Jamie.”
    He cocked his head, eyes narrowing. “Why James?”
    Did he still wonder at their friendship? “I guess I thought he needed it, too,” she said with a shrug, then turned her gaze back to the falling water. “Perhaps we all need to remember there is beauty in the world.”
    “Do you doubt it?” He spread his hands. “Look around you—the fells, the springs, the lakes. There is no more beautiful spot in England.”
    Her smile broke free, and she drew in a breath of the moist air. “I feel the same way. I’ve been to house parties near the Cliffs of Dover, hunting parties in the Scottish moors. There is no place like home.”
    “And yet you seem to be leaving again,” he pointed out, hands falling to his sides.
    She felt her smile slipping. She’d almost said too much. The waterfall, her memories, his uncondemning presence had conspired to make her forget herself.
    “Only after the summer party,” she said and knew she sounded entirely too delighted with the prospect. “Goodness, but we seem to have stayed here overlong. Forgive me for detaining you. We should return to the churchyard.”
    He leaned forward, met her gaze, his own probing. “Is there no one you confide in?” he challenged. “Your cousins, their wives?”
    He was so intent, as if he wanted to exorcise her secrets. She backed away from him, felt a sapling sway from her touch. “There is no need, I assure you. Now, come along. I’m sure the others will wonder about our absence, my lord.”
    He stood a second longer, watching her, and she felt the stories welling up inside her. How freeing it would be to lay them at someone else’s feet, to pour out her concerns and listen to his calm voice reason them away.
    But reason was not the issue in this case, and no amount of sharing would change what must be.
    Lord, please help him let it go!
    As if Lord Kendrick had seen the struggle in her, he offered her his arm. “Of course, my dear. Forgive me for adding to your burdens. This way.”
    As they started away from the falls, the sun went behind a cloud, and her rainbow vanished.
    * * *
    Jamie and Mrs. Dallsten Walcott were among the last in the churchyard when Samantha and Lord Kendrick returned. Of the two, Samantha thought Jamie looked the most concerned. He rushed forward, took both her hands in his.
    “Are you all right?” he demanded. “Where have you been?”
    “Lady Everard showed me a fine waterfall,” Lord Kendrick said as if to defend her. “I hadn’t even realized it existed.”
    Jamie dropped her hands as if her touch had scalded him. “You took him to see our rainbow?”
    He sounded as shocked as if she’d plotted the overthrow of the crown. “I invited you,” she informed him. “Either you failed to hear me, or you have better ways to spend your time these days.”
    Immediately she felt as if she’d kicked a puppy, his look turned so forlorn. Even Lord Kendrick seemed concerned, for he took a step closer to his son.
    “Please forgive me,” Jamie begged, gaze on Samantha’s. “I would have been delighted to join you.”
    “Perhaps next Sunday,” Lord Kendrick said.
    Always the diplomat. She appreciated that. She found it too easy to speak first and regret it afterward, as her reaction to Jamie had just proved.
    She dropped a curtsey, including them both in the gesture. “Next Sunday to be sure. It was a pleasure seeing you both. If