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nudged his horse and galloped away. Soon they reached a knoll from which they had a sweeping view of rolling green lawns and the mansion beyond. Douglas regarded it now with great distaste. “Alex, there is nothing you nor anyone could ever do to remove the stigma from Ravensbrook Manor. As for my marrying, how could I bring a bride to this cursed place? And besides, there’s another good reason I chose not to take a wife.”
    “You’ve never told me.”
    “And I won’t. Suffice to say, it would be the height of foolishness for me to fall in love.”
    “But you’re wrong. Sooner or later all men fell in love, unless there’s something the matter with them. You simply haven’t met the love of your life yet. When you do, I hope I can manage to keep my mouth shut and not say I told you so.”
     
    * * *
     
    The coach had just passed York and would soon arrive at Southfield. Lucinda had been looking out the window for hours, trying to interest herself in the passing view, and not think of the painful scene yesterday when she defied her parents.
    “ Mama and Papa, I have thought it over, and under no circumstances shall I ever marry Lucius Whittlesby.” She added, “And you can’t make me,” knowing she sounded like a child, yet her point was surely made.
    As expected, Mama did not appear to be too upset, although she certainly wasn’t happy, either. It was her father who regarded her with pain and disbelief in his eyes. “So my second daughter defies me?” he asked softly.
    She shriveled a little at his words but replied, “That is correct and I absolutely mean it.”
    “Then I suppose you want to go to Southfield.”
    “That is my wish.” She made sure she sounded clear and uncompromising. “I have determined that however awful Southfield might be, it could not be worse than being Whittlesby’s wife.”
    She waited, her heart pounding, while her parents exchanged questioning glances, after which Papa briefly nodded his head. “Very well, my defiant daughter, you shall not marry Whittlesby.”
    Joy filled her heart. “Thank you! I am so grateful.”
    Papa smiled. “Well, I could hardly drag you kicking and screaming to the altar, now could I?”
    “And Henrietta can have the entire dowry?”
    “Yes, which means she can marry Lord Carlson, and you” —worry filled his eyes—”shall leave tomorrow for Southfield.” He slowly shook his head as he spoke, as if the prospect of her going to Aunt Pernelia’s was deeply troubling.
    “Papa, can you please tell me what’s so awful about Southfield?”
    Her parents again exchanged glances. Mama said, “It’s better you find out for yourself.”
    “That’s only fair,” Papa added. “I deem it unadvisable to prejudice your mind concerning anything or anybody at Southfield. You will soon find out for yourself.” He smiled. “I shall tell you something to the good, though.”
    “Please do.” Filled with guilt at having to defy her parents, she would welcome anything to lift her heavy spirits.
    “You will find Southfield to be a large, rambling old mansion, fairly new, built around the middle of seventeenth century. There are countless rooms. No doubt you’ll have your own bed chamber for a change, so there’s something to be grateful for. There’s an excellent serving staff, as I recall. Also–and perhaps this is the best part of all —Southfield stands next to beautiful, thick woods where you will undoubtedly discover new species of birds to draw.”
    “Then how could it be so bad? Oh, Papa, do I have your blessing?” Her chest felt as if it was about to burst as she waited for his answer.
    “Of course you have my blessing, child, but I still worry.”
    Mama added, “You have mine too, Lucinda, although I confess I am perplexed as to why you have refused to make a perfectly good marriage.”
    “I want to love the man I marry. It’s as simple as that.” Catherine’s words popped into Lucinda’s head. To know passion—it’s such