One would think there would come a day when she would not have to chase her dog through the mud and dirt. Today was not that day. Ivy cursed under her breath as she increased her pace to catch up with the wayward dog. At least she was fairly certain where Darcy had gone. With his fondness for water, he was likely to have run down to the small lake on the estate again. It hadn't taken many days after they arrived for their visit at Lady Wycliffe's friend's home before Darcy had disappeared for an hour only to return soaking wet. If there was a body of water nearby, Ivy's dog was sure to find it.

Finally, she could see the lake in the distance, but her steps slowed as she realised a horse was grazing near the area Darcy usually visited. She wasn't exactly the most presentable after having run through a muddy patch in the forest. The hem of her dress was soggy and stained. Strands of hair had come undone and she quickly tried to smooth it back for some semblance of propriety. Who was at the lake? In the weeks since she'd arrived, she had yet to meet anyone down here. Even with spring finally arriving, the weather wasn't warm enough that people seemed inclined to visit the lake.

Her heart skipped a beat when she caught sight of Darcy's black fur next to a man with dark auburn hair. It couldn't be. Her jaw dropped. Sam. Here. How was that possible? And how cruel was fate to throw him in her path again? She had done her best to forget about him after leaving—nay, fleeing—Winterbourne Hall, even as she questioned her decision nearly every day.

There were days she had wanted to abandon her reservations and seek him out in London. Finding him shouldn't be too difficult since she knew the name of his employer. But she had held back. Because in the end, she did think she made the right decision. She didn't want him to be with her because he felt he had to. Didn't want him to spend his life feeling like he had somehow robbed her of a better life. If he couldn't get passed that, then neither could she.

Which was why it was so incredibly painful to see him again.

He was stroking Darcy's black fur as she approached, and his hand froze when he caught sight of her. Darcy was not impressed, and the dog nudged Sam's hand to make him resume petting. He gave the dog another quick scratch behind the ear, before scrambling to his feet, using the tree trunk as leverage.

"Ivy..." He shook his head as if he couldn't quite believe he was seeing her. "I cannot believe you're here. Of all the places."

After everything that had transpired between them, she wasn't quite sure how to act around him. She couldn't tell whether he was happy or shocked to see her. Bending her knees slightly in a curtsy, she murmured, "Mr Hemsworth."

A shadow passed over his face at her formal tone. "I..." He trailed off before starting again. "What are you doing here?"

"Lady Wycliffe is visiting with her friend and brought me along. I think a combination of wanting me to practice speaking to people of the ton and getting me to stop fretting about the approaching season in London."

"Lady Wycliffe is friends with Lady Bodine?" He chuckled quietly while shaking his head. Why was that so amusing?

She crossed her arms over her chest. "Yes. What are you doing here?"

"Lord Bodine is my father."

Whatever she had expected him to say, it wasn't that. Maybe she had hoped he had come to find her. Instead, she had somehow ended up visiting with his father. She had seen very little of Lord Bodine these weeks, but she hadn't noticed any similarities between them. Sam must be taking after his mother.

"Are you here because of Lord Bodine's ill health?"

"In a manner of speaking." There was a strange tone in the cryptic answer she couldn't quite place, and when she gave Sam a questioning look, he sighed. "It's a long story."

"Well, I have nowhere to be." She smiled. It had taken a while, but even Lady Wycliffe had eventually gotten used to how Ivy and Darcy would sometimes disappear for hours at a time.

There was a moment's silence as Sam watched her as if she was a puzzle he was trying to solve. She fidgeted under his scrutiny, unable to stand still. Was he appalled at the state of her dress? The unkempt appearance of her hair? It seemed unlikely, since he had seen her like this many times. In fact, he had probably seen her in a muddy dress more than he had seen her in a clean one.

"Sam?" she queried softly when he still didn't speak.

He took a step towards her, leaning on his cane, as he shook his head slightly. "Ivy, I..."

Suddenly scared of what he might say, she retreated a step. If he offered an apology for sleeping with her, she might cry.

"No," she said. "Please. We need not say anything. Let our past rest."

"Oh. Right." He bowed his head, appearing very interested in the tips of his riding boots. A frown adorned his forehead. Then he cursed softly and lifted his head to meet her gaze. "No, I'm sorry, Ivy but I must tell you—"

"No!" she interrupted. "Don't you dare apologise to me. Don't you dare imply we shouldn't have spent that night together. Refusing to marry you after was one of the hardest things I've ever done."

"That's not..." He made a wry face. "Ivy, I handled that whole thing horribly."

"Quite."

"Please." When he stepped closer again, she didn't move away. And when he reached for her hand, she offered it. Dropping the cane, he took her hand in both of his, and she couldn't help but enjoy the warmth of his skin on hers.

"I've been looking for you," he admitted, and her eyes widened. He'd searched for her? Then why had they only met now, and by chance? "After we returned to Winterbourne Hall, I was in a daze, but I soon realised I'd made a terrible mistake. But when I went to find you to tell you, you were already gone."

"I couldn't bear to stay," she admitted. Something twisted in her abdomen. A little spark of hope.

His hands squeezed hers. "I am so sorry I made you feel that way. I foolishly thought I was doing the right thing by letting you go. But I was wrong. Once I returned to London, I got my affairs in order, then I went to find you. In Tilbury, they told me you were with the Wycliffes. Once I reached the Wycliffes, Lord Wycliffe told me in no uncertain terms he would not tell me where you were."

Ivy sighed. She liked Lord Wycliffe, he was incredibly loving towards her and doted on her, but he was also overprotective to a fault. If he knew she truly loved Sam, she was sure she could win him over. He had said more than once he would give her whatever she wanted. And she wanted Sam. She craned her neck to meet his gaze.

"I've been here for weeks."

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "So I gather. To think, you've been in the village where I grew up all this time."

She shouldn't ask. Shouldn't push. Her mouth didn't agree. "So why were you looking for me?"

"To beg you to forgive me for being a fool." He smoothed back a stray lock of hair from her brow, his hand lingering behind her ear. "To ask if you would give me another chance to do it right."

With her pulse fluttering in her throat, she dared the question, "And what would you do differently?"

"Well, for starters..." He bent his head to whisper in her ear and his hot breath sent tingles along her skin. "I'd never let you leave.

Sobering, he straightened slightly, his hand dropping to cup her cheek. "But more importantly, I would not allow you to leave before I could tell you how I feel."

Her heart raced as his words hung in the air, his touch leaving a warm imprint on her cheek. The sincerity in his eyes held her spellbound and her lips parted on a soft sigh.

"I shouldn't have rushed off," she said. "I thought I was doing the right thing by not letting you marry me out of honour, but I gave you no time to come to terms with everything."

"If I hadn't been fool enough to think I could ever live without you, you wouldn't have had to. I've been fighting my feelings for you, so desperate to give you the life I felt you deserved. Too busy trying to give you that to stop and ask what you actually want." His gaze searched hers. "I despaired of seeing you again when I couldn't get in contact with you and thought I might never have a second chance. What if you met someone else and married before I could find you?"

She wanted to say that it was highly unlikely since he had captured her heart fully, but she didn't want to interrupt his confession, so she only nodded. Covering his hand with hers, she savoured the feeling of warmth. How safe she felt with him.

"Ivy..." He made a wry face. "Please tell me now if I have squandered my chances with you. If there is still time, I want to make things right. Give you everything you want. Everything you deserve. I will never let you go again."

"Oh, Sam." She shook her head, a smile tugging on her lips. "I've told you all along, and it's never changed. All I want is you. Nothing else matters to me."

His hand on her cheek twitched. "I love you, Ivy. You're everything to me, and I will spend every day proving it to you. I will make up for everything."

Happiness and excitement bubbled in her and threatened to well over. "I love you too," she mumbled. "There is nothing to make up for, Sam. Just keep loving me."

"Every single day," he promised before leaning in and capturing her lips in a gentle yet passionate kiss.

Time seemed to stand still and the world around them ceased to exist as Ivy leaned into his embrace, confident in their love. She wasn't sure how long they remained there, kissing, touching, wrapped in their own little universe, and she didn't care. Sam loved her. She loved Sam. Nothing could ruin this.

"Oh, hell no!"

A man's angry outburst from behind them, made them step apart, and Ivy's jaw dropped when she saw Lord Wycliffe striding towards them, his face dark and thunderous. Behind him on the path leading between the village and the main house, stood Lady Wycliffe, Lady Bodine, and the two daughters. All four women were staring at them with eyes wide as saucers, and the two younger women were hiding their giggles behind white-gloved hands.

Sam cursed softly next to her, but stood his ground even as the older man reached them and swung a fist at him. When Sam evaded the punch, it only seemed to anger Lord Wycliffe even more.

"I warned you to stay away from her!" he growled before throwing another punch. This time, Sam didn't fully avoid it, and the other man's fist connected with his shoulder.

"Stop!" Ivy shouted.

"Wycliffe!" Lady Wycliffe came running towards them. "Stop this at once!"

Ivy couldn't move, too shocked to know what to do as the two men continued their scuffle. To Sam's credit, he did his best to only defend himself and didn't try to retaliate. When Lord Wycliffe managed to grab on to Sam's cravat, and Sam tried to back away, but hit a tree root and struggled to keep his balance, she panicked.

"Stop this!" she shouted again. "Papa!"

Lord Wycliffe froze, his fist still raised in the air. It was the first time she had referred to him as anything other than his name or 'my lord'. When he released Sam and slowly turned to Ivy, his eyes were suspiciously wet.

"I... I'm sorry." He took a deep, shuddering breath before walking over to her and gently caressing her cheek. "I never meant to frighten you, dear child."

Ivy offered a wobbly smile, touched by his reaction to her calling him 'papa'. It had never occurred to her how much it would mean to him. This man who had thought his daughter lost forever only to find her again. Maybe his desperate need to protect her could be understood even if she did not agree.

"I'm sorry," he said again. "I reacted on instinct. Anyone could see you out here. You'd be ruined."

Lady Wycliffe had reached them, and looped her arm through her husband's, shaking her head. "Really, Wycliffe," she admonished. "I doubt many are out on this walk."

"We are," he muttered, with a side glare at Sam. "And I'd like to know what is going on here."

Sam straightened his crooked cravat and stepped forward, his shoulders squared as if he expected another fight. "My lord," he said with a light bow. "I love your daughter, and I would like to marry her."

Hearing the words again, sent another rush of warmth through Ivy, but the scowl on Lord Wycliffe's face did not escape her. When he was about to answer, Lady Wycliffe elbowed him, and he grunted.

"Let's return to the manor and discuss this. I will not have this done out here where anyone could listen in."

Ivy glanced at the other three women, still standing a short distance away on the road. The two younger ones must be Sam's half-sisters. It was strange to think he had a family he had little to no contact with. After having spent a few weeks on the estate, it wasn't impossible that she knew Edwina and Merrill better than Sam did.

Lord Wycliffe nodded towards Sam's horse. "Ride ahead of us, and we will meet you back at the house."

"Right." Sam walked over to Ivy and took her hand, only to have the other man clear his throat loudly.

"Stop it, Wycliffe." Lady Wycliffe pulled on his arm. "Let them have a moment before we walk back with Ivy."

"But..." Before he could interject, his wife dragged him back to the road.

Ivy had to hide a giggle as her mother winked at her over her shoulder. Lady Wycliffe had noticed Ivy's unusually sombre mood since the house party, and eventually, Ivy had confessed everything to her. Well, not everything. She had left out the part where she was most definitely ruined. But she had told Lady Wycliffe of how she felt about Sam and how he had left her because he believed she would be better off without him.

"I did not realise Lord Wycliffe was here as well," Sam said next to her. "When I searched for you, he was still at home."

"He arrived maybe a week ago," she admitted. "The plan was to travel straight to London from here and he wanted us to go together. I believe he is more excited for my season than I am."

A shadow crossed over Sam's face. "Will you miss the opportunity to attend the season?"

She shrugged. "It was rather daunting, to be honest. I wouldn't mind seeing it, because it does sound interesting... But not if it means not having you."

"Right." He stared at his feet, a furrow between his brows. Something was obviously bothering him, but with their audience only a short distance away, now was not the time to question him. He had better not regret confessing his feelings to her.

Trying to keep her voice light, she forced a smile. "I shall see you soon."

"You will." He lifted her hand to his lips and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles. "No matter what, Ivy. Remember, I love you. I love you, no matter our circumstances."

She stared after him as he picked up his walking stick and walked over to his horse. That was an odd thing to say.

~~~~~~